Home / Arts and Entertainment / Couple Found Dead in Running Car on I-5; Heat Suspected
Couple Found Dead in Running Car on I-5; Heat Suspected
19 Jun
Summary
- Judith Sheldon, daughter of director William Wyler, died June 15.
- Couple found deceased in a parked, running car on Interstate 5.
- Extreme heat is a suspected factor in their deaths; autopsies pending.
Judith Sheldon, daughter of legendary director William Wyler, and her husband, prominent lawyer Wylie Sheldon, were found dead on Monday, June 15. The couple, aged 84 and 86, were discovered inside their parked Jeep Compass on the side of Interstate 5, north of Redding, California. The vehicle's engine was still running, but the air conditioning was not functional.
Friends reported the Sheldons were traveling to Ashland, Oregon, for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival when they failed to arrive as planned. Investigators from the Shasta County Sheriff's Office are not suspecting foul play. They indicated that extreme heat conditions may have contributed to the couple's deaths, pending autopsy results. No water was found in the vehicle.
The couple were well-known patrons of San Francisco's film and arts communities. Judith Sheldon, born Judy Wyler, had minor acting roles in her father's films, including 'The Best Years Of Our Lives' and 'Roman Holiday.' Her father, William Wyler, was a celebrated three-time Oscar-winning director known for classics such as 'Ben-Hur' and 'Mrs. Miniver.'
