In a heartbreaking turn of events, Carrie Elizabeth Romney, the estranged wife of George Scott Romney—brother of former U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney—was found dead after a fall from a parking garage in Valencia, California, last Friday night.
According to the New York Post, the incident follows a contentious divorce filing by George Scott Romney in June, which sought to block Carrie from receiving any financial support or assets, culminating in her tragic death while the case remained unresolved.
George Scott Romney, 81, initiated divorce proceedings against Carrie, 64, in June, citing irreconcilable differences after just over eight years of marriage. The couple had split in May, prompting Romney to file the paperwork the following month. In his filing, Romney requested that the court terminate its ability to award support to either party.
According to court documents, both parties had agreed to mediate issues related to property and support, as noted by Romney’s legal team. However, Carrie countered with her own filings, requesting alimony and asking Romney to cover the legal costs of the divorce. She also sought to restore her former last name, Dimas, as part of the proceedings.
Romney claimed in his filing that the couple shared no property for the court to divide, despite their relationship dating back to 2012. They reportedly lived together in a $725,000 condo in Valencia, located 35 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Neighbors mentioned that Carrie had been staying at the condo shortly before her death.
The divorce case was still ongoing when tragedy struck on Friday night, as Carrie’s body was discovered at the base of a parking garage in Valencia. Investigators have yet to determine whether she jumped or fell accidentally, with the Los Angeles County medical examiner listing her cause of death as “deferred” as of Tuesday evening. Police have stated that foul play is not suspected in her death.
A neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, described Carrie to The Post as reserved but kind. “She was quiet. Very nice,” the neighbor said. Their words painted a picture of a woman who kept to herself in the community.
Mitt Romney, George’s younger brother and a former U.S. senator from Utah who ran for president in 2012, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “Our family is heartbroken by the loss of Carrie, who brought warmth and love to all our lives,” Mitt Romney said in a statement to People. “We ask for privacy during this difficult time,” he added.
George Scott Romney, a longtime corporate lawyer in Michigan, is the older brother of Mitt Romney and son of George W. Romney, a notable Michigan governor and Nixon cabinet member.
He has a history in politics, having sought the Republican nomination for Michigan attorney general in 1998, though he did not win. In 2013, he also considered a run for a Michigan Senate seat, as reported by Michigan Public Radio.
Romney notably read out the Michigan roll call at the 2012 Republican National Convention, where Mitt Romney secured the presidential nomination. His daughter, Ronna McDaniel, previously served as chair of the Republican National Committee, further tying the family to political prominence. This divorce marked Romney’s third, while both he and Carrie had grown children from prior marriages, but none together.
Carrie’s financial situation during the divorce remained unclear to the public. Records show she had a history of financial difficulty, including a 2001 Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing with a former spouse. The ongoing divorce added uncertainty to her circumstances at the time of her death.
On Tuesday, George Scott Romney was spotted walking in the Valencia neighborhood, wearing a hood amid a rare rainy day in Southern California. The sighting came just days after Carrie’s tragic passing, as the community grappled with the news. The quiet condo complex, once their shared home, now stands as a somber reminder of the unresolved personal conflict.
As investigators continue to probe the circumstances of Carrie’s fall, the community and family await answers. The medical examiner’s pending determination leaves open the question of whether this was a tragic accident or something more deliberate. For now, the focus remains on mourning a life cut short under heartbreaking circumstances.