Tragedy struck close to one of Washington, DC’s most prominent political families.
The circumstances surrounding the death have authorities scrambling for answers.
And Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law was found dead under circumstances that left investigators with more questions than answers.
Death investigation unfolds at Southern California shopping center
Former Utah Senator Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law, 64-year-old Carrie Elizabeth Romney of Valencia, California, was found dead next to a parking garage at the Valencia Town Center shopping mall on Friday evening.¹
Deputies and paramedics responded to the scene around 8:30 p.m., and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department dispatched homicide investigators who arrived around 9 p.m. in the 24000 block of Town Center Drive near the popular shopping destination just north of Los Angeles.²
Preliminary information from authorities suggested Carrie Romney may have either jumped or fallen from the five-story parking structure.³
But here’s what makes this case unusual — the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed her cause of death as "deferred" while toxicology tests are pending.⁴
That means investigators don’t have enough information yet to determine what actually happened.
Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Nicole Nishida confirmed investigators are speculating about a possible fall or jump from the parking garage.⁵
The reality is toxicology tests can take months to complete.
Medical examiner cases marked as "deferred" typically involve situations where authorities need additional testing before they can determine an official cause of death.
The Romney family connection to national politics
Mitt Romney built a career that took him from the business world to the highest levels of American politics.
The former Massachusetts Governor served in that role from 2003 to 2007 before launching his first presidential campaign.⁶
Romney made his first presidential run in 2008, dropping out after the primary contests to throw his support behind the late Senator John McCain.⁷
Four years later, Romney secured the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2012 but lost the general election to former President Barack Obama.⁸
The political scion didn’t disappear from public service after that defeat.
Romney landed a Senate seat in Utah in 2018 and served until his term ran out in 2025.⁹
During those years in Washington, D.C., Romney became the Republican Party’s most reliable Trump critic — Democrats loved him for it while conservatives couldn’t stand him.
He made history as the first U.S. Senator ever to vote to convict a President from his own party during Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2020.¹⁰
Romney announced in September 2023 that he would not seek reelection, stating "At the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-80s. Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders."¹¹
Investigation continues as authorities await toxicology results
Investigators have not disclosed whether they suspect foul play in Carrie Romney’s death.
The Sheriff’s Department maintains the investigation remains active and ongoing.¹²
Law enforcement responded to the Valencia Town Center shopping mall — a major retail destination in the Santa Clarita Valley suburbs — after receiving the call Friday evening.¹³
Deputies and Los Angeles County Fire paramedics arrived at the scene around 8:30 p.m. according to authorities.¹⁴
The timing and location of the incident have left many questions unanswered.
Shopping mall parking garages typically have security cameras and witness traffic from shoppers throughout the evening hours.
Yet authorities have released limited information about what preceded Carrie Romney’s death or whether any witnesses came forward.
The deferral of the official cause of death indicates medical examiners need more information before making a determination.
That process could stretch on for months as toxicology labs work through their backlogs and complete the necessary testing.
¹ Alex Stone, "Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law found dead in Southern California, officials say," ABC7 Bay Area, October 13, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Staff Report, "Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law dead after possible fall or jump from parking structure, authorities say," Spokesman-Review, October 13, 2025.
⁶ "Mitt Romney," Britannica, accessed October 14, 2025.
⁷ Stone, "Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law found dead."
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ "Mitt Romney," Wikipedia, accessed October 14, 2025.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Colin McEvoy, "Mitt Romney: Biography, U.S. Senator, Past Presidential Candidate," Biography.com, September 14, 2023.
¹² Stone, "Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law found dead."
¹³ Staff Report, "Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law falls to her death in Southern California parking garage," KTLA, October 13, 2025.
¹⁴ Ibid.
