July 16, 2026
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Downtown Santa Monica director found dead in apparent murder-suicide in Venice

TheOrg

Police discovered Jeremy Ferguson and his wife after a friend received a suicide note.

Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide involving a high-ranking official from a prominent 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization after two people were found dead in a Venice home on Tuesday morning.

Los Angeles Police Department officers discovered Jeremy Ferguson, 47, and his wife, Mandy Zelinka, with fatal gunshot wounds inside a residence on the 600 block of Superba Avenue, as reported by The Los Angeles Times. Ferguson served as the director of operations for Downtown Santa Monica Inc., an organization dedicated to the economic and community development of the city’s central district.

According to law enforcement sources, the investigation began around 10:50 a.m. after a friend of the couple received an email from Ferguson containing a suicide note and specific instructions on how to access the house. The friend arrived at the property and immediately contacted the authorities, as reported by NBC 4 Los Angeles News.

Investigators believe Ferguson shot Zelinka before turning the weapon on himself. While the case is being treated as a murder-suicide, officials have not yet disclosed a potential motive for the shooting.

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