The tragic death of Carrie Elizabeth Romney, sister-in-law to former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has been officially ruled a suicide by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The 64-year-old was found unresponsive on a street adjacent to a five-storey parking structure in Valencia, California, in October, having suffered blunt traumatic injuries from the fall.
Autopsy Reveals Disturbing Details
In a comprehensive autopsy report released in December, Medical Examiner Dr Emily Lo detailed that Carrie Romney "fell backwards from a seated position on a parking structure rooftop." Security footage captured her pacing on the top level for an extended period before she sat on the terrace edge and plunged to her death. A note was discovered inside her vehicle, adding a poignant layer to the investigation.
History of Mental Health Struggles
Dr Lo's report confirmed that Romney had a history of suicidal ideation and had previously attempted to take her own life. A toxicology screening revealed she tested positive for the benzodiazepine Alprazolam at the time of her death. Foul play was not suspected by homicide detectives, with the case treated as a suicide from the outset.
Recent Marital Breakdown
The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of a recent marital separation. Carrie had been married to George Scott Romney – Mitt Romney's brother – since November 2016. According to court filings obtained by the Daily Mail, the couple separated on May 25 of this year, with Scott filing for divorce on June 10 citing irreconcilable differences.
This was the 84-year-old lawyer and politician's fourth marriage. Scott, father of former RNC chairman Ronna McDaniel from his first marriage, stated in filings that most assets were acquired individually before the marriage. Carrie had been seeking spousal support, which Scott did not agree to, and requested restoration of her maiden name, Carrie Elizabeth Dimas.
Private Lives and Public Figures
The couple maintained an exceptionally private relationship, never photographed together publicly and inactive on social media. Scott hasn't granted major media interviews since the 2012 presidential campaign, where he was described by The New York Times as the most visible of Mitt Romney's siblings on the campaign trail.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Senator Mitt Romney directed attention to his statement at the time of Carrie's passing: "Our family is heartbroken by the loss of Carrie, who brought warmth and love to all our lives."
Investigation and Response
LA County Sheriff's spokesman Lieutenant Daniel Vizcarra told the Daily Mail that a passerby called 911 after discovering Carrie's body by the parking structure belonging to an apartment complex in Santa Clarita. Her vehicle was located on one of the parking structure floors.
Investigators worked to obtain video footage from the area, which is adjacent to a shopping mall and Hyatt Regency Hotel. Footage from the investigation showed police tape cordoning off much of the parking lot with multiple police vehicles on scene. Vizcarra noted that while foul play hadn't been ruled out initially, there was no evidence to suggest it.
The Romney Family Context
The Romney family is known for being notoriously close and competitive, with The Washington Post once profiling their annual family Olympics on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Mitt Romney, who retired from the Senate in 2024, often championed his status as a family man during his presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.
Scott Romney remains an attorney at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn in Michigan and serves on several corporate boards. The tragic loss of Carrie Romney adds a sombre chapter to the public narrative surrounding one of America's most prominent political families.
