Stepson taken in by elderly mom and stepdad repaid their kindness with hammer blows to both of their heads, now he is headed to prison for murder

Inset: Gary Crawford (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office). Background: The Arizona home where Gary Crawford attacked his mom and stepdad with a hammer (AZ Family/YouTube).

An elderly mom and stepdad in Arizona opened their home to the mother's son, and he repaid their kindness with a vicious hammer and shooting attack, leaving one of them dead and the other wounded.

Gary Crawford, 56, was sentenced this week to life in prison plus an additional 21 years for murdering his stepfather, Oscar Casdorph, 91, and nearly killing his 81-year-old mother in November 2025.

"This defendant's family took him in, and he betrayed them in the worst way imaginable," said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in a statement on Wednesday, announcing Crawford's sentence.

"This sentence ensures he spends the rest of his life in prison, exactly where he belongs," Mitchell said. "My thoughts are with the victims' families as they continue to grieve and try to heal."

Court documents obtained by AZ Family describe how Crawford "used a hammer and bludgeoned his stepfather" to death. He also attempted to bludgeon his mother in the same way before shooting her in the head. The woman survived.

"On November 22, 2025, Gilbert Police were called to a home near McQueen and Elliot roads for a welfare check," the attorney's office said in its press release Wednesday. "The caller said she was supposed to go to dinner with her 91-year-old father, but he was not answering the door. Officers made their way inside and found Oscar Casdorph bludgeoned to death with a hammer."

Police later learned that Crawford had moved into the home a few weeks before the attack, but Crawford and one of his parents' cars were missing when officers arrived.

"During the investigation, it was discovered that after attacking the victims, Crawford stole their cellphones and Oscar's bank card, which he used to withdraw $1,500," the attorney's office said. "Police tracked Crawford in the stolen car and arrested him."

Crawford pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in August, court records show.