Man arrested for allegedly killing stepfather, injuring mother in Gilbert

PHOENIX — A man was arrested for allegedly killing his stepfather and seriously injuring his mother in Gilbert over the weekend, authorities said.

The Gilbert Police Department identified 56-year-old Gary Crawford as the man taken into custody for the deadly domestic violence incident.

Crawford was booked into jail on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, fraudulent schemes, theft of means of transportation, tampering with physical evidence and probation violation. He’s being held on a $2 million bond.

Why was Crawford arrested for the death of his stepfather in Gilbert?

According to Gilbert police, officers did a welfare check at a residence near McQueen and Elliot roads around 6 p.m. Saturday after a family member called concerned due to her father and stepmother missing dinner plans and being unreachable.

When police arrived on scene, they entered the home and found 91-year-old Oscar Casdorph dead and his 81-year-old wife with critical injuries. Police said that both had “obvious signs of trauma.”

Investigators learned that Crawford had recently moved in with his mother and stepfather.

In addition, the couple’s vehicle was missing and Casdorph’s bank account had suspicious activity on it, according to police.

Police said that they located the vehicle and Crawford in Glendale at approximately 6 a.m. Sunday.

They added that while being interviewed, Crawford admitting to killing Casdorph as well as trying to kill his mother, who remains in the hospital in critical condition.

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