Man Kills Wife and Self in Santa Monica Murder-Suicide, Police Say
Authorities identified the couple as Hendrick Rabitzsch, 48, and Nicole Rabitzsch, 47, who were found with gunshot wounds in their home.
Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after a couple was found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in their Santa Monica home on Saturday night. The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) identified the deceased as Hendrick Rabitzsch, 48, and Nicole Rabitzsch, 47.
Authorities responded to the residence in the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard for a welfare check around 9:40 p.m. and discovered the couple inside. Investigators believe Hendrick Rabitzsch shot his wife before turning the weapon on himself. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
"No other individuals are believed to have been involved. This was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the public," the SMPD stated in a press release. The exact circumstances leading to the incident are still under investigation.
The couple, originally from Essen, Germany, had reportedly been together for nearly 30 years and lived in the United States for most of that time. Social media posts indicated a close relationship, with images and captions depicting a life of travel and shared activities. Nicole Rabitzsch had a career in the automotive industry, working for Audi in both Germany and Los Angeles. Hendrick Rabitzsch's professional activities are less clear, but his online presence included content related to luxury cars, motorcycles, and aviation.
This incident follows another suspected murder-suicide in Santa Monica five months prior, where a prominent nonprofit leader and his wife were found dead from gunshot wounds in April.