Wife and Son Killed in Tarzan Actor's Hope Ranch Home
Sheriff’s Office Confirms Identities in Hope Ranch Incident
At 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at the home of actor Ron Ely. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Ron Ely and discovered his wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, deceased with multiple stab wounds inside the home. While on scene, deputies identified the suspect as the Elys’ son, 30-year-old Cameron Ely.
Deputies searched the residence and surrounding area for Cameron Ely. During the search, the suspect was located outside the home. He posed a threat and in response 4 deputies fired their service weapons at the suspect, fatally wounding him. No deputies were injured during the confrontation with the suspect.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is conducting criminal, coroner’s, and administrative investigations of this incident. Autopsies of both the victim and the suspect are pending. The names of the involved deputies will be released at a later date.
Update by edhat staff
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies have shot and killed a suspect believed to have killed a Hope Ranch woman in the home of former "Tarzan' actor Ron Ely Tuesday evening.
The woman who was murdered is believed to be Ely's wife since 1984, former Miss Florida Valerie Lundeen, although police have not confirmed the identity of the victim. Together they have three children, Kirsten, Kaitland, and Cameron. Ely, 81, is believed to be safe and recovering at a local hospital.
The suspect's identity has yet to be released and it is not yet known how the suspect is connected to the residents.
Ely played a range of television roles in the 1960s but was best known for "Tarzan," which aired from 1966 to 1968. He also had recurring or guest roles in notable shows such as "The Love Boat," "Wonder Woman," and a revival of "Sea Hunt" in the 1980s. He hosted the Miss America pageant in 1980 and 1981 before retiring from acting in 2001.
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff’s Office Discovers Apparent Homicide in Hope Ranch Home -Suspect Fatally Wounded in Confrontation with Deputies
At 8:15 PM on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office - Public Safety Dispatch Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting a family disturbance at 4141 Mariposa Dr. in Hope Ranch, CA. Deputies responded to the residence and discovered a female deceased inside the home, the victim of an apparent homicide. A disabled elderly male resident of the home was also located and transported to an area hospital for evaluation.
Deputies immediately searched the home and secured a perimeter of the surrounding area. A shelter-in-place alert was sent to area residents advising them to remain in their homes as deputies searched for the homicide suspect. During the search, deputies located the suspect on the property of the homicide. Deputies attempted to gain verbal control of the suspect, however he presented a threat to them. In defense of the threat posed by the suspect, several deputies fired their service weapons at the suspect, fatally wounding him. No deputies were injured during the confrontation with the suspect.
The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a criminal investigation into the homicide, processing the crime scene and working to identify the relationships of the persons involved in the incident. The deputies involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is routine following any officer involved shooting.
No additional information is available for release at this time, as this is an active and ongoing criminal investigation. The Sheriff’s Office will release additional information as it becomes available.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies are searching the Hope Ranch area for a homicide suspect after a woman was found dead.
Deputies responded to the 4100 block of Mariposa Drive Tuesday after 8:00 p.m. for a reported domestic dispute. Upon arrival they discovered a woman's body inside the residence.
Residents in the area were asked to shelter in place as Deputies searched for the suspect.
Further details have not been released at this time. Any additional information will be added to this article.
Did anyone else receive a shelter in place alert in Hope Ranch? My mom just texted and said she received an alert to stay inside as police look for a suspect. Any information? She's near Estrella Drive and Mariposa.
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59 Comments
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Oct 15, 2019 10:01 PMSearch for a homicide suspect, woman found dead in a home on Mariposa. Noozhawk has more details.
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Oct 15, 2019 10:08 PMHoly cr-p.
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Oct 15, 2019 10:10 PMShelter in place will be called off momentarily. A subject appears to have been shot to death on Mariposa. Sketchy info, but Sheriff's on scene called out 'Shots Fired.' Medics declared 11-44 sometime later. Unknown who shot whom. This is fragmentary information off the scanner; don't take it to the bank yet.
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Oct 15, 2019 10:12 PMNoozhawk reports that law enforcement know who the suspect is and that LE considers it a "family situation." I.e., a domestic affair and that others aren't in danger. Keep Fido close and keep those doors and windows locked, just in case.
