Tragedy has struck the family of Robby Gordon.
The racecar driver addressed the press and the public this afternoon for the first time since his father and stepmother were found dead inside their home in Orange County, California.
According to initial reports, the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
Around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, police received a 911 call from an individual who said there were two bodies inside a residence nearby, says Police Lt. Fred Lopez.
Gordon subsequently told The Orange Country Register that those close to his dad, who was known as “Baja Bob,” grew concerned after he failed to show up at a doctor’s appointment earlier in the day.
A search party was then sent out, which culminated in Baja Bob’s close friend, Jay Hooker, finding his friend’s body and the body of his friend’s wife, Sharon.
He’s the one who called the authorities.
Baja Bob Gordon was known around the NASCAR circuit as someone who was instrumental in launching the careers of young drivers, including multi-time Sprint Cup Champion Jimme Johnson.
Johnson even rode with Bob in off-road races on occasion.
"This is devastating," Robby Gordon told reporters a day after the tragedy. "He taught so many, and I want everyone to know what a good man he was."
Police have not revealed many details about the crime or the crime scene, but, as we said above, it is believed to have been a murder-suicide.
A rifle was found in the house, however, Lopez confirms.
There were no other guns found in the home, while Lopez did not say whether or not the rifle was involved in the deaths.
No drugs were found in the house.
No word yet, either, on which half of the couple committed the alleged murder and which half committed the alleged suicide.
Robby Gordon has hinted that he knows what happened, though.
"The truth will come out," he told The Orange County Register.
At his press conference this afternoon, Gordon added:
"I’d like everybody to understand this is very tough. It’s not only tough for me but tough for my sisters. And my sister that is Sharon’s daughter, Haylee."
Robby Gordon canceled a motivational speech he had planned for Thursday at Chapman Hills Elementary School in Orange.
A neighbor named Jill Dombroske, meanwhile, told the aforementioned newspaper that she feels “very sad” over what happened, with another neighbor adding of Bob Gordon:
"He’s a very nice, down to earth guy."
Robby Gordon has started 10 Indy 500s in his career, from 1993-2004, finishing in the top 10 five times. His best finish was fourth in 1999.
As you can see above, many in the racing community have sent Gordon their thoughts and prayers.
We join them in doing so.