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South Coast Man Accused Of Killing His 76-Year-Old Father

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's detectives at the scene Thursday of what investigators now say was a homicide.
(Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office photo)
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's detectives at the scene Thursday of what investigators now say was a homicide.

Prosecutors say steel bar used in attack

A South Coast man is facing a murder charge, after prosecutors say he beat his 76-year-old father to death with a steel bar.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 600 block of North La Cumbre Road last Thursday, to check on a resident of the home. They found the body of Bradley Tolivar. But, detectives say the cause of death wasn’t immediately apparent.

Deputies say they found evidence that his son, who was at the home, had attacked someone. Casey Toliver was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.

After an autopsy was completed yesterday, it was determined the 76-year-old man died from blunt force trauma. His 29-year-old son was rebooked at Santa Barbara County Jail for first-degree murder, as well as for attempted murder involving a second victim.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.