Death penalty off table for Cameron Terhune

The Stanislaus County district attorney's office won't seek the death penalty against a man suspected of shooting his parents to death in their Del Rio home, a prosecutor said Friday.

With the death penalty out of consideration, Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Ricardo Córdova set bail for Cameron Richard Terhune at $2 million. Terhune, 24, had been held without bail since his arrest Jan. 16.

"Based on the review of the reports, and discussions with the family, the people are, at this time, waiving the death penalty," Deputy District Attorney Richard Mury said.

Terhune has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in the deaths of Ken Terhune, 65, and Diane Terhune, 56. The Terhunes ran a mail-order business that marketed products related to the wine industry.

In a jailhouse interview this week, Terhune told The Bee that he struggled with mental health problems, had daily headaches, problems with mood swings and took prescription medications to deal with the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Cameron Terhune waived his right to a speedy trial; he returns to court May 29.