Mystery Solved In Deaths Of Menifee Couple

2/28 update:

The mystery surrounding the deaths Sunday of a Menifee couple has been solved, according to the Menifee Police Department, and investigation findings point to tragedy, not foul play.

The near simultaneous deaths Sunday of Rose Coats, 75, and her husband, Roy, 83, have gripped communities across Southwest Riverside, including the nearby cities of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar.

According to an initial Menifee Police Department report, Rose Coats was killed Sunday in a car accident near her home, and her husband was found dead in their garage, prompting an investigation into both deaths.

However, an investigation was conducted by the Menifee Traffic Reconstruction Team and has concluded that Rose drove her vehicle into her garage and saw her dead husband inside. She panicked and stepped out of her vehicle while it was still in motion. As a result, she got pinned between her vehicle and the garage door frame.

When first responders arrived at the Coats home, which is listed as Sun City in the coroner's report, they tried to save Rose but she succumbed to her injuries on the scene.

The coroner’s report indicated Rose died from positional asphyxia and her husband died prior to the accident as a result of hypertensive cardio-vascular disease (heart failure). Time of death for both victims is listed as 11:29 a.m. Sunday.

The investigation revealed no evidence of foul play. -- Toni McAllister

Original story posted 2/27:

A woman was killed Sunday in a car accident near a Menifee home, and her husband was found dead in their garage, prompting an investigation into both deaths, a sheriff’s sergeant said.

The crash was reported at 11:15 a.m. in the 27000 block of Uppercrest Court, according to Sgt. Danny Lingo of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies found the wreck near the home, Lingo said.

The driver, whose name was withheld, was pronounced dead a the scene, he said.

Investigators found the husband of the driver dead in the garage of the home, according to the sergeant, adding that he did not “have injuries consistent with a traffic collision.”

His cause of death was under investigation, Lingo said.

Anyone with information about this incident was asked to call Deputy Howe at the Perris Sheriff Station at (951) 210-1000. --Jessica Davis