An elderly California couple was found dead inside their home this month in what authorities are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide, after the wife allegedly spent months sending money to an online scammer pretending to be actor Tom Selleck.
Donald Whitaker, an 80-year-old retired dentist, and his wife, Karen Whitaker, 79, were found dead on May 15 at their home in Bermuda Dunes, California.
Deputies with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office were called to the home just before midnight for a welfare check. When they arrived, Donald and Karen were found with traumatic injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not publicly said who they believe was responsible. They also have not released specific details about the couple’s fatal injuries.
However, the sheriff’s office said the evidence currently suggests the deaths were a murder-suicide.
“At this time, the Riverside Sheriff’s homicide investigators continue to investigate and exhaust all leads in this homicide,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The evidence available suggests this was a murder-suicide. Homicide investigators are still actively investigating the incident and will complete a thorough investigation before releasing a final disposition.”
The department declined to provide more details because the investigation is ongoing.
But officials did confirm one disturbing part of the case: Karen had “fallen victim to financial elder abuse.”
Investigators said there is currently no evidence that the unknown person or people involved in the financial abuse were directly involved in the couple’s deaths.
According to longtime family friend Joy Miedecke, the heartbreaking situation began after Karen posted on Facebook about a friend who had recently died.
Miedecke told KTLA that an unknown person commented on the post and began talking to Karen. The person slowly gained her trust by using information that was already visible on her Facebook page.
Then came the shocking twist.
The person allegedly claimed to be Tom Selleck, the beloved actor known for “Magnum, P.I.” and “Blue Bloods.”
At first, the requests were small. Miedecke said the scammer asked Karen for $80 so she could supposedly be first in line to meet him at a fake event in the desert.
The payments allegedly started with smaller amounts, often through gift cards.
But over time, the demands grew.
According to Miedecke, the person began asking for hundreds and then thousands of dollars.
Karen’s family and friends became alarmed as the situation escalated. Miedecke said she and Karen’s adult children tried repeatedly to convince her that the person was not really Tom Selleck.
But Karen would not believe them.
“She thought it was really Tom Selleck,” Miedecke said.
The situation was even more heartbreaking because Karen was reportedly in the early stages of dementia, according to her family.
Miedecke said the scammer was constantly messaging Karen.
“She was living and breathing this part of her life, and they were constantly texting her,” Miedecke said. “Every single day. Text after text. And people around her started noticing.”
Miedecke eventually called the sheriff’s department, which led to multiple visits from adult protective services.
When Donald learned what had been happening, he and the couple’s adult children cut Karen off from her financial accounts.
But Miedecke said Karen still found ways to send money.
“She still found ways to get money and send it to the scammer,” Miedecke said. “We’re talking at least $30,000, if not more. We don’t know the final total.”
The case is a devastating reminder of how quickly online romance and celebrity impersonation scams can spiral, especially when the victim is elderly or vulnerable.
The FBI recently warned about common signs of elder fraud for National Senior Fraud Awareness Day, which happened to fall on May 15, the same day Donald and Karen were found dead.
Officials say scammers often pressure victims to keep the relationship secret, create a false sense of urgency, or pretend to be someone famous, powerful, romantic or trustworthy.
Some scammers also pretend to be law enforcement or government officials to frighten victims into sending money or valuables.
The FBI says one of the best ways to avoid these scams is to ignore unsolicited emails, phone calls and text messages, especially from unknown numbers.
For Donald and Karen Whitaker’s loved ones, the warning comes too late.