‘Heartbroken’ Mitt Romney Speaks After Sister-in-Law’s Death in Los Angeles Suburb
Former Utah senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said his family is “heartbroken” following the sudden death of his sister-in-law, Carrie Elizabeth Romney, who died after falling or jumping from a parking structure in Valencia, California.
“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 on Monday. “We ask for privacy during this difficult time.”
Authorities said the 64-year-old was found around 8:30 p.m. Friday on a street near a shopping mall parking garage close to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Her vehicle was located inside the structure. Investigators say it remains “unknown at the moment” whether she jumped or fell, though foul play is not suspected.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Carrie’s cause of death is “deferred” pending further tests. Her body was listed as “ready for release,” according to the People report.
Carrie had been married to Mitt Romney’s older brother, George Scott Romney, 81, a Michigan attorney and father of former Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel. Court filings show Scott filed for divorce on June 10 after eight years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple wed in November 2016.
Scott’s filing stated that most assets had been acquired prior to the marriage and that Carrie was seeking spousal support, which he opposed. He also requested that she revert to her maiden name, Carrie Elizabeth Dimas. The divorce would have marked the end of his third marriage.
The couple had largely lived private lives, rarely appearing in public or online. Reports indicate that they maintained a low profile since 2012, avoiding interviews and social media.
Scott Romney, who currently practices law with the Detroit-based firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, has served on several corporate and nonprofit boards and was a visible figure during Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign.
Mitt Romney, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, was the only Republican senator to vote for conviction during both of Trump’s impeachment trials. He has since retired from the Senate after declining to seek re-election in 2024.