San Diego

Homicide Investigation Launched After Caregiver Finds 2 Bodies

Dave Jordan worked as a coach at Grossmont College for 36 years.

A former football head coach for Grossmont College was found dead inside his El Cajon home, alongside his wife's body, homicide investigators said.

The deaths have been ruled a murder-suicide by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

David Wesley Jordan, 82, was found Friday with a gunshot wound to the head in the living room of his home on Toya Lane. Jordan had a long career as a college football coach and is the father of the current head coach at Grossmont College.

Nearby, Jordan's wife, Jean Adelle Jordan, 82, was found dead with a revolver in her hands. 

The couple was discovered by an in-home caregiver at the home in the Blossom Valley community after 8 a.m., the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said.

Neighbors told NBC 7 David Jordan's health had been failing. 

A neighbor told NBC 7 that he heard several "pops" coming from the home Friday morning between 1 and 2 a.m.

"We heard a pop that we thought might have been a firework and then we heard another two pops," the neighbor said.

The SDSO Homicide Unit was handling the investigation.

Dave Jordan worked as a coach at Grossmont College for 36 years. He was the head coach from 1971 to 1978 and again from 1990 to 2006. 

Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh said, "We mourn the loss of Dave Jordan, who had a deep passion for helping students, both on the football field and in life. He helped build Grossmont Collegeโ€™s football program into a nationally ranked team and transformed the lives of many young men.โ€ 

In 2012, Jordan was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Hall of Fame with a record of 135-89-9 while coaching the Grossmont Griffins. 

Jordan's son, Mike, has been the head coach of the team since his father's retirement in 2006. 

Former player George Jackson says Coach David Jordan not only coached him when he was a player on the Grossmont Griffins, he also took him under his wing to become his assistant running back coach for the team.

"He was one of those persons who showed he cared for you on and off the field," Jackson told NBC 7. "To hear that situation happened, I was just slammed." 

Former player Anuyell Goodwin said Jordan was always there for people."There's just things that are bigger than football. Your dad meant the world to me," Anuyell said, speaking of Jordan's son who is the current football coach at Grossmont. "I just want him and the family to know that I'm here for him whatever he needs." 

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330. Investigators can be reached after hours at (858) 565-5200. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anonymous tips can be made online or by calling (888) 580-8477.

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