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Oct 15, 2019 10:15 PMWe heard several rapid shots fired coming from the Yankee Farm area.
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Oct 15, 2019 10:27 PMFrom what I've heard, it does not sound like deputies are searching for anyone. I think the crime was confined to the home and everyone is accounted for. 'News at Eleven.'
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Oct 15, 2019 10:45 PMRUMOR going around that the suspect who shot his wife was a retired actor, who I won't name. I stress RUMOR.
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Oct 16, 2019 12:48 PMFYI, this rumor has been confirmed by police as false. Ron Ely was not the suspect.
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Oct 15, 2019 11:14 PMNoozhawk reports that the home is owned by Ron Ely who played Tarzan back in the 1960's.
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Oct 15, 2019 11:33 PMPer KEYT, and Lt Eric Raney, Sheriff's spokesperson, the home is owned by Ron Ely, who is apparently not a suspect and is OK. The suspect, who deputies didn't ID was shot and killed by deputies. More tomorrow, I'm sure.
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Oct 16, 2019 11:03 AMUnfortunately, it looks as if the wife was the victim and the son was the suspect. So sade
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Oct 16, 2019 06:12 AMSounds like the suspect was shot & killed by deputies.
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Oct 16, 2019 07:25 AMThat is horrible I know the address well I hear it all the time on the scanner missed this call though alot of medical calls there.
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Oct 16, 2019 07:58 AMRoger are you saying there is a history of domestic violence or domestic disturbance calls at this house? Perhaps it's their son who is the suspect.
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Oct 16, 2019 08:14 AM@8:08, Roger also commented on Facebook there is a history of 415's (domestic disturbances) AND medical emergencies at this house. Check yo'self before ya wreck o'self.
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Oct 16, 2019 03:16 PMI do and looks like I was right. Thanks for your comments.
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Oct 16, 2019 08:26 AMI have heard both type calls in the 4100 Block of Mariposa, at 2 separate addresses in that block it is too bad a homicide has entered the picture. But sometimes involving domestic violence calls it does.
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Oct 16, 2019 09:55 AM"Elderly female victim" was 62.
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Oct 16, 2019 03:13 PMMy Mom and Dad lived to be in their 90s. 62 hardly sounds "elderly." When I think of "elderly," I think 75 or older.
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Oct 16, 2019 03:53 PMRight? 62 seems to be the new 40.
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Oct 16, 2019 09:41 PMAnd good-looking!
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Oct 16, 2019 10:45 AMWhat a tragic thing to have happened.
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Oct 16, 2019 11:26 AMSuch a tragedy for the surviving family members-the two daughters lose their mother and their brother...and sounds like Dad not in too good health.......how life can change in an instant. Blessings to them all
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Oct 16, 2019 12:29 PMWhere is it mentioned that Cameron (the son) is involved?
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Oct 16, 2019 12:43 PMNational news is reporting it is the son. There is also a audio recording on TMZ. Tragic
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Oct 16, 2019 12:47 PM@STEWART14: tmz.com has the audio recording between dispatcher and emergency responders on scene. Son called 911 first and referenced "mom and dad", then an elderly man called and said his son was involved. However, nothing is confirmed at this point.
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Oct 16, 2019 01:02 PMWell that is truly a tragedy. I have met both Ron as well as Cameron. Both were true gentlemen. Something had to have gone really wrong.
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Oct 16, 2019 02:05 PMTMZ
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Oct 16, 2019 03:42 PMValerie was such a sweet lady, this is just awful. Feel terrible for Kirsten & Kaitland (and Ron of course).
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Oct 16, 2019 04:11 PMI agree with the commenter who thinks 62 hardly sounds "elderly". Not even old enough to retire and collect Social Security's full benefits. My friends in their 90s and into 100's could be "elderly".
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Oct 16, 2019 04:25 PMUnless I missed something, the only "elderly" reference was to Ron Ely, who at 81 I think can be referred to as elderly. Although that may offend some 81 year olds, so sorry.
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Oct 17, 2019 07:58 AMIs 30 years old a kid if they are not your son or daughter?
