The daughter of a prominent Oscar award-winning director and her husband have been found dead in a vehicle parked on the side of a busy highway.
Judith ‘Judy’ Wyler Sheldon, 84, and Wylie Sheldon, 86, were discovered unresponsive at 5:46pm on June 15 inside their running vehicle on Interstate 5 near Redding, California.
Judy was the daughter of American film director William Wyler, who worked on classic movies such as Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck’s Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur and Wuthering Heights.
While a cause of death has not been released, California Highway Patrol confirmed they made the grim discovery when they came across a Jeep Compass parked on the shoulder of the highway.
Emergency responders were called to the scene, where they were both pronounced dead despite their best efforts to revive the pair.
According to authorities, Judy was found behind the wheel while her husband was seated in the passenger seat.
On the day of the discovery, an extreme heat warning was issued to the area of Northern California, though it’s unclear whether the heat played a part.
Throughout his stellar career, William Wyler was awarded three Academy Awards. His daughter also carved her own path in the film industry, particularly in the area of silent films.
Artistic director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Anita Monga, issued a statement about the passing of her dear friend and avid supporter.
“We are reeling from this news,” she said in a statement. “Judy and Wylie were very dear to us, supportive and a positive presence at all our events.”
The California Highway Patrol’s Northern Division Investigative Services Unit has now reportedly taken over the investigation to determine what may have contributed to their deaths.