When tragedy strikes, stories often take on a life of their own. In the case of Steve Dulcich, the well-known face of Roadkill Garage, online whispers have long claimed that his grandfather was killed in a violent shootout. It’s a rumor that has circulated widely, fueled by sensational headlines and the Dulcich name’s connection to California’s grape-growing industry. But what really happened? The truth is both less dramatic and more deeply personal.
At the heart of Steve Dulcich’s story is his father, George Steve Dulcich. Born in 1935 in Brusje, Croatia, George’s early life was shaped by the upheavals of World War II. In 1947, he emigrated to the United States, rejoining his father, John, who had already established roots in California’s fertile Central Valley.
George adapted quickly to his new home. He attended Columbine Elementary, graduated from Delano High School, and served with pride in the California National Guard. Yet beyond his service, George was known for his sheer physical strength and dedication. Friends recalled his passion for weightlifting—he famously pressed over 700 pounds in his own home gym. But his real strength lay in his devotion to farming. Working the land with his family, George became the steady hand that managed vineyards, oversaw storage, and eventually ran his own ranch.
For George, grapes weren’t just produce—they were tradition, livelihood, and pride.
He carried those values into family life as well. Married to his wife, Stana, for nearly six decades, he raised three sons—John, Steve, and George—and was blessed with eight grandchildren. George’s life was marked by discipline, hard work, and a quiet persistence that clearly influenced Steve’s path. After living with congestive heart failure for ten years, George passed away peacefully on January 18, 2019, at Bakersfield Heart Hospital. His funeral at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Delano drew a community together in remembrance of a man who embodied endurance and integrity.
The confusion around Steve’s family began in April 2018, a year before George’s passing. On that morning, Jakov Prosper Dulcich, the founder of J.P. Dulcich & Sons and the face behind the well-known Pretty Lady grape brand, was shot and killed in Delano.
Reports revealed a harrowing scene: Jakov’s SUV was riddled with bullets after another vehicle pulled alongside him. The 85-year-old succumbed to his injuries, and his car ultimately crashed off the road. The attack stunned the farming community and made headlines far beyond California’s Central Valley.
The violent nature of the event, combined with the shared surname, quickly led many fans to assume Jakov was Steve Dulcich’s grandfather. The theory spread across forums, fan pages, and even into casual conversations about Roadkill Garage.
Here’s where the facts matter.
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Steve’s father was George Steve Dulcich, the son of John and Marga Dulcich.
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Jakov, the shooting victim, was the son of Peter and Rosa Dulcich.
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John and Peter were brothers, which means George and Jakov were first cousins.
In other words, Jakov was not Steve’s grandfather—he was Steve’s father’s cousin. That makes Jakov Steve’s first cousin once removed.
So while the 2018 shooting did affect the extended Dulcich family, it was not the death of Steve’s grandfather, as so many rumors suggest.
The Dulcich family has indeed faced loss. George’s death in 2019 marked the passing of a pillar of strength within the immediate family. The shocking 2018 shooting of Jakov, meanwhile, left ripples across the broader Dulcich clan and the Central Valley farming world.
But the truth is clear: Steve’s grandfather did not die in a shootout. His grandfather, John, was a Croatian immigrant who helped establish the family’s farming roots in California. The victim of the 2018 attack was a relative, yes—but not the man at the center of Steve’s immediate family tree.
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