Couple Found Dead in Running Jeep on California Highway

Judith Wyler Sheldon, the daughter of legendary Hollywood director William Wyler, and her husband, Wylie Sheldon, were found dead on Monday, June 15, inside their parked vehicle on Interstate 5 in Northern California. Authorities discovered the couple unresponsive in their running Jeep Compass on the northbound shoulder near Redding at approximately 5:46 p.m. Both were pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by emergency medical personnel.

Judith Sheldon, 84, was in the driver's seat, and her husband, 86, was in the passenger seat. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office indicated that extreme heat conditions might have been a factor, as temperatures in the area had soared to around 109 degrees that day. Investigators noted the vehicle's fan was on high, but the air conditioning was not working, and no water was found inside. Officials stated they do not suspect foul play and that the vehicle showed no signs of mechanical failure or lack of fuel. The cause of death remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol's Northern Division Investigative Services Unit, with postmortem examinations pending.

The couple, longtime residents of San Francisco's Pacific Heights...