A 34-year-old man who remains in custody on suspicion of decapitating his 12-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter is due in a Lancaster court on Tuesday, according to county jail records.
"Detectives have learned that the deceased male and female both appeared to be suffering from lacerations and stab wounds," Ortiz said.
Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris told the Los Angeles Times that the two were decapitated, but
City News Service could not independently confirm that report.
"Based upon what was released from the homicide detectives, that information has not been disclosed," a Sheriff's Information Bureau spokesperson told CNS on Saturday. "We cannot release (that) unless the homicide detectives have confirmed it. It's a sensitive case, obviously."
The victims' names will be released pending notification of next of kin, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
A man, a woman and two children were questioned by homicide detectives, the sheriff's department said.
Father Held in Alleged Decapitation of Son and Daughter in Lancaster