3 found dead in Palmdale house are identified

The victims of what authorities say was a triple homicide were a married couple and the man’s adult son.

Three people who were found dead inside a Palmdale house on Saturday have been identified, but there was still no information about how or why they were killed in what detectives said was a triple homicide.

The victims were identified as Richard Gardner II, 78; his wife, Pepper Gardner, 56; and the man’s son, 52year-old Richard Gardner III, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Guillermina Saldaña.

They were discovered in a house in the 1100 block of West Avenue N-12 in Palmdale about 4 p.m. Saturday, having suffered “some trauma to their bodies,” the Sheriff ’s Department said in a statement.

Saldaña said detectives are not able to disclose details about the cause of death. A representative from the coroner’s office declined to comment, saying there is a security hold on the case.

Sheriff’s officials previously released incorrect information about how the victims were related.

Detectives responded to the house after the sister of one of the victims became concerned about her brother and called authorities. The body of one of the men was discovered first, while the bodies of the woman and the other man were found in a different room, officials said.

Lt. John Corina of the Sheriff’s Department said detectives believe the three people were killed on the same day they were found, or shortly beforehand.

No suspects have been identified, Saldaña said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or leave an anonymous tip by calling “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS.