California country club double homicide may be linked to Tom Selleck imposter

A double homicide at a gated desert country club near Palm Springs has taken an unusual turn, with investigators now probing whether the deaths of a retired couple are connected to an elaborate online scam in which the wife allegedly sent thousands of dollars to a fraudster posing as Hollywood actor Tom Selleck.

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On Friday, May 15, at 11:59 a.m., deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check at a residence on the 79000 block of Montego Bay Drive in Bermuda Dunes, a country club community roughly 20 miles southeast of Palm Springs. Upon arrival, deputies found Donald Whitaker, 80, and his wife Karen Whitaker, 79, inside the home, both “suffering from traumatic injuries,” the sheriff’s office said. Authorities pronounced them dead at the scene.

In a statement issued the following day, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit said only that the case was “ongoing” and that “no further information will be released at this time.” No arrests have been made, and investigators have not disclosed the cause of death, the nature of the couple’s injuries or whether a suspect is at large.

According to neighbors and friends, Donald and Karen Whitaker had lived at the club full time for about two decades after relocating from Newport Beach, where Donald, who went by Jim, ran a dental practice where Karen also worked, KESQ-TV reports. 

Joy Miedecke, who knew the Whitakers through the East Valley Republican Women Patriots, told the outlet that Karen Whitaker had spent months sending money to a scammer who claimed to be “Magnum, P.I.” star Tom Selleck.

According to Miedecke, the contact began after Karen posted a tribute to a deceased school friend on Facebook. Someone found her phone number and sent a text claiming to be Selleck, saying he had known and dated the woman Karen was mourning. “That started the whole thing,” Miedecke told KESQ-TV.

The amount of money Karen sent escalated quickly, starting small before growing to hundreds and eventually thousands of dollars, reportedly all sent via untraceable gift cards. “She was living and breathing this part of her life,” Miedecke said. “They were constantly texting her every single day, text after text, and people around her started noticing.”

Miedecke said she personally contacted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and that Adult Protective Services visited the Whitakers’ home on multiple occasions. The Whitakers’ family took steps to cut off Karen’s access to funds, canceling cards and removing her from accounts, but she continued to find ways to send money, Miedecke said. Miedecke told KESQ-TV that she came forward publicly to warn others. 

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“I want people to understand that this isn’t just a scam and somebody lost all their money,” she said.

Authorities have not confirmed any link between the alleged scam and the deaths.

When asked Wednesday about the cause of death and potential suspects and whether investigators were aware of the alleged scam and the prior reports to Adult Protective Services, Lt. Deirdre Vickers, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, declined to address any of the questions specifically.

“The investigation remains active and ongoing, and no further details are available,” Vickers said in an emailed response.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Central Homicide Investigator Hood at 951-955-2777 or Thermal Station Investigator Gutierrez at 760-863-8990.