An Escondido man believed to have killed his adoptive mother was found dead in his vehicle miles away from the crime scene officials confirmed Tuesday.
Joseph Stuber, 46, of Escondido, was found dead in a pickup truck found parked on Stratford Court in Del Mar.
"This is an ending of a very tragic case," Escondido Police Lt. Neal Griffin said. "An 83-year-old woman who had stood by her adopted son for most of his life ended with a very violent death. It's a tragic situation."
Stuber was last seen driving away from his home on Mountain View near South Citrus around 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Inside the home, police say they found Stuber's 83-year-old mother dead from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
Just before 8 a.m., San Diego County Sheriff's Department officials confirmed Stuber's Toyota Tacoma pickup was found on Stratford Court between 13th and 15th streets in Del Mar.
“We have determined that the suspect took his own life,” Griffin said.
Escondido police say they opened the death investigation after Stuber's biological father reported that Stuber, a high-risk sex offender, had made some threatening remarks Monday night.
"He's a registered sex offender of the highest order," Griffin said.
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When officers arrived, Stuber refused to leave the house. When officers called, Stuber hung up the phone.
However, at some point, Stuber was able to get out without being detected and law enforcement launched a manhunt.
At about 10:50 p.m., officials were able to enter the home and discovered what they describe as an elderly woman, dead on the floor, the apparent victim of a violent assault.
She was later identified as Stuber's mother. Her name has not been released.
Law enforcement officers say found the suspect's vehicle through the use of a license plate reading database.
