An elderly couple in California was found dead in a suspected murder-suicide after the wife had allegedly been scammed by someone claiming to be actor Tom Selleck, according to a longtime friend.
Deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to a home in Bermuda Dunes on May 15 around 12 p.m. to perform a welfare check at the home of Karen Whitaker and Donald Whitaker, according to a news release shared by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon their arrival, deputies found Karen, 79, and Donald, 80, who were suffering with traumatic injuries. Donald and Karen were eventually pronounced dead at the scene.
Their friend Joy Miedecke later told People that Karen asked some of her friends for money one day before their deaths, claiming that Selleck’s manager’s wife had died and he needed financial help.
“That was the last straw for Donald,” Miedecke, 81, told the outlet. “He was so embarrassed. He could not believe she would ask her friends to participate in this scam.”
Police found evidence that suggests the Whitakers’ deaths were the result of a murder-suicide, per the release. However, authorities have not said who was responsible for the killings.
“Homicide investigators are still actively investigating the incident and will complete a thorough investigation before releasing a final disposition,” the sheriff’s office said in the statement.
The sheriff’s office added that they found no evidence to lead them to believe a third person was involved in the deaths.
Miedecke told the outlet that Karen began communicating with a person or persons impersonating Selleck, 81, in the summer of 2025. The alleged scammer gained Karen’s trust by using information about her that was available on her Facebook profile.
The scammer first came into contact with Karen after she posted a message on Facebook about a friend who had passed away, according to Miedecke.
“Then, the [scammer or scammers] said, ‘We’re going to come out to the desert and have an event, and Karen, you can be first on the list if you just send $80,’” Miedecke claimed.
Miedecke said Karen sent the scammer amounts of money that gradually grew to thousands of dollars, and her friends urged her to stop sending money. However, Karen – who was potentially experiencing early-stage dementia – never believed she was being scammed.
“She thought it was really Tom Selleck,” Miedecke said. “Nobody could stop her.”
Miedecke reported the matter to authorities and adult protective services workers visited the couple’s home, which was when Donald first allegedly learned about the scam. Donald and the couple’s adult children cut off Karen’s access to financial accounts once they became aware of the situation, according to Miedecke.
While it has not been confirmed how much money Karen sent the impersonator, Miedecke estimated she sent at least $30,000.
Donald reportedly was unable to convince Karen she had been scammed, and Miedecke said he could not cope with their financial loss. “He had said a couple of times to friends that he didn’t know how to handle this and he couldn’t cope with it,” she said.
Miedecke claimed Donald was open about his thoughts to take his own life, though he said he would never go through with it because he could not leave Karen with access to their money.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department asked that anyone with information regarding the case contact Central Homicide Investigator Hood at (951) 955-2777 or Thermal Station Investigator Gutierrez at (760) 863-8990.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
