A Landers man was arrested after Sheriff’s deputies say he terrorized his elderly parents, assaulting them with an ax and holding them against their will. Wednesday (4/20), at 4:47 p.m. Deputies responded to a report of a subject disturbance in the 1500 block of Alta Avenue. A Victim called 9-1-1 to report he was hit by his son, Derek Boyle, 36, who was having a bipolar episode. Arriving Deputies heard yelling coming from inside and heard someone had an ax. They entered the residence and heard yelling and crying coming from the master bedroom. A 72-year-old man coming out of the room said Boyle had an ax. Deputies entered the room and found a 71-year-old woman pinned down on her bed by Boyle holding a large ax near her face and neck, threatening to cut her throat. Deputies were able to keep him from causing serious injuries to the woman and he was taken into custody and transported to the Morongo Jail for booking and processing. Investigation revealed Boyle had assaulted the elderly victims, identified as his parents, with the ax and held them against their will. Boyle picked up the 71-year-old woman while she was in the living room, carried her to her room and threw her on the bed, where deputies made the initial contact. Boyle was booked into the Morongo Basin jail for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, and False Imprisonment.
(This story was updated 8/30/22 to remove references to kidnapping and an incorrect statement regarding charges of elder abuse.)
