Auto Repair Shop Owner Dies, 4 Days After Mysterious Attack

A 41-year-old auto repair shop owner died Wednesday, four days after he and two others were found beaten and bludgeoned in a mysterious attack that remains under investigation, police said.

Don Gilchrist, owner of Doctor Don Automotive at 621 W. Whittier Blvd., died at 2:14 p.m. Wednesday from severe head injuries. The other two victims, Cornelius Postma, 41, and David Mendoza, 26, remained in critical condition, according to La Habra Police spokeswoman Officer Cindy Knapp.

Witnesses said the three men were bound and bloodied when they were found inside the auto repair shop Saturday afternoon, and police said the beatings were so bad that it was difficult at first to determine if the victims had been shot.

Police confirmed that they found the weapons believed to have been used in the attack at the scene, but would not reveal what they were.

Detectives have gathered “many leads” in the case, Knapp said, but no information was released Wednesday about any suspected motive in the case. Investigators have said the crime does not appear related to a robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Tom Dutton at (562) 905-9762, or the department’s anonymous tip line at (562) 905-9611.