SANTA CLARA, Calif. (TCN) — A 49-year-old man traveled across state lines to kill his estranged brother before killing himself, authorities say.
On May 8, Matthew Heflin allegedly shot his older brother, 52-year-old Mark Heflin, in his driveway while he was unloading his car, KTVU reports. Responding police officers attempted lifesaving measures but pronounced Mark Heflin dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. They also heard gunfire nearby, SFGate reports.
While officers were on scene with Heflin’s body, the home next door began to burn, according to SFGate. On May 9, police found the remains of Matthew Heflin inside the burned home, per KTVU. It was later determined he had ordered fire logs online to be delivered to the residence. Four guns were found near Matthew Heflin along with $95,000 in cash.
According to KTVU, the brothers were estranged. An investigation found that a few months before the fatal shooting and the fire, Matthew Heflin traveled from his home in Indiana and allegedly secretly rented the home next door to Mark Heflin, who reportedly did not know his brother was living so close by. SFGate reports police learned the house was leased as a short-term rental property.
In a press conference, Santa Clara Police Chief Cory Morgan said the brothers were estranged for three years. Matthew Heflin reportedly told friends in Indiana he was going to Colorado. He allegedly traveled to California in a rental car and lived in the San Jose area for several weeks before the homicide, according to SFGate. Matthew Heflin allegedly lived in the home next to his brother for three days before the incident.
The Silicon Valley Voice reports family members were not aware Matthew Heflin had traveled to the area.
Police have not announced a motive, and the cause of the death for Matthew Heflin has not been released, according to KTVU.
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