A California mother of two, missing since April 19, was found dead with an ex-pro hockey player in his Newport Beach condominium on Sunday.
The man didn’t recognize the woman who was later identified by the Orange County coroner as Wendi Miller, 48, of Costa Mesa.
Police are investigating it as an active homicide but have not provided any further information about how the two died. Miller’s son, Luke Carpenter, however, posted on Facebook and said that his mother was shot.
“She had been shot and it was told to us that she did not suffer. The police are still investigating all the details,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter described Miller as a loved person. “I have no doubt in my mind that she was loved on earth and I’m happy that she gets to be loved even better in heaven. I love you mom,” he said.
Miller had gone to a Laguna Beach bar that Friday night, and afterward said she would give a ride home to Partch, who lived a few blocks away from her house.
“She was a Christian and a really sweet lady who would do anything for you,” Miller’s neighbor Terri Rawson told LA Times. “It’s shocking and heartbreaking that she won’t be with us. I’m really going to miss her because she’s a great neighbor.”
Miller lost custody of her children eight years ago in a family court in Ottawa County, Mich.
Carpenter said that some people are using the situation to harass his dad. “There have been a few people that have used this time to push an agenda or to harass my dad and I just want to remind everyone that it is so important to respond to a time like this with love. In this time it’s hard to find words to express my sadness but I know my words are better and mean a whole lot more when they come from a place of love. Both of my amazing parents taught me that,” he wrote in his post.
People expressed sadness and shock at Miller’s death on Carpenter’s Facebook.
At the time of his death, Partch was working as an account executive after playing hockey for various leagues for many years around the country.]
