On February 7, 2026, 54-year-old Eric Langley, a White/Caucasian male, was found deceased in his Santa Monica, California, residence in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide. Responding to a welfare check initiated by a concerned family member who had not been able to make contact for several days, Santa Monica Police officers entered the home in the 1900 block of Ocean Avenue to a grim discovery.
Inside the residence, officers found the bodies of Langley and a 54-year-old woman, Stephanie Jefferson. Both individuals had sustained apparent gunshot wounds, and a firearm was recovered at the scene. The condition of the bodies suggested they had been deceased for some time, as they were found in an advanced state of decomposition.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division of the Santa Monica Police Department are treating the case as a suspected murder-suicide. Based on their preliminary investigation, it has been determined that Langley and Jefferson were known to each other. Authorities have stated that this appears to be an isolated incident and that there are no outstanding suspects. Consequently, the police are not actively searching for any individuals in connection with the deaths and have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office is working on officially determining the cause and manner of death for both individuals. Public records indicate that Langley had a previous arrest for murder in 2019 and was released from custody in April 2025.
