California woman dead in murder-suicide may have given thousands to a scammer claiming to be Tom Selleck
An elderly couple in California was found dead in a suspected murder-suicide after being victims of a scam involving someone impersonating actor Tom Selleck. The couple's friend reported that Karen Whitaker had been scammed out of thousands of dollars over the course of a year. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths, but there is no evidence linking the scammer to the incident.
- ▪Donald and Karen Whitaker were discovered dead in their home on May 15 after a welfare check was requested.
- ▪Karen had been a victim of financial elder abuse, having sent money to a scammer posing as Tom Selleck.
- ▪The scam began after Karen connected with the impersonator on Facebook, leading to significant financial losses.
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U.S. newsCalifornia woman dead in murder-suicide may have given thousands to a scammer claiming to be Tom Selleck Donald Whitaker, 80, and his wife, Karen Whitaker, 79, were discovered in their home on May 15 following a request for a welfare check.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Donald and Karen Whitaker.via NBC Palm SpringsShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 22, 2026, 7:17 PM EDTBy Minyvonne BurkeAn elderly California couple found dead in a suspected murder-suicide had recently been scammed by someone posing as actor Tom Selleck, a longtime friend said.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Donald Whitaker, 80, and his wife, Karen Whitaker, 79, were found dead May 15 in their Bermuda Dunes home after someone…
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