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Former NASCAR Driver, Robby Gordon’s, Father And Stepmother Dead In Possible Murder-Suicide: Robby Says ‘Truth Will Come Out’

By Janice Malcolm
Published on: 10:01 PST, Sep 15, 2016

According to multiple news sources, the body of a man and woman police discovered inside of a Southern California home have been identified as the father and step-mother of former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon. The bodies were discovered on Wednesday afternoon and the deaths are now being ruled as an apparent murder-suicide.

The bodies of 68-year-old Robert Gordon and his wife Sharon, 57, were identified by the coroner after police were called to their home in Orange Park Acres at approximately 5 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Kennymead Street. According to the Orange County Register the police reported that a 911 call came in saying that there were two bodies inside of the home, the call came from a neighbor. Lt. Fred Lopez with the Orange Police said that family members had contacted the neighbor and asked for the couple to be checked on since they could not be reached. The bodies were discovered when the neighbor entered the home.

The autopsy for the couple has been scheduled for Thursday, and the Orange County Supervising Deputy Coroner, Kelly Keyes, said that they were not yet ruling one way or another as to the cause of the deaths. However, the police mentioned their investigation was focusing on a murder-suicide, and a rifle was reportedly recovered from the scene of the crime, though it is not clear if it was used in the deaths. The police also reportedly do not believe that there was anyone else involved in the deaths and have not issued any report that a suspect is at large. Police and crime technicians were at the home Wednesday night.

Though the police declined to comment on whether or not the Robert and Sharon Gordon identified from the home were related to Robby Gordon, a neighbor has confirmed the relation. Property records obtained by the Los Angeles Time show the home had been owned by Robby Gordon since 1989.

Robert Gordon had been known to race fans as “Baja Bob,” father of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and owner, Robby Gordon. His wife, Sharon, was the stepmother of the NASCAR driver. Before he was out of the NASCAR driving business Robby Gordon, 47, had won three races and posted an impressive 16 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes. Robby Gordon had two wins in the old Champ Car series and had made 10 starts in the Indianapolis 500. The driver was also known for making 396 NASCAR Premier Series starts for 19 seasons.

Robby Gordon spoke to the media about his family’s death a few hours ago, tearing up in front of the cameras with despair and disbelief over the deaths. Gordon also said that the truth about what went on in the house will come out and he looks forward to explaining it once the coroner gives him the okay.

Gordon is known as one of the most versatile drivers of his era, and is also quite the accomplished off-road racer. Outside of racing NASCAR, Robby Gordon is also an off-road racer and owner in the Stadium Super Trucks series, which is scheduled to be held this weekend in Costa Mesa. Robert Gordon’s daughter, Beccy Gordon Hunter-Reay, is also an off-road racer who just announced via her husband’s Instagram account, that she had given birth earlier this week to a baby boy. Beccy’s husband, Ryan Hunter-Reay, is also a professional race car driver, and in 2014, he won the Indianapolis 500.

As news of the death of the NASCAR driver’s family began to spread, the NASCAR community began sending their condolences to the Gordon family. NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr. sent a tweet that said he was praying for Robby and Beccy Gordon to find strength in this difficult time, and Jimmie Johnson also took the time to send the Gordon family his condolences.

The investigation into the deaths of Robert Gordon and his wife, Sharon, is still ongoing and the police are asking that anyone who has information about the deaths please call the Orange Police Department at (714) 744-7444.

[Featured Image by Damian Dovarganes/AP Images]

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