Ventura County, CA – A California father, Anthony Nardini, is facing a potential life sentence after being found guilty of attempting to murder his son with a sledgehammer. The 42-year-old was convicted on three felony charges, including attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, and assault with a deadly weapon.
The incident occurred on March 19, 2023, in an unincorporated area of Ventura County near Simi Valley. Nardini and his son, who had recently reconnected after a period of estrangement, were staying with family members. A physical altercation between the father and son had to be broken up by relatives earlier in the evening. Nardini left the scene in his truck, only to return later.
Upon his return, Nardini found his son asleep on the couch. He insisted that the other family members retire for the night. Once alone with his son, Nardini used a sledgehammer he found on the property to attack his sleeping son. The sound of the blows alerted family members, who found the victim with severe head injuries. Nardini fled the scene through the backdoor.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to find a blood-covered sledgehammer outside the residence. The victim was rushed to a local hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma due to the severity of his injuries. Despite the brutal attack, the young man survived.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Stu Gardner, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Unit, expressed hope that the conviction would bring some solace to the victim. Nardini is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1, 2023, in the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody without bail, facing a life sentence with the possibility of parole.