California Woman Found Dead in Murder-Suicide May Have Sent Thousands to Scammer Impersonating Tom Selleck

An elderly California couple, Donald Whitaker, 80, and Karen Whitaker, 79, were found dead on May 15 inside their Bermuda Dunes home after a welfare check, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said both suffered traumatic injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. On Thursday, investigators said they believe the deaths were a murder-suicide, and that Karen Whitaker had also been the victim of financial elder abuse. Officials said there is no evidence that any scammer was directly involved in the deaths, and the case remains under investigation.

A longtime friend, Joy Miedecke, said Karen Whitaker had recently been deceived by someone posing online as actor Tom Selleck. Miedecke said the scam began about a year earlier when Karen posted about a deceased high school friend on Facebook. Soon after, someone contacted her claiming to have known that friend and later said they were Selleck, telling her they had dated the woman years ago. The contact gradually gained Karen’s trust through messages and phone calls.

According to Miedecke, the scammer first asked for an $80 payment for an event ticket and directed Karen to send the money using a gift card. After that, the requests grew larger. Miedecke said Karen was later asked to buy a table for friends at an event for $800, and then more money was requested for other reasons. She said Karen kept sending money even after friends warned her that the person was not Selleck and was likely running a scam.

Miedecke said she contacted the sheriff’s office, and deputies spoke with Karen and provided proof that she was being scammed. The sheriff’s office confirmed that the financial elder abuse had been reported. Despite intervention from friends, Donald Whitaker, and the couple’s adult children, Karen allegedly continued communicating with the scammer and sending money. Adult protective services reportedly visited the home in January after Donald learned about the situation.

Miedecke said the scam became increasingly emotional and “almost a little bit romantic,” which made it harder to stop. She added that the couple tried to cut off Karen’s access to credit cards and accounts, but she continued finding ways to obtain money. The day before the couple was found dead, Karen had again asked friends for money, Miedecke said.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said there is no evidence the scammer or scammers were involved in the deaths. A representative for Selleck did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Miedecke said she wants other older adults and families to be alert to similar fraud schemes targeting vulnerable people online.