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Ron Ely: Woman found dead at Tarzan star's California home Ron Ely: Tarzan star's wife stabbed to death by their son
(about 4 hours later)
California police have killed a suspect in the fatal stabbing of a woman at a home reported to be owned by Ron Ely, star of the 1960s Tarzan TV series. The wife of Ron Ely, star of the 1960s Tarzan TV series, was stabbed to death by their son at their California home on Tuesday evening, say police.
Officers discovered the woman's body while responding to a "family disturbance" call on Tuesday evening. Officers called to the Santa Barbara house found Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, dead with "multiple stab wounds".
After a search, police traced the suspect on the Santa Barbara-area property, and deemed that he "presented a threat", authorities said. Authorities said police cornered 30-year-old Cameron Ely outside the home, deemed him a threat and shot him dead.
Several officers shot and fatally wounded the suspect. There was no report of 81-year-old Ely being injured during the attack in the luxury suburb of Hope Ranch.
US media said the home belongs to Ely, 81, an actor best known for his role in the Tarzan TV show that aired on NBC between 1966-68, and the 1975 film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. But earlier the sheriff's office said a disabled elderly man in the home was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
A disabled elderly male resident was found in the residence and evacuated to a nearby hospital, said police. This was the victim's husband, CNN reports. The latest Santa Barbara County sheriff's statement said: "Deputies searched the residence and surrounding area for Cameron Ely.
TMZ quotes police sources as saying the slain victim was Ely's wife, former Miss Florida Valerie Lundeen, 62. "During the search, the suspect was located outside the home.
The couple have two daughters, Kirsten and Kaitland, and a son, Cameron. "He posed a threat and in response four deputies fired their service weapons at the suspect, fatally wounding him."
A statement from Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office gave no further details of the names, relationships or motives of those involved in the "active and ongoing criminal investigation". Ron Ely is best known for his role in the Tarzan TV show that aired on NBC between 1966-68.
All officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, the release said, as is protocol following a shooting. Tarzan was a fictional character raised by apes in the African jungle, from a 1914 book by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Ely took a break from acting between 2001-14 when he returned to the small screen to play an Amish elder in the Lifetime movie Expecting Amish. Ely also played the lead role in the 1975 film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze.
Ms Lundeen was a former Miss Florida.
The couple also have two daughters, Kirsten and Kaitland.
According to US media, Cameron Ely attended the elite Philips Exeter Academy boarding school in New Hampshire, before going to Harvard University.
Ron Ely took a break from showbiz between 2001-14 before he returned to the small screen to play an Amish elder in the Lifetime movie Expecting Amish.
He told the Charlotte Observer when the film came out: "I stepped out of acting to raise a family and be able to spend more time with them here in Santa Barbara.He told the Charlotte Observer when the film came out: "I stepped out of acting to raise a family and be able to spend more time with them here in Santa Barbara.
"Now, all the kids are through college with advance degrees. My family asked me, 'what are you hanging around for?'" "Now, all the kids are through college with advance degrees."
He was also a novelist, penning two action thrillers, Night Shadows, published in 1994, and East Beach, released a year later. The actor was also a novelist, penning two action thrillers, Night Shadows, in 1994, and East Beach, a year later.