(L.A.) Richard Yapelli, 59, Ended His Life
Case Number: 2023-16779
Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 59-year-old White/Caucasian male.
The coroner’s office has identified the man as Richard Yapelli. Born in L.A. County. Mother’s maiden name is Chonko.
Manner of Death: Suicide
Cause of Death: Gunshot Wound of Head
RIP RICHARD A. YAPELLI (April 27, 1964 – December 3, 2023)
Formal pronouncement of death was made on Sunday at 7:44 a.m.
L.A. County’s Department of Medical Examiner had initially posted this as John Doe #538 right after midnight on December 4. News outlets, however, had already identified him as Richard Yapelli, Jr. The DME confirmed his identity on December 8.
The decedent is is believed to have killed Phyllis Patterson before taking his own life.
Two people were found dead at the scene of a fire in Sun Valley that damaged three structures on the grounds of a residential property where firefighters were faced with “thousands of rounds of ammunition exploding.”
According to the L.A. Fire Department, the greater-alarm fire was reported shortly before 5 a.m. at 13755 Glenoaks Boulevard.
Police responded to the location after receiving a radio call of shots being fired in the same area.
A woman’s body was found in a pool, and the bodies of a man and a dog were found in the burned-out debris.
Police said weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition were found at the site. A bomb squad was called to the location, as well as an arson detail.
Firefighters found heavy fire to the rear of one of three buildings on a 1.6-acre residential parcel of land, with the intense flames extending to a pair of adjacent structures on the property.