Former Mayor Found Dead with Wife at Home in Los Angeles

A former mayor turned influential Southern California civic leader and his wife were found dead inside their Venice home in a shocking case that authorities are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide.

Jeremy Ferguson, a former mayor of Milwaukie, Oregon, and his wife, Mandy Zelinka, were discovered Tuesday morning inside their home on the 600 block of Superba Avenue in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports. Police responded to a shooting call and found the couple suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.

An LAPD spokesperson told PEOPLE the case is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide, though officials have not publicly released many additional details. Law enforcement sources familiar with the case told the Los Angeles Times and NBC4 Los Angeles that both Ferguson and Zelinka had been shot.

According to the Santa Monica Daily Press, officials said Ferguson left behind a suicide note. NBC4 reported that Ferguson allegedly emailed the note to a friend, who then rushed to the home and called police after arriving at the scene.

The grim deaths stunned both political and civic circles, especially for those who knew Ferguson through years of public service. He served as mayor of Milwaukie from 2009 to 2015 and had also worked for 17 years with TriMet, the Portland region’s transit agency. In recent years, he had become a visible figure in Santa Monica, where he worked as director of operations for Downtown Santa Monica Inc.

Ferguson was also tied to several local cultural and community projects. According to the Santa Monica Daily Press, he helped oversee a redesign of Santa Monica’s annual holiday ice-skating rink and played a role in launching the city’s first outdoor seasonal roller-skating rink. He also served on the board of the Santa Monica History Museum.

In a statement, Downtown Santa Monica Inc. said it was “deeply saddened by this tragedy and its impact on our community.” The organization added that it remains focused on supporting those affected and encouraged anyone struggling to seek mental health care.

The disturbing case comes amid growing public alarm over a recent string of murder-suicide tragedies making headlines across the country. Just days earlier, former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his estranged wife, Cerina Fairfax, were found dead in a separate murder-suicide case that unfolded inside their Annandale, Virginia, home.

As investigators continue working to piece together exactly what happened inside the Venice residence, the deaths of Ferguson and Zelinka have left friends, colleagues, and community members searching for answers in a case that has sent shockwaves through Los Angeles and beyond.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7.