Stanton, Calif. -- The co-owner of a mobile home business in Stanton found his son and a secretary slain in the sales office on Monday, a sheriff's spokesman said.
Matthew Francis Scott, 42, was found dead behind the desk of 49-year-old Elizabeth Palmer, who also was found dead in the office, Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.
Both had come to work at Golden Sun Homes at 12331 Beach Blvd. between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. The deaths were reported to the sheriff at 10:50 a.m., Amormino said.
The father called 911 reporting that the two had been shot, but Amormino said that has not been confirmed.
Amormino refused to release a cause of death, saying detectives did not want it made public. Family members told KCAL9 the two were stabbed.
The cause could be released after an autopsy, Amormino said.
Palmer's husband showed up at the business, obviously distraught, Amormino said.
"He heard rumors from some people and, unfortunately, we had to confirm what had happened," Amormino said.
The uncle of the dead man told Channel 9 that his wife got a call "saying that when my brother walked into the office today, he found his son, Matt, and our (secretary), Beth, and they had been stabbed today."
The uncle said he talked to the secretary about 10 a.m. and "everything was fine."
Channel 9 reported that detectives asked family members not to talk about how the two died.
Whether there was a forced entry, that's still under investigation, Amormino said. He said the two victims worked together, but that he was unaware of any further relationship.
Deputies sought a white four-door Lexus, with the license 5FYP194, that belonged to Palmer, Amormino said.
Anyone with more information about the killings or the whereabouts of the white Lexus was urged to call (866) TIP-OCSD.
