Elderly Man Slain, Son Dies in Apparent Murder-Suicide

A bedridden resident of a Glendale convalescent hospital was shot and killed with an arrow from a crossbow in an apparent murder-suicide involving his son, police said.

Ferenc Stumpf, 79, a resident of Verdugo Vista Convalescent Hospital in Glendale, died at the scene after suffering a “massive chest wound” in the attack late Tuesday, Glendale Police Department spokesman Dean Durand said.

On Wednesday morning, a hiker discovered the body of Stumpf’s son, Peter, 39, of La Crescenta in Angeles National Forest north of La Canada Flintridge. The younger Stumpf was dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Durand said.

Hospital personnel told police that Peter Stumpf had been visiting his father Tuesday night and left the hospital between 9 p.m. and midnight. Ferenc Stumpf was found dead shortly after midnight, Durand said.

“Peter was seen leaving the hospital, but he never went home,” Durand said.

Police who were called to the hospital discovered the crossbow under the elder Stumpf’s bed. A search of Peter Stumpf’s home uncovered an empty crossbow box and more arrows, Durand said.

Durand said police have no leads as to why Stumpf may have shot his father. Hospital personnel told police Stumpf had been taking care of his father for “a long period of time” before admitting him to the convalescent hospital Aug. 30.