New details have emerged regarding the death of Jacqueline Falk, adopted daughter of the late actor Peter Falk. Falk, 60, died by suicide by hanging at a Los Angeles residence, with her body discovered on April 27, approximately five days after her estimated time of death.
Police found Falk's body in the garage after her best friend requested a welfare check, having not heard from her since April 20. Multiple handwritten suicide notes were discovered taped to the garage wall, according to an autopsy report obtained by The Daily Mail. Toxicology tests confirmed she was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of her death, which was estimated to have occurred on April 22.
Jacqueline was identified by her driver's license at the scene. Her sister, Catherine Falk-Rothchild, was notified of the death on April 27.
Jacqueline was one of two daughters Peter Falk adopted with his first wife, Alyce Mayo, whom he was married to from 1960 to 1976. Falk, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo, died in 2011 at age 83, and Mayo passed away five years later at 85. Falk's survivors include his sister, Falk-Rothchild.
Falk-Rothchild, a former private investigator, previously engaged in a public dispute with Falk's second wife, Shera Danese, accusing her of preventing his daughters from visiting him during his decline due to Alzheimer's disease. Falk starred as Lieutenant Columbo during the show's original run from 1968 to 1978 and its revival from 1989 to 2003, earning four Emmy Awards. His film credits include roles in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "The Princess Bride," and the Oscar-nominated "Murder Inc." and "Pocketful of Miracles." He also starred in John Cassavetes' 1974 drama "A Woman Under the Influence."
During Falk's final years, his second wife, Shera Danese, obtained a conservatorship. According to Catherine Falk-Rothchild, Danese limited the daughters' access to their father and did not keep them informed about his deteriorating health. Falk-Rothchild has spoken publicly about her challenges in accessing her father, stating that her stepmother made it difficult for him to feel free and that they were not allowed to visit his home. Catherine Falk-Rothchild also successfully advocated for "Peter Falk's Law" in New York State, which aims to protect the rights of citizens to visit ailing parents and be kept informed about their health.