In 2014, the case of Cynthia Cdebaca, popularly known as the "Killer Granny," stunned the whole of California.
Cynthia committed a brutal murder that left everyone asking how such violence could have come from a grandmother.
A Seemingly Perfect Family
On the surface, the Eustaquio family appeared to be happy.
Geoward Eustaquio was a loving husband and father.
He had a successful career as a real estate agent and had previously worked as a space orbital analyst with the California Air National Guard.
Geoward Eustaquio was known for his kindness and generosity.
Those who knew him spoke highly of his dedication to his family.
Geoward lived with his wife Laura, their two children, and his son from a previous relationship.
They lived in an upscale neighborhood in Fallbrook, California.
Their home was a beautiful, spacious property, complete with a swimming pool.
However, when Laura's mother, Cynthia Cdebaca, came to stay with them, everything changed.
The Mother-in-Law Moves In
After suffering a stroke, Cynthia Cdebaca, Laura’s mother, moved in with the Eustaquio family.
Gerard, being generous and caring, welcomed her into their home.
He provided his mother-in-law with a “granny flat” to maintain her independence.
But from the beginning, Cynthia and Geoward Eustaquio always clashed.
Cynthia, who was in her 60s, felt that Geoward was too controlling, especially when it came to her smoking.
Geoward was worried about his children's health so he strictly prohibited smoking in the house.
Cynthia believed she had the right to smoke whenever and wherever she wanted.
This led to several heated confrontations.
On one occasion, Geoward reportedly sprayed her with a hose after catching her smoking on the back patio.
Additionally, the disagreements between Cynthia and Geoward Eustaquio went beyond just smoking.
Cynthia said Geoward was also abusive and controlling toward her daughter Laura and the children.
She believed his military background was responsible for his strict parenting style.
However, Geoward Eustaquio’s friends and family strongly disagreed.
They described him as a dedicated father who deeply loved his family.
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| Geoward Eustaquio and Laura Eustaquio |
A Birthday Turned Tragic
On February 11, 2014, Geoward Eustaquio and his family had plans to attend their daughter's spelling bee.
Also, that day was Cynthia’s birthday.
The preparation for the event was going well until Cynthia came downstairs.
Geoward Eustaquio made a comment about Cynthia’s appearance.
He reportedly said she "looked ghetto."
This comment did not sit well with Cynthia at all.
What followed was a terrifying act of violence.
Cynthia went to her car, retrieved a gun, and shot Geoward five times.
She then went back to her car, reloaded, and shot him another five times.
When she saw that Geoward Eustaquio was still alive, she returned to her car, reloaded once more, and shot him a few more times before he succumbed.
In total, she fired over 10 shots at him over the comments he made about her outfit.
Soon, 911 calls flooded in from neighbors who heard the numerous gunshots.
One neighbor reported hearing four or five gunshots, followed by someone shouting, "Help me! Help me!"
These were Geoward’s cries for help as he tried to escape the violent attack that ended his life.
When police arrived, they found Geoward Eustaquio’s lifeless body inside the house.
He had been shot multiple times, and the scene was nothing short of a nightmare.
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| Cynthia Cdebaca on the day of the murder |
A Chilling Confession
After the fatal shooting, Cynthia Cdebaca went about her normal activities like nothing happened.
She visited a casino where she gambled for two hours before heading to her favorite coffee shop.
She was calmly drinking her coffee as Geoward Eustaquio lay dead in the house.
She appeared completely unfazed by the tragedy that had just unfolded.
Cynthia Cdebaca was arrested at the coffee shop.
During her interview with detectives, she initially denied the crime.
However, in a chilling confession, she eventually admitted to murdering Geoward Eustaquio.
Throughout the interrogation, Cynthia showed no remorse.
When detectives asked if she checked to see if Geoward was still alive, she nonchalantly replied, "I didn’t care."
In fact, she went as far as to say that she would do it again if given the chance.
You can watch some excerpts of her interrogation video below.
A Premeditated Crime
As the investigation continued, it became clear that Cynthia had planned the murder.
She had purchased the revolver used in the crime two weeks earlier
Cynthia even practiced shooting at a range a few days before the murder.
On the day of the murder, when she saw that Geoward Eustaquio was still alive after her first five shots, she walked back to her car to reload.
She then came back and continued shooting even as Geoward tried to escape.
Cynthia’s claim that Geoward was abusive toward her and the family was disputed by Geoward Eustaquio’s loved ones.
They described him as a kind and devoted father.
However, Laura, Cynthia’s daughter, testified in support of her mother.
She indicated that some of Cynthia’s claims of mistreatment might have been true.
The full truth of what went on behind closed doors remains unclear.
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| Cynthia Cdebaca celebrating he son-in-law's death |
Justice Is Served
Cynthia Cdebaca’s trial drew national attention due to her lack of remorse and the brutal nature of the crime.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of her premeditation, and the jury found her guilty of first-degree murder.
At the sentencing, Cynthia received 50 years to life in prison.
This sentence ensures that she will spend the rest of her life behind bars.
The murder of Geoward Eustaquio devastated his family.
His children lost a father, and the community was left grappling with the reality of what had happened.
Despite Cynthia’s claims of abuse, many who knew Geoward Eustaquio found it hard to believe he was a violent person like his wife described.
While we may never know the full story of what went on in the Eustaquio household, one thing is certain: Geoward Eustaquio's life was taken in a horrifying and senseless act.
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In another case, a man has been charged with murder.
He killed his girlfriend just five days after his ankle monitor was removed.
Click here for more details on that case
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