On July 30, 2024, at approximately 11:05 a.m., deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station responded to a call reporting two deceased elderly individuals at a residence in the 300 block of Lantern Crest Way, Santee, California. Upon arrival, they discovered the bodies of 74-year-old Michael Sheehan and his wife, 78-year-old Beverly Slater-Sheehan.
Autopsies revealed that both individuals died from gunshot wounds.
The cause of death for Beverly was determined to be homicide, while Michael's death was ruled a suicide. Investigators identified Michael Sheehan as the sole suspect in the incident, concluding that he fatally shot his wife before taking his own life.
The couple resided in the Lantern Crest senior living facility, a community that had experienced a similar tragedy earlier in the year. In May 2024, another couple, 82-year-old David Soulner and his 79-year-old wife, Claire, were found dead in what was also determined to be a murder-suicide at the same facility.
The motivations behind these incidents remain unclear, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Michael and Beverly Sheehan. Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers to assist in their ongoing investigation.
