Silver Lake: Man, 55, found dead with brother in makeshift grave

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Douglas Mendez, a 55-year old Latino man, was found dead Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 buried behind an apartment building in Silver Lake.

The body of his brother, Donald Mendez, 53, was also discovered in a makeshift grave on the property in the 2800 block of London Street, according to authorities.

Officers arriving at the home found large blood spatters at the home and brought in cadaver dogs. The bodies of the brothers were discovered under old lumber and other debris.

Donald Mendez’s son, Ronald Mendez, 21, was arrested Nov. 5 in connection with the case. He was charged two days later with two counts of capital murder in the deaths of his father and uncle, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney.

Mendez, who was held without bail, was charged with fatally stabbing his father and uncle sometime between Nov. 2 and Nov. 4, prosecutors said. Because he was charged with multiple homicides, prosecutors said they had the option of seeking the death penalty but had not immediately determined if they would.

At the time of the incident, Ronald Mendez was living with his father and uncle, authorities said.

--Andrew Blankstein and Megan Garvey