Mitt Romney's Sister-in-Law Found Dead in LA Parking Garage – Here's What We Know

At the time of her death, the former U.S. Senator released a statement mourning his sister-in-law and opening up about the kind of person she was.

Carrie Elizabeth Romney, the sister-in-law of former U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, died on October 10, 2025, and her family said they were heartbroken by the loss. The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner has now determined the cause of death.

Grief, Shock, and a Statement from the Romneys

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s representative previously said that law enforcement responded to a call at about 8:30 p.m. PT on the night of Carrie’s death. Deputies arrived at a Valencia parking garage on the 24500 block of Town Center Drive, where they found her body.

According to the Sheriff's representative, Carrie had either jumped or fallen from the five-story structure, which sits near a Hyatt Regency hotel. Authorities later stated that foul play was not suspected in her death.

On Tuesday, December 9, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) confirmed that Carrie died from blunt traumatic injuries sustained in the fall. The DME also ruled her death a suicide. She was 64 years old.

Shortly after her passing, Mitt shared a statement saying, "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."

Divorce, Heartbreak, and Legal Battles Behind the Scenes

In the months leading up to her death, Carrie was in the middle of divorce proceedings from Mitt's brother, George "Scott" Romney. According to court documents, Scott — who is 84 — filed to end the marriage on June 10.

The documents state that the couple had separated on May 25, and list "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. In the filing, Scott also asked the court to remove the possibility of spousal support for either party, both during the proceedings and afterward.

He noted that most of their assets and debts belonged to each of them individually and had been acquired before they were married. Carrie later informed the court that she intended to drop the Romney surname and revert to a previous last name, Dimas, once the divorce was finalized.

She also responded to the divorce by filing her own requests, seeking alimony from Scott and asking that he cover her legal expenses. In the same documents, she asked for spousal support. Additional paperwork filed by Scott's attorney stated that both sides had agreed to "mediate property and support."

A Painful Process Left Unfinished

Her attorney, Pauline Markey, later confirmed that the divorce had not been finalized before Carrie's death. She also noted, "This is an immensely difficult time for Ms. Romney's loved ones, and the family has requested privacy as they grieve. We extend our deepest condolences to them during this time."

Meanwhile, Scott's attorney Karen L. Goldman said, "My client has not authorized me to make any comments to media during this difficult and tragic time." However, she said that Scott was expected to share a statement later.

The couple had apparently been living in a $725,000 condo in Valencia, where neighbors said Carrie had been staying shortly before she died. "She was quiet. Very nice," one neighbor said, requesting anonymity.

Carrie's financial circumstances amid the ongoing divorce were uncertain, and records showed she had faced difficulties in the past, including a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in 2001 with a former husband.

A Tumultuous past and a Famous Family

Scott — an attorney and one-time political hopeful — had been married twice before. His first marriage, to Ronna Romney, lasted from 1967 until 1992, and his second marriage, to Sheri Jelalian, spanned from 2011 to 2016.

Although Scott and Carrie did not have children together, he was already a father of seven from his earlier marriages. Among them is his most widely recognized child, former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

Scott and Mitt are sons of the late Michigan Governor George W. Romney. They also come from a larger family that includes two older sisters, Margo and Jane.

The family now has the official determination of Carrie's cause of death — a woman who had been part of their lives and household for many years — and they are left to grapple with the weight of that loss.