Father arrested after his sons, 12 and 13, were found beheaded in California

WARNING: PAIN CONTENT

Maurice Taylor Sr., a personal trainer described as “smooth” and “dependable”, has been arrested in connection with the deaths of his two sons.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department was called to a home in Century Circle, Lancaster, California, around 8 a.m. Friday (US time) following reports of a gas leak.

Firefighters discovered the bodies inside the home.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said homicide detectives were investigating the deaths of a 12-year-old African-American boy and a 13-year-old African-American girl.

Detectives said they suffered from “lacerations and stab wounds.”

Lancaster Mayor R Rex Parris confirmed that the victims had been beheaded.

“It was pretty brutal,” he said, according to the LA Times.

The LASD said Taylor, 34, had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was being held on a $ 2 million bond.

The children were found in separate bedrooms in the home, Lt. Brandon Dean said.

It was not immediately clear how long the children had been deceased.

Two other children in the house were apparently unharmed, but were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Taylor’s clients told the LA Times that he was a diligent and hardworking personal trainer.

“Think of the nicest person you know, then multiply that by five,” said attorney Howard Kern.

“He worked very hard to support himself. Unfortunately, we don’t know enough to say what happened or what didn’t happen.”

A neighbor at the property said that he had started taking a look at the house about two years ago.

The house “looked strange,” said the neighbor, wishing to remain anonymous.

“I remember that house looked strange every time I was there. It almost seemed like the windows were blacked out.”

Mayor Parris said he believed the economy, school closings and being stuck at home could have created a stressful environment for the family.

“The social fabric of the country and the world has been shattered, and we are beginning to see the consequences,” he told the LA Times.

“What I see is that more and more people feel desperate, and that can only have one result.”

Where to get help:

• Life line: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
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• Helpline for depression: 0800111757 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• Rainbow youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER suicide prevention

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