Mitt Romney says his family is “heartbroken” after his sister-in-law, Carrie Romney, was found dead in a Los Angeles parking lot, with authorities investigating the cause.
Former U.S. senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has expressed grief over the death of his sister-in-law, Carrie Elizabeth Romney, whose body was discovered in a parking lot in Valencia, California, on Friday, October 10.
“Our family is heartbroken by the loss of Carrie, who brought warmth and love to all our lives,” Romney said in a statement to PEOPLE magazine. “We ask for privacy during this difficult time.”
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, officers responded to a report around 8:30 p.m. and found Carrie, 64, unresponsive in the parking lot on the 24500 block of Town Center Drive. Homicide investigators were called to the scene, though officials have not determined the cause of death.
A department representative confirmed that a woman had either jumped or fallen from a nearby five-story parking structure beside a Hyatt Regency hotel. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Carrie’s cause of death as “deferred,” pending further investigation.
Her body was identified and is now “ready for release,” according to medical examiner records.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death remain ongoing.