Verna Irene Scheiern, 82

Verna Scheiern, an 82-year-old white woman, was found dead on Sunday, June 28, in the 600 block of Alexander Street in Glendale, according to authorities. 

Glendale Police found the partially decomposed bodies of Scheiern and her husband, William Karl Scheiern, 77, about 9:30 a.m. in the home where they had lived for more than 20 years, according to spokesman Lt. Robert William.  

Verna Scheiern’s body was not publicly identified until July 6. Investigators have put a security hold on the case, restricting information about the autopsy and cause of death. 

Officers went to check on the couple after a family member called police and said she couldn’t reach them. When police arrived, they found the front door ajar and discovered the bodies lying on the floor in a bedroom, according to coroner’s records.

The house was not ransacked, and there was no evidence of theft, William told The Times. “We’re pretty confident the victims were targeted,” he said. “It’s not a random act of violence.”

Nathaniel Scheiern, 34, the couple’s grandson, was arrested July 2 on suspicion of two counts of murder and is being held without bail in the Los Angeles County Jail.

He was identified as a person of interest shortly after the Scheierns' bodies were found, but investigators were delayed in questioning him because he was in the hospital, being treated for injuries from a solo-vehicle crash on June 25. 

— Jeanette Marantos