"The vehicle's fan was on high but the air conditioning was not working."
Judith Sheldon (84) and Wylie Sheldon (86) were found dead in a parked, running Jeep Compass on Interstate 5 north of Redding, California, on June 15, 2025, at 5:46 p.m. Judith was in the driver seat, Wylie in the passenger seat.
Circumstances
No water or other liquids were found in the vehicle. The fan was on high, but the air conditioning was not working. The California Highway Patrol discovered the couple after they failed to meet friends in Ashland, Oregon, for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Investigation
The Shasta County Sheriff's Office indicated extreme heat may have contributed to the deaths. Postmortem examinations are scheduled. Foul play is not suspected; the vehicle had sufficient gas and showed no signs of mechanical failure.
Background
Judith Sheldon, credited as Judy Wyler, was the daughter of director William Wyler and actress Margaret Tallichet. She appeared uncredited in two of her father's films: "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) and "Roman Holiday" (1953). She also acted in TV shows including "The Buccaneers" and "The Errol Flynn Theatre."
Wylie Sheldon was a prominent lawyer. The couple were residents of San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood and were patrons of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, San Francisco Opera, and San Francisco Performances.
Survivors include two sons.