An elderly couple in California, found dead in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide, had been targeted by scammers pretending to be actor Tom Selleck.
Discovery of the Couple
On May 15, 2026, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station responded to a welfare check at a home on Montego Bay Drive in Bermuda Dunes, Riverside County. Inside, they found 79-year-old Karen Whitaker and 80-year-old Donald Whitaker with traumatic injuries. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Alleged Scam
Karen Whitaker had been communicating with a person or persons impersonating Tom Selleck since last summer. The scam gained her trust using information from her Facebook profile, often linking the requests to deceased friends.
Karen was asked to send gift cards starting at $80, which escalated to thousands of dollars over time. Her friend, Joy Miedecke, believes Karen sent at least $30,000 before family intervention.
Family Intervention
After learning of the scam, Donald and the couple’s adult children cut off Karen’s access to financial accounts and credit cards. Despite this, she continued sending money to the scammers,
which caused significant stress for Donald, who reportedly struggled to cope with the financial loss and had discussed thoughts of suicide.
Investigation Status
Riverside County authorities said the deaths are believed to be a murder-suicide. There is no evidence linking the unknown scammer(s) to the couple’s deaths. Homicide investigators continue to review evidence, CCTV footage, and interviews to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The sheriff’s office has requested anyone with information to contact Central Homicide Investigator Hood at (951) 955-2777 or Thermal Station Investigator Gutierrez at (760) 863-8990.
Public Response
Miedecke hopes sharing the story publicly can prevent similar scams targeting the elderly. “The ramifications of someone stealing all of your money when you’re not capable of earning more — look at what it causes,” she said.
