Couple’s grandson arrested in their double homicide

A 34-year-old man was arrested Thursday evening on suspicion of murdering his grandparents, who were found dead Sunday in their Glendale home.

Nathaniel Scheiern, who had lived with his grandparents for about a year, was booked on two counts of murder, said Glendale Police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

At around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, authorities responded to the couple’s home, located in the 600 block of Alexander Street, after an out-of-state relative reported that she’d not heard from them and was concerned.

Police entered through the front door, which was ajar, and discovered the two bodies, which were significantly decomposed.

Neighbors said the couple lived in the home for more than 20 years, but Scheiern just moved in about a year ago.

Detectives named Scheiern as a person of interest earlier this week, but could not interview him for several days as he’d been involved in a solo-car crash on the Golden State (5) Freeway that left him hospitalized at the Henry Mayo Hospital in Valencia with “significant” but non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities believe he killed his grandparents before the crash, which occurred last Thursday.

Information about how the victims were killed was not available.

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials identified the male victim as 77-year-old William Karl Scheiern. The female victim was not identified by police, but neighbors and a photo provided by Calvary Bible Church identified her as Verna Scheiern.

Neighbor Hermik Khosrve, who has lived next to the couple for 26 years, dropped by the home Monday afternoon to place flowers on the front lawn, which was lined with yellow police tape.

“She was a very generous lady,” said another woman who worked at the victim’s dentist’s office.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, added that the victim paid for her grandson’s dental work.

“She didn’t deserve this,” she said.