Police say the deaths of Judith “Judy” Wyler Sheldon and her husband, Wylie Sheldon, appear to be medically related after the well-known San Francisco arts couple was found dead inside a running car on a California highway.
Judith Sheldon, 84, was the daughter of legendary Oscar-winning director William Wyler, best known for films including Ben-Hur, Roman Holiday and The Best Years of Our Lives. Her husband, Wylie Sheldon, 86, was also a respected figure in San Francisco’s arts and cultural community.
The couple was found on Monday, June 15, inside a 2022 Jeep Compass parked on the shoulder of Interstate 5 north of Fawndale Road near Redding, California. A California Highway Patrol officer noticed the vehicle was still running and stopped to check on it.
Authorities said Judith was in the driver’s seat and Wylie was in the passenger seat. Both were unresponsive when officers arrived. First aid was attempted by officers and medical personnel, but the couple was pronounced dead at the scene.
The California Highway Patrol said the deaths appear to be medically related, and investigators do not currently suspect foul play. However, the official cause of death remains under investigation pending further medical examination.
The weather may become an important part of the investigation. Temperatures in the Redding area reached around 109°F that day, and officials said extreme heat could possibly have played a role. Authorities have not confirmed that heat was the direct cause.
Judith Sheldon was a longtime supporter of silent film preservation and served as board chair of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. She was remembered by members of the arts community as warm, generous and deeply connected to the city’s cultural life.
Friends said Judith and Wylie were devoted to each other and often supported artists, performers and cultural organizations in San Francisco. They were reportedly traveling to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland when they died.
Their deaths have shocked the San Francisco arts and film communities, especially because of Judith’s connection to Hollywood history through her father, William Wyler.
For now, investigators are waiting for medical findings to determine the exact cause of death. Officials continue to say there is no indication of foul play at this stage.
