Santa Monica is a prosperous California beach community where many people dream of living after achieving success. Its city seal carries the motto, “happy people in a happy city.”
But this year, the enclave has been shaken by a troubling series of suspected murder-suicides, all involving men accused of killing their partners.
Three couples have been found dead inside homes in the city since February, including two cases less than three weeks apart in September and October. A separate murder-suicide in nearby Venice involved a nonprofit executive with close connections to Santa Monica.
The cases represent a sharp departure from recent years. No murder-suicides were reported in Santa Monica between 2020 and 2025.
Throughout Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, at least 10 cases have been ruled or are being investigated as murder-suicides this year, compared with only two last year.
Mental health specialists said the tragedies raise questions about a possible crisis among affluent residents facing pressure to maintain appearances and preserve a certain standard of living.
Forensic psychologists told Our News Outlet that murder-suicides rarely have one simple cause, although financial pressure is frequently a contributing factor.
“Santa Monica may be one of the places where economic pressures are contributing to violent acts,” said Dr. John De La Torre, a forensic psychologist.
Santa Monica is known for its ocean views and laid-back beach lifestyle, but a recent series of murder-suicides has prompted concern about mental health in the small city
The sun sets over historic Santa Monica State Beach
“Having the appearance of wealth does not necessarily mean someone is financially secure. The economy is difficult for everyone right now, including people who seem to have money.”
Dr. Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist in neighboring Beverly Hills, said Santa Monica had faced several major challenges over the past decade, including soaring housing costs, widespread homelessness and an increase in business closures. “It has deeply upset people who invested their life savings in homes in areas they no longer feel are safe, creating a great deal of frustration,” Lieberman told Our News Outlet.
Jeremy Ferguson was among those working to revive struggling parts of the beachside community. He served as director of operations for the nonprofit Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
Ferguson, 53, and his wife, Mandy Zelinka, 49, had both built successful careers. Zelinka was an accomplished hairstylist and entrepreneur, while Ferguson worked to raise millions of dollars to attract businesses and visitors back to the historic downtown district.
Before relocating to California, Ferguson served as mayor of Milwaukie, Oregon, from 2009 to 2015. He also worked in the public sector and for Portland’s transit agency. Zelinka co-owned a successful salon and ran the popular “Milwaukie Rules” blog.
Police said Gul Erdogan was pregnant when her husband, Aytac Camdeviren, shot her to death
The couple lived in this multimillion-dollar home in Westwood, an affluent neighborhood about five miles from Santa Monica
Police said Camdeviren shot his wife in the head before turning the gun on himself
The pair were frequently seen working and volunteering together, making the discovery of their bodies inside their $1.5 million home especially shocking. The residence stood on a quiet Venice street within walking distance of the busy Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
On the morning of April 21, Ferguson sent a friend an ominous email containing the code to their Superba Avenue home and instructions for entering, according to a report later released by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The report did not disclose the contents of Ferguson’s message. Officers who arrived at the home described a grim scene: Zelinka and Ferguson were found naked beside each other on a bloodstained bed.
Both had suffered gunshot wounds to the head. A .22-caliber rifle and shell casings were found on the bed and floor.
Toxicology testing found no evidence of drugs or alcohol in either Zelinka’s or Ferguson’s system, the report said.
Investigators concluded that Ferguson shot his wife with the unregistered rifle before killing himself. According to the autopsy report, Ferguson’s son told police his father had “mental health issues” and had experienced “previous suicidal ideations over several years.”
In Zelinka’s obituary, her family asked mourners to donate to NAYA, a nonprofit that works to “end silence around issues of domestic and sexual violence.”
Experts who spoke with Our News Outlet emphasized that domestic violence should be viewed as a potential precursor to a murder-suicide.
Jeremy Ferguson was a prominent figure in Santa Monica as operations director of a nonprofit focused on business, community and safety in the downtown area
Ferguson’s wife, Mandy Zelinka, was an entrepreneur and award-winning hairstylist
Police said Ferguson and Zelinka were found dead at their Venice, California, home at about 10:50 a.m.
“Domestic violence, which can escalate to murder, has become more common. People are directing their internal frustrations at those closest to them,” Lieberman said.
Mental health professionals said the pressure to maintain a particular lifestyle can be especially intense in affluent communities such as Santa Monica and its surrounding neighborhoods.
