Police: Man wanted for violent hammer attack found dead in Angeles National Forest
GLENDALE, Calif. - A man accused of attacking his fiancée and her mother with a hammer at her Glendale home in July has been found dead.
It appears Brian Cruz, 29, was killed in a crash last month in the Angeles National Forest. Glendale police say his decomposing body was found inside the vehicle on Sept. 27 off Angeles Forest Highway near Big Tujunga Canyon Road.
On July 29th, Cruz struck his fiancée in the face and head several times with a hammer. During the attack police say the victim’s mother tried to intervene and help her daughter but she was also struck in the head with a hammer by Cruz.
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Cruz’s wife had several bone fractures to her face and skull, as well as multiple broken bones to her hands causing her to lose a
finger, police say.
The victim has had multiple reconstructive surgeries and is undergoing physical therapy to regain the use of her hands. Her mother was
treated at a local hospital and released the same day, police say.
Cruz had been on the run since the attack. In mid September police announced a $15,000 reward was being offered for anyone with information leading to his arrest.
The case is currently under investigation.
CNS contributed to this story