2 Dead in Murder-Suicide After Wife Duped by Tom Selleck Impersonator

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A woman in California and her husband have died after she was tricked out of a large sum of money by someone claiming to be actor Tom Selleck, a close friend reported.

On May 15th, authorities found Karen Whitaker, 79, and Donald Whitaker, 80, dead at their home in Bermuda Dunes, California. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office stated the deaths appear to be the result of a murder-suicide.

Police stated that Karen was a victim of financial exploitation before she died, but they emphasize there’s no indication that whoever committed the financial abuse had anything to do with her and her husband’s deaths.

With the police still investigating, Joy Miedecke, a close friend of the Whitakers, believes Karen sent at least $30,000 over a year to someone she thought was actor Sam Selleck. Selleck has not been accused of any wrongdoing and isn’t involved in the investigation.

We instantly knew it wasn’t Tom Selleck – it was a scam,” Miedecke told NBC News on May 22. “But she refused to listen to anyone who told her that.

According to Miedecke, the scam began when Karen received a Facebook message from someone claiming to be actor Tom Selleck, best known for Magnum, P.I. The scammer said they had a friend in common who had passed away. They then exchanged phone numbers, and the person pretending to be Selleck claimed to be organizing a local event and asked Karen to purchase an $80 ticket.

According to Miedecke, he explained how to send the message, and she followed his instructions right away. He continued to write to her, building her trust and eventually becoming a friend.

Miedecke claims the impersonator tricked Karen out of another $800 by convincing her she could purchase an entire table for her friends.

“That’s how it started,” she said. “Then he kept needing more and more money – for this, for that, all sorts of things – and it just spiraled out of control.”

According to Miedecke, she began secretly keeping things to herself, but she was constantly texting – all day and all night it didn’t stop.

According to Miedecke, the day before she died, Karen told her friends she needed money, saying that the manager’s wife was in financial hardship due to a recent death.

According to an interview with People published on May 22nd, Donald was completely humiliated. She said he was shocked that she would involve their friends in what he considered a scam.

Miedecke explained she was sharing Karen and Donald’s story to help others avoid similar problems and to increase understanding of the issues they faced.

Miedecke explained that the consequences of having all your money stolen, especially if you can’t earn any more, are devastating. He emphasized considering the full impact of such a loss.

Miedecke states that Donald discovered the suspected financial scam when Karen’s friends alerted the police and adult protective services about her spending. Even after Donald and his family blocked Karen’s access to her accounts, Miedecke says she continued to find ways to get money and remained in touch with the person who was pretending to be someone else.

According to Miedecke, she began secretly keeping things hidden, but she was constantly texting – all day and all night without stopping.

According to Miedecke, the day before she died, Karen asked her friends for money, saying the manager’s wife needed help with expenses after passing away.

According to an interview with People magazine published on May 22nd, Donald was completely humiliated by her actions. She said, “That was the final thing that pushed him over the edge. He couldn’t believe she’d involve their friends in what he considered a scam.”

Miedecke explained she was sharing Karen and Donald’s story to help others avoid similar problems and to increase understanding of the issues they faced.

Miedecke pointed out the devastating consequences of having all your money stolen if you’re unable to earn any more, emphasizing the impact it has on a person’s life.

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2026-05-29 03:17