On May 26, 2024, authorities discovered the bodies of 79-year-old Claire Soulner and her husband, 82-year-old David Soulner, in their residence on Lantern Crest Way in Santee, California. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department responded to a call at approximately 11:25 a.m.
Autopsy results determined that Claire's death was a homicide, while David's was a suicide.
Investigators concluded that David fatally shot Claire before taking his own life, identifying him as the sole suspect in the case. The motivations behind this tragic incident remain under investigation.
This event marked the first of two similar tragedies at the same senior living facility in 2024. In July, another elderly couple was found dead in a suspected murder-suicide at Lantern Crest. These incidents have prompted ongoing investigations to understand the circumstances and prevent future occurrences.
The community has been urged to provide any information that might shed light on these cases. Authorities have reassured residents that there are no outstanding suspects and no immediate danger to the public. Support services have been made available to those affected by these tragedies.
