Former Utah senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney confirmed the death of his sister-in-law, Carrie Elizabeth Romney, 64, who was found dead in Valencia, California, on Friday evening.

Authorities said Carrie Romney was discovered near a five-story parking structure close to the Town Center shopping area and a Hyatt Regency hotel in Santa Clarita.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said her cause of death remains “deferred” pending toxicology results.

JUST IN: Mitt Romney’s Sister in law found dead on the street in LA suburb. pic.twitter.com/55Y6c4nhqj

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In a statement released over the weekend, Romney said, “Our family is heartbroken by the loss of Carrie, who brought warmth and love to all our lives. We ask for privacy during this difficult time.”

Local officials responded to a 911 call shortly before 8:30 p.m. Friday.

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According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Romney’s body was found next to a parking garage associated with an apartment complex on the 24000 block of Town Center Drive.

Her vehicle was later located parked inside the structure.

Lt. Daniel Vizcarra, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department, said investigators are still determining the circumstances surrounding her death.

“We don’t know if it was suicide or accidental. There is not enough information to go by yet on what the coroner has given us so far,” Vizcarra told the Daily Mail.

He added that foul play has not been ruled out but said there is no evidence at this time to indicate it.

“As of right now, there is no evidence of it,” he said.

Detectives are reviewing possible surveillance footage from the area.

The death occurred just months after court records showed that George Scott Romney, Mitt Romney’s older brother, filed for divorce from Carrie following their separation in May.

Scott Romney, 81, filed the paperwork on June 10, citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple had been married for just over eight years, having wed on November 26, 2016. It was Scott Romney’s third marriage.

He and Carrie had no children together and largely kept their relationship private. Neither maintained a public presence on social media, and they were rarely photographed together.

Court filings reviewed by the Daily Mail indicated that most of the couple’s assets were acquired individually before their marriage.

Carrie had requested spousal support and the restoration of her maiden name, Carrie Elizabeth Dimas.

Scott Romney is a Michigan attorney with the firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn and serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards, including Compuware Corporation.

He was previously married to Ronna Stern Romney, with whom he shares former Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

Carrie’s death adds to a difficult year for the extended Romney family.

Mitt Romney’s statement requesting privacy reflected the family’s traditionally close-knit dynamic, often highlighted in media profiles over the years.

During his national campaigns in 2008 and 2012, Romney frequently emphasized the importance of family, describing them as his foundation throughout his political career.

He has three older siblings, including Scott, and five sons with his wife, Ann Romney.

Scott Romney was an active presence during Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns.

In a 2012 PBS interview, Scott described how his younger brother enlisted his help early on.

“In 2006 he called me and said, ‘I’d like somebody with a little gray hair to help raise money, and I wonder if you’d be willing to help me.’ And he asked me to help with him on his campaign. Since then, I’ve been doing everything I can to help his political career,” he said.

Mitt Romney’s most recent public appearance was at Drew University in New Jersey in late September.

The former senator retired in January 2024 after one term representing Utah, citing the need for “a new generation of leaders.”

Romney, who previously served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, said at the time that the country’s challenges require “the next generation to step up and express their point of view.”

Authorities in Los Angeles County said the investigation into Carrie Romney’s death remains open.

No further details have been released pending the medical examiner’s final report.

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