Maureen Rose Steckel Gradvohl
January 26, 1954 - November 28, 2021
Maureen with husband Raoul Gradvohl (1938-2003). He was a 1957 Burroughs graduate.
Edward Henry Steckel Jr
April 2, 1963 - November 28, 2021
Heartbreaking news... Heidi Steckel Davenport, BHS '73 posted this:
"Over Thanksgiving day weekend, I
lost two siblings in a horrible tragic way. My sister Maureen Gradvohl
class of 1972 and Edward Steckel class of 1981. I'm heartbroken."
Dave Steckel posted today on Facebook: "Our brother, Edward Steckel graduate of Burbank High School, class of 1981 exited our earthly plain this past November 28th. Ed was a father; leaving behind his two children, Max and Scarlett Steckel. A beloved son, brother, uncle as well friend to so many.
God speed to you Eddie, you’ll be missed but do trust, within the heavenly realm of twilight you’ve found both peace & contentment while continuing your souls amazing work.
Until we all meet again: “I’ll be looking at the moon, but I’ll be seeing you…” 🌙"
Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
DECEMBER 11, 2021 UPDATE
Here is a news report...
LAPD Unravel Murder Cover-Up In Sylmar, Discover Backyard Grave
By CBSLA Staff
December 10, 2021 at 10:14 pm
Filed Under:Double Murder, KCAL 9, Sylmar
SYLMAR (CBSLA) — Marcel Gradvohl is accused of killing his uncle and burying him in a Sylmar backyard, then killing his mother and staging it as a suicide all to collect a life insurance settlement.
The 38-year-old was almost in the clear until one officer looking at the man’s property noticed evidence of a freshly dug grave,
Patrol officers were called to the home on Monday for a possible suicide after finding a 67-year-old woman hanging.
According to officers, her injuries weren’t consistent with Gradvohl’s description of suicide.
“The information and the story that was initially presented to the officers was not consistent with the injuries they observed at the crime scene,” said Dep. Chief Alan Hamilton.
Officers then brought in homicide detectives to investigate, who located a possible grave in the backyard from a neighbor’s tip.
“Prior to the staged suicide, our suspect had engaged in a confrontation with another family member, committed a murder and attempted to conceal the body by burying it in the backyard,”
Hamilton said.
Gradvohl was later arrested for the murder of his mother, Maureen, who police say was strangled. Detectives also say he shot and killed his uncle, 58-year-old Edward Steckel, and buried the body.
Investigators say Gradvohl ended up confessing to the double murder. He is being held on $4 million bail.
SOURCE: https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/12/10/sylmar-double-murder/
UPDATE
Man who killed uncle, staged mother’s suicide sentenced to life in prison
by: Travis Schlepp
Posted: Apr 19, 2022
A man who killed his mother and uncle in Sylmar and then attempted to stage his mother’s death to look like a suicide pleaded guilty to two counts of murder Monday.
Marcel Gradvohl, 38, was arrested in November 2021 for the deaths of his mother, Maureen Gradvohl, and his uncle, Edward Steckel.
The Los Angeles Police Department began investigating their deaths on Nov. 28, 2021, after Marcel had called them to report finding his mother’s body.
When police arrived at his mother’s home on the 12600 block of Amboy Avenue, they were greeted by Marcel who told police he found his mother hanging in the garage. Maureen was declared dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives began investigating and learned that Marcel had been spotted just a day before digging in the backyard of the property. Investigators later found Steckel’s body buried in the backyard.
During police questioning, Marcel admitted to killing his uncle during a dispute on Nov. 26, 2021. Later that same day he strangled his mother. The following day he buried his uncle in the backyard and the day after that he called police to report his mother’s suicide.
Gradvohl was then arrested and booked for their murders.
On Monday, he appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder. He was sentenced to 25 years to life plus four years for the use of a handgun in his uncle’s death and 25 years to life plus one year for the use of a rope in his mother’s death.
The sentences will run consecutively meaning he will have to finish serving one sentence before he begins serving the next.
SOURCE: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/man-who-killed-uncle-staged-mothers-suicide-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/
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