Man sentenced to prison for murdering mother, uncle

A 38-year-old man was sentenced Monday to 25 years to life in prison for murdering his mother and his uncle at a house in Sylmar last year.

Marcel Ianyves Gradvohl pleaded no contest to the November 2021 murder of his 67-year-old mother, Maureen Rose Gradvohl, and his 58-year-old uncle, Edward Henry Steckel, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Gradvohl used a rope in the commission of his mother’s killing and a handgun during his uncle’s killing.

After the murders, he contacted police to report that his mother had committed suicide, police said, adding that detectives suspected the death had been staged, based on the woman’s injuries.

Detectives subsequently found Steckel’s body buried in the backyard.

The motive appeared to be life-insurance money.