California couple found dead were victims of Tom Selleck impersonator scam

An elderly California couple found dead inside their country club home had reportedly been caught in a disturbing online scam involving someone posing as actor Tom Selleck before their deaths, according to a close friend.

Donald Whitaker, 80, and his wife Karen, 79, were discovered with traumatic injuries inside their home at Bermuda Dunes Country Club last Friday after Riverside County deputies responded to a welfare check shortly before noon.

Authorities have not revealed how the couple was killed, and no arrests have been made.

As investigators continue probing the double homicide, family friend Joy Miedecke says Karen had spent months sending money to an online scammer pretending to be Selleck.

Miedecke said the ordeal began after Karen posted a Facebook tribute to a deceased school friend.

Soon after, someone allegedly contacted her by text message claiming to be the Hollywood star.

“They found her phone number and they text messaged her and they said they were Tom Selleck,” Miedecke told News Channel 3. “And that they knew this girl and had dated her. And now we have something in common. And that started the whole thing.”

According to Miedecke, Karen initially sent small amounts of money through gift cards before the payments escalated.

“She was living and breathing this part of her life, and they were constantly texting her every single day, text after text, and people around her started noticing,” Miedecke said.

Friends and family tried repeatedly to stop the alleged scam.

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Miedecke said Adult Protective Services visited the Whitakers’ home multiple times.

Karen’s relatives also cut up her credit cards and removed her access to financial accounts, but she allegedly continued finding ways to send money.

“We even had somebody who had a relationship with somebody that works for Tom Selleck go and talk to her and say, Tom Selleck does not do this,” Miedecke said. “It didn’t matter. She couldn’t stop believing it.”

Miedecke described Donald, known to friends as Jim, as a retired dentist who had recently completed detailed tile and glass work throughout the couple’s home.

Karen had worked in his dental practice before the pair relocated from Newport Beach to Bermuda Dunes Country Club roughly 20 years ago.

Americans aged 60 and older lost nearly $8 billion to cyber and phone scams in 2025.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the case remains an active homicide investigation.

Investigators have not said whether a suspect is at large or released details about the victims’ injuries, News Channel 3 reported.