Police scour land in Clyde North over father-son murder probe

Homicide detectives are scouring a patch of land in search of weapons and clues in the double stabbing murder of a father and son in Melbourne’s southeast.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images and names of people who have died.

Homicide detectives are scouring a patch of land in search of weapons and clues in the double stabbing murder of a father and son in Melbourne’s southeast.

54-year-old Karl Dieter Gruber and his 23-year-old son, Karl Gruber-Terrick, were stabbed to death at a child’s birthday party on Observatory St in Clyde North on Thursday last week.

Up to 20 family members and loved ones were at the gathering, but police are still working to piece together how a fatal brawl that unfolded at the celebration turned deadly.

State Emergency Service (SES) crews and detectives spent Monday searching through land about 8km away from the murder scene in a bid to uncover fresh clues.

They combed through an area outlined by gravel roads and tall grass located near a desalination plant.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed the search was part of the investigation into the father’s and son’s deaths.

Karl Gruber Jnr and Karl Gruber Snr were stabbed to death last week. Picture: Facebook

But it remains unclear whether they located anything of significance, such as the murder weapon or weapons, or items belonging to those who were at the party, on Monday afternoon.

It is understood Karl Snr and Karl Jnr, who lived in Seaford, were at the party for a one-year-old child, who the Herald Sun understands could be a grandchild of the elder Karl.

At least one close acquaintance at the party when a fight broke out and spilt onto the street.

What sparkled the fight, and how many people were involved in stabbing the pair remain unclear.

The Herald Sun revealed that the fatal double stabbing was the most recent incident in a long history of the pair’s violent history with the law.

Police investigate the area around Observatory St at Clyde North after the father and son were fatally stabbed. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Forensic specialists at the scene. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

In 2021, a Northern Territory ordered the younger Karl, then aged 20, to leave the state and return to Victoria after he was sentenced to a three-year stint behind bars, which was suspended after 12 months, for his role in a savage nightclub beating that left a man with a traumatic brain injury.

While supporting his son during the court proceedings, Karl Snr was arrested outside a Darwin court in February 2021.

Aged 50 at the time, he pleaded guilty to nine counts of breaching a domestic violence order for attending the court hearings with his ex-wife.

He also pleaded guilty to spitting in a police officer’s face, stealing items out of a stranger’s shed selling them and stealing a pair of sneakers from an Australia Post delivery.

But a 23-year-old Gruber-Terrick had immersed himself in local footy since the family relocated back to Melbourne.

“We are grieving to (sic) the sudden loss of one of our much loved playing members who was a true gentleman at our club, wore his heart on his sleeve and let his footy do the talking,” the club said online last week.

Janaya Johnson, a friend of Karl Jnr, said: “He was very loved and will be missed dearly by everybody who knew and loved him.”

Police say they have tracked down and spoken to everyone who attended the party, but no charges have been laid.

Anyone with information and CCTV or dash cam footage should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Police scour land in Clyde North over father-son murder probe