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Elderly California couple dies in tragic murder-suicide after falling victim to online scammer
A devastating financial fraud involving a celebrity impersonator leads to a California murder-suicide
An elderly California couple, Karen and Donald Whitaker, were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide following a devastating financial scam. Authorities confirmed that 79-year-old Karen had fallen victim to financial elder abuse before her passing. A close family friend revealed that Karen had been targeted on Facebook by a scammer posing as actor Tom Selleck.
Over the course of a year, the impersonator manipulated Karen into sending at least $30,000. Despite warnings from friends and interventions by police and Adult Protective Services, Karen continued to find ways to send money. The situation reached a breaking point for her 80-year-old husband, Donald, when he learned she was asking friends to participate in the scheme to secure more funds. Deeply embarrassed and overwhelmed by the financial fraud, the situation tragically culminated in the couple's death at their Bermuda Dunes home.
