While an autopsy showed the 68-year-old father of NASCAR driver Robby Gordon killed himself after strangling his 57-year-old wife in their home in Orange, authorities and the family Friday were trying to determine a motive for the tragedy.
“I’m sad and I can’t believe it,” a grief-stricken Robby Gordon told reporters outside his dad’s and stepmother’s home.
Sharon Gordon was strangled and her husband’s death was “consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Orange police Lt. Fred Lopez said.
Robert Gordon was Robby Gordon’s father and Sharon Gordon his stepmother.
The bodies were discovered about 5 p.m. Wednesday in the 1400 block of North Kennymead Street, Lopez said, adding that there no outstanding suspects.
“We’re fairly confident the problem is contained within the house,” he said of the murder-suicide.
A .22 caliber rifle and a knife were discovered inside the bedroom where the two bodies were discovered, Lopez said.
Robby Gordon spoke to reporters outside the home, saying the family was obviously “grieving the death of my dad, Rob, and his wife, Sharon.”
“I want to thank all of our friends in the racing community, not only the auto racing community but the horse racing community, and their incredible outpouring of support and prayers.
“I’d like everybody to understand this is very, very tough, and it’s not only tough for me, but it’s tough for my sisters … it’s going to be tough on all of us.”
Gordon said his planned Robby Gordon Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks racing event will go on this weekend as part of the Sand Sports Super Show at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. was among those offering condolences, writing on his Twitter account he is praying for “the Gordon family during this difficult time. Hope they find strength and support.”
Robert W. “Robby” Gordon, 47, has raced in NASCAR, CART, IndyCar, Trans-Am, IMSA, IROC and Dakar Rally, according to the Wikipedia website, and he’s now in the Speed Energy Formula Off-Road series that he created in 2013. His sisters, all named Gordon, are Beccy, Robyn and Haylee.
Anyone with information on the deaths is urged to call the Orange Police Department at (714) 744-7444.
–City News Service