Dad, who police say attacked his family with splitting maul, is a Shasta County attorney

A Shasta County public defender attacked his family with a splitting maul Wednesday morning in their west Redding home, police said.

Police arrested Theodore Rudolph Loos, 73, on suspicion of three counts of attempted murder and other charges.

The Public Defender's Office confirmed Wednesday that Loos is one of its attorneys.

Bill Bateman, the county's public defender, declined to comment on the arrest other than to say he wished Loos and his family the best.

Police went to the home in the 1700 block of Galway Drive in west Redding around 7:45 a.m. after a juvenile called and said her mother had been hit with an ax by her father, investigators said.

The girl also had been attacked by her father and had seen her brother attacked, investigators said. She told police her father was trying to stab himself as she was speaking with emergency dispatchers.

When police arrived at the house, they arrested Loos, Redding police Sgt. Levi Solada said in a news release.

Police searched the Galway Drive home as well as two vehicles parked in the driveway.

The boy told investigators he woke up to find his father, Loos, standing in his bedroom doorway holding a splitting maul. He said his father attacked him with the splitting maul, attempting to hit him with the blunt side, investigators said.

The girl woke up after hearing the screams of her brother and went to see what was happening. She then screamed at Loos to stop, investigators said, which caused him to attack her.

Investigators said the girl was struck in the head with the blunt side of the splitting maul.

The boy and girl escaped into their mother's room where they found their mother lying in bed with massive wounds to her head and face, investigators said.

The girl ran to a neighbor's house to call 911, while the boy was able to disarm his father, investigators said, adding that Loos also was armed with a knife.

Investigators said the mother suffered life-threatening injuries and required surgery. She is in critical condition.

Police did not release the names of the mother or the two juveniles.

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David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.