Man Charged With Murder in Deaths of His Children

A father was charged Monday with two counts of murder in the killings of his two children, the subjects of a custody dispute with his estranged wife.

David Dean Von Haden, 35, could face the death penalty if he is convicted of killing his 4-year-old son, Cody, and 2-year-old daughter, Courtney.

Von Haden has not been arraigned because he remains hospitalized under sheriff’s supervision at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana. He apparently shot himself once in the chest after killing his children at their Yorba Linda-area home, authorities said. His condition has been upgraded to stable, sheriff’s officials said Monday.

Municipal Judge Carla M. Singer agreed to continue Von Haden’s arraignment on a day-to-day basis, until he has recovered enough to attend, Deputy Dist. Atty. Carolyn Kirkwood said.

“I think it will be several days, maybe a week, before the arraignment,” she said. Von Haden, who had an upcoming court date with his wife on child custody and support matters, is accused of suffocating his children last Thursday.

They were found that evening lying on a bed next to Von Haden, who was bleeding profusely from the self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to court documents, Laurie Von Haden had filed a petition on Feb. 7 for sole custody of the children. She indicated in the papers that she was afraid of her husband and was seeking exclusive use of the family home.

Von Haden, a washer-dryer repairman, and his estranged wife, a clerk at a photo laboratory, had been married four years and separated on Jan. 7.

A session before a court mediator was set for March 5.