A fire at a coastal cottage in Santa Monica claimed the lives of Helen and Anthony Spaulding, an elderly couple married for 70 years. Firefighters responded to the blaze on the 500 block of Lincoln Boulevard early Sunday morning and found the couple, both 92, inside the nearly $4 million home.
Fire crews pulled the Spauldings from the residence but were unable to revive them. The Santa Monica Fire Department confirmed that the couple was found in a first-floor bedroom of the two-story home. The LA County Medical Examiner has ruled Helen Spaulding's death an accident due to smoke inhalation and thermal burns. Anthony Spaulding's cause of death is pending.
According to a fire department spokesperson, a caregiver was typically present, but no one was on duty at the time of the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters battled the blaze, which had completely engulfed the home in flames.
The couple's son, Bruce Spaulding, confirmed their deaths in a social media post, noting their 73-year marriage. He described them as having a lasting love and shared a video tribute set to Bruce Springsteen's "If I Should Fall Behind." The couple also has five children.
Before their deaths, Helen and Anthony Spaulding had amassed a significant property portfolio. In addition to their coastal residence, they were listed as owners of an apartment building in Venice, purchased in 1983 for $390,000.
Anthony Spaulding also owned two rental apartments on Colby Avenue in Los Angeles, with an estimated market value exceeding $1.6 million. One listing indicated a monthly rent of $2,300.
Additionally, Anthony Spaulding owned a building in Stockton that was being utilized by a west coast bank. Property value estimates for the Stockton location were not publicly available.