“Sometimes people feel compelled to keep up with the Joneses,” De La Torre said. “If they can no longer maintain that facade or project that image, it can push them toward a violent act.”
Dr. Joe Scroppo, a New York forensic psychologist and attorney, said financial pressure can leave someone feeling hopeless in their role as a provider or caregiver.
“The responsibility of caring for another person can be extremely stressful, and some people may see violence as a way out of that situation,” he said.
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Financial hardship did not appear to be a concern for Gul Erdogan, 45, and her husband, Aytac Camdeviren, 43. The couple lived in a multimillion-dollar home in nearby Westwood, west of the Los Angeles Country Club.
Erdogan founded Mega West Enterprises, an entrepreneurial company known for designing and manufacturing electronic accessories, camera cases and other lifestyle products sold under brands including MegaGear and Londo.
Camdeviren was listed as president of Auction Shipper, LLC, in 2010. The company is no longer operating.
Neighbors said the couple were expecting their first child and had celebrated with family and friends at a baby shower on the Fourth of July. Erdogan was eight and a half months pregnant at the time.
Six days later, police said, Camdeviren shot Erdogan in the head inside their home before killing himself.
Zelinka, who grew up in Oregon, was also an accomplished writer and photographer
Before moving to California, Jeremy Ferguson served as Milwaukie’s mayor for six years before resigning in 2015 to enter the private sector
The investigation remains active.
Neighbors described Erdogan and Camdeviren as a “pretty happy couple” who were often seen walking hand in hand.
Their 2,480-square-foot home on the 1300 block of Holmby Avenue has since been listed for rent at $15,995 a month.
Hendrik Rabitzsch, 48, and his wife, Nicole Rabitzsch, 47, were another couple in the Santa Monica area who appeared to be thriving.
They lived in an apartment on the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard and frequently traveled around the world.
Their social media accounts showed smiling photographs from Las Vegas, beach outings and cruise trips.
Nicole’s LinkedIn profile stated that she had worked for nearly 13 years at an Audi dealership in downtown Los Angeles. Before that, she spent more than five years working for Audi in Germany.
Their lives changed on September 26, when police said Rabitzsch shot his wife and then himself at their home.
Police said there had been no previous domestic violence calls involving the couple. The circumstances of the deaths are still being investigated.
Experts caution that access to firearms can turn a single argument into a deadly event, even in a state with comparatively strict gun laws.
A Violence Policy Center study released in April found that more than 1,000 people died in murder-suicides in the United States in 2025, with firearms used by 85 percent of the perpetrators.
Happier times: Hendrik Rabitzsch with his wife, Nicole
Nicole Rabitzsch worked for nearly 13 years at an Audi dealership
Hendrik and Nicole Rabitzsch were found dead at their home above a yoga studio
The study examined murder-suicides nationwide during the first half of 2025 and identified 237 incidents, an average of nine each week.
Intimate partners were involved in about 65 percent of those cases, while 90 percent occurred inside a home, according to the study.
“The widespread availability of guns only worsens the problem, allowing domestic abuse to escalate into domestic homicide,” Kristen Rand, the Violence Policy Center’s government affairs director, told Our News Outlet.
Scroppo said one of the defining elements in murder-suicide cases is “a loss of hope.”
“These are generally desperate acts triggered by deeply traumatic events, such as the end of a relationship or a partner leaving. As divorce rates rise, there is likely to be more conflict,” he said.
Scroppo added that some perpetrators “simply cannot tolerate the prospect of losing a relationship with someone they believe must remain in their lives.”
He also pointed to the stigma surrounding mental health in communities populated by “well-to-do highfliers” who feel pressure to preserve their public image, suggesting Santa Monica could be one such community.
Nicole Rabitzsch was 47 years old
Police said a firearm was recovered from the Rabitzsch home
“People are less willing to seek help when mental health treatment carries a strong stigma,” Scroppo said. “Stress affecting intimate relationships and other forms of psychological pressure can be among the most significant factors.”
Santa Monica Police officials told Our News Outlet that helping people experiencing mental health crises remains an ongoing priority for both the department and the city.
“These cases represent heartbreaking losses for the families and loved ones involved,” said Santa Monica Police Lt. Lewis Gilmour.
“Each investigation has its own circumstances, and we do not want to speculate about broader causes or the mental health of the suspects or victims. Our focus remains on the individual cases and the people affected.”
