Mitt Romney’s sister-in-law falls to her death in Southern California parking garage

A family member of former Utah Senator and two-time presidential candidate Mitt Romney was found dead in a mall parking garage in the Santa Clarita Valley Friday, according to multiple media reports.  

Authorities with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said deputies, as well as L.A. County Fire paramedics, responded to Valencia Town Center shopping mall, located at 24201 Valencia Boulevard in Valencia, around 8:30 p.m. 

Carrie Elizabeth Romney, Mitt’s sister-in-law, according to ABC News, was found dead inside the parking garage.  

Investigators told KTLA that that 64-year-old either jumped or fell from the five-story parking structure but, as of now, foul play does not appear to be a factor.  

The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s report lists the exact cause of death as “deferred,” meaning that the investigation remains active and additional testing may have been requested. 

Deferred cases, the M.E.’s office has previously informed KTLA, can take several months before an exact cause of death is determined.  

No further information about the investigation was provided.

Mitt Romney sought the Republican nomination in 2008 but withdrew from the race after the primaries and endorsed the late Senator John McCain. In 2012, he secured the Republican nomination but lost the general election to former President Barack Obama.