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Oct 17, 2019 08:54 AMI think "elderly" is relative to state of mind and physical health. When I see a person walking w/a shuffling gait and stooped over they look old to me. These days I think there is definitely young old age, middle old age and finally, "elderly" - a quaint term that is meant to be gentle and respectful. My baby boom generation is mostly doing a good job of trying to stay (at least) young at heart or in some cases are in complete denial :-)
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Oct 17, 2019 08:57 AMOn December 26, 1982 my high school boyfriend killed his mother then his sister. He came to my house to kill me as he did not want me around knowing what was in his future. Thank God I was not home and my life turned a wonderful corner. I know from that experience that what is posted in the media is not accurate. I was in the middle of that horror story and knew all the facts. It took years for me to get over that. I still fear for my life if that person ever gets out of jail. He promised to come find me. Something is really wrong with a boy/man who kills his mother. Please do not judge the police. You were not there. This is from someone who has experienced the same trauma.
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Oct 17, 2019 10:02 AMCops puling out guns and fatally shooting a man with a knife! Aren't they trained to hit the leg or foot, essentially stopping the suspect rather than killing him? UGH! Trigger happy thugs. There was probably about 50 of them too.
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Oct 17, 2019 11:15 AMThere are training videos out there that cops see where a cop is killed with a pen and also a bricklayer's trowel. Once you see these, you will be less likely to think a knife is not a lethal weapon too. Cops are trained to aim for the center of mass as that is the biggest target. They are more likely to hit this target in a stressful situation where the adrenalin is surging and their hands are shaking. Thinking that a cop is trained to "wing" someone in a situation that looks like life or death to them is just wishful thinking. If you think you can do a better job, please sign up.
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Oct 17, 2019 11:19 AMBIGUGLY - were you there? No.
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Oct 17, 2019 11:22 AMThere are very few people who could successfully shoot to wound, rather than shoot to stop.
You seriously think that you could hit someone coming at you with a knife in the arm? You can't. That's pure movie fantasy.
Really sorry for everyone involved, including the police officers who had to take a life.
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Oct 17, 2019 01:12 PMi agree and that's one of the first thoughts i had. so now this man lost his son and wife. they didn't need to empty their clips into him. he had a knife.
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Oct 17, 2019 01:13 PMAlex, i've been shooting (bows and guns) for a long time. i could easily nail you in the hand at a distance with a revolver. it's not that difficult. with training.
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Oct 17, 2019 01:13 PM1119, no he wasn't but he reiterated what they said. it's fact.
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Oct 17, 2019 01:17 PMZERO - did "they say" there was 50 cops there? Did "they say" he only had a knife and there were no other circumstances that led to this? Nope, "they" did not say that. BIGUGLY did though. That's why I said what I said.
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Oct 17, 2019 02:30 PMEveryone is an expert until they are in a life and death situation.
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Oct 17, 2019 04:27 PMBig ugly- look up the 21 foot rule- a person with s knife can get tons cop before the gun can be drawn if he’s within 21’. This was suicide by cop
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Oct 17, 2019 04:29 PMZero- sure you could. Anyone who’s good with pistols would never say something so naive. You’d shoot the mince out of his hand? Why do people’s hearts bleed for someone who just committed matricide against a 65yo woman? Cop’s number one job is to go home to his family.
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Oct 17, 2019 04:32 PMYou're not very familiar with firearms if you use the word "clip" in this case. None of the rifles, shotguns, or handguns in use by local law enforcement are clip fed. The word is "magazine". It is also fantasy to say you can hit someone's moving hand in the dark, let alone a stationary hand in broad daylight, with any handgun.
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Oct 17, 2019 10:43 PMA cop's job is to serve and protect the public...
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Oct 17, 2019 11:08 PMWhich is why most tactical pistol training is at 7 meters. That is the 'danger zone.'
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Oct 18, 2019 04:50 PMThe key part of your comment being "before the gun can be drawn." Do you think these Sheriffs' guns were all holstered?
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Oct 18, 2019 11:39 PMNo. They're trained to kill if they shoot.
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