By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-13 21:28:51 | Updated at 2026-08-14 01:02:56
9 hours ago
An elderly California couple who had been married for 70 years and had an affluent property portfolio died in a massive fire at their gorgeous seven-figure coastal cottage.
Helen and Anthony Spaulding, both 92, were found dead Sunday around 3am by Santa Monica firefighters after they responded to a fire on the 500 block of Lincoln Boulevard, according to KTLA.
Footage captured at the scene showed groups of firefighters battling the raging blaze, which had completely engulfed their near $4 million home in flames from the inside.
Fire crews pulled the Spauldings out of the home and unsuccessfully tried to revive them, a Santa Monica Fire Department spokesperson told the outlet.
The couple's caregiver, Rick Garcia, said that Helen worked at a church near their home, while Anthony was a former attorney.
'They were a lovely couple,' Garcia told the outlet. 'They had a great relationship, five lovely children, all very dedicated to their parents. It's very tragic.'
Garcia added that the couple had lived in the neighborhood for a long time.
The LA County Medical Examiner ruled that Helen's death was accidental and caused by smoke inhalation and thermal burns. As of Tuesday morning, Anthony's cause of death had been deferred.
Elderly couple Helen and Anthony Spaulding, both 92, died Sunday at a huge blaze inside their gorgeous Santa Monica home on the 500 block of Lincoln Boulevard
The $4m home was completely engulfed in flames. The Spauldings were found dead in the first-floor bedroom of their stunning two-story property
Both of the Spauldings' bodies are ready for release, according to the medical examiner.
Santa Monica Fire Battalion Chief James Altman said that the couple usually had a caretaker with them, but that no one was on duty at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Altman noted that the Spauldings' bodies had been found in the first-floor bedroom of the two-story home. The cause for the fatal blaze remains under investigation.
Scenes captured afterwards showed parts of the home completely charred, with yellow tape also surrounding the impacted area.
Longtime Santa Monica resident Beverly Kleiner described how the fire had evoked a huge response from local officials.
'There were several police cars here, every single light on,' Kleiner told FOX11.
She added: 'When something like this happens, it's not a daily occurrence for one thing.'
The Spauldings' son, Bruce, confirmed his parents' death and said they would be 'taking that next walk together as well.' He posted this photo on the couple's 73rd wedding anniversary
Parts of the coastal cottage that the Spauldings lived in were completely charred after the massive fire, which is still being investigated
Bruce Spaulding, one of the couple's children, confirmed his parents' death in an emotional Facebook post on Monday.
'Their marriage of 73 years tragically ended early Sunday morning as they passed away from a house fire in the family home,' Bruce wrote.
Anthony and Helen had been married for 73 years, according to their son Bruce
He added: 'One beautiful thing though, they're taking that next walk together as well.'
The grieving son posted a video to Bruce Springsteen's 'If I Should Fall Behind,' calling it a 'tribute to lasting love my parents had for each other.'
In April, Bruce had posted a wedding photo of Anthony and Helen to commemorate their 73rd wedding anniversary.
Before their deaths, Anthony and Helen appeared to enjoy a considerable property portfolio around the Los Angeles area.
In addition to their coastal cottage, Anthony and Helen were also listed as the owners of an apartment building in the 2300 block of Oakwood Avenue in Venice.
The property was last sold in 1983 for $390,000 and is a roughly 10-minute drive away from Venice Beach.
The Spauldings were listed as the owners of an apartment building in the 2300 block of Oakwood Avenue in Venice
Anthony was also listed as owning two properties in the 1400 block of Colby Avenue in Los Angeles. A listing for the property pictured above said the rent cost $2,300 per month
Anthony also appeared to own a pair of rental two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments in the 1400 block of Colby Avenue in Los Angeles.
The properties had an estimated market value that topped $1.6 million, according to Zillow.
A listing in June that was later removed said that rent in one of the apartments cost $2,300.
Lastly, Anthony was listed as the owner of a building, which was now being used by a west coast bank, in the 500 block of North El Dorado Street in Stockton.
An estimated property value was not publicly available online.
