Ugly divorce war between Mitt Romney's wealthy brother and estranged wife before she was found dead
Mitt Romney's brother put his Los Angeles condominium in a trust just months before he filed for divorce from his estranged wife, it has emerged.
George Scott Romney - who goes by Scott - separated from his wife on May 25 and officially filed for divorce on June 10, according to files obtained by the Daily Mail.
Carrie Elizabeth Romney, 64, was found dead at the bottom of a five-story parking garage last Friday. It is unclear whether she died by suicide or fell by accident, with investigators saying they believe foul play is unlikely.
Scott, citing 'irreconcilable differences' in his divorce filing, tried to make sure the court did not award Carrie any assets in the separation.
His divorce filling claimed the couple agreed to 'mediate property and support'. It also stated their assets were acquired individually before their marriage and that they shared no property.
But residency records reviewed by the Daily Mail revealed the couple were both recently living together in a $738,000 condominium in the LA suburb of Valencia.
Despite being the sole owner of the home, Scott appears to have transferred ownership of the property to the George Scott Romney Trust in July 2024.
Carrie, who sought spousal support, has seemingly battled financial struggles. She filed for bankruptcy in December 2001 under a former name.
George Scott Romney - who goes by Scott - married his second wife Carrie (pictured together) in November 2016. Scott filed for divorce on June 10 this year, court filings showed
The couple lived together in a $738,000 condominium in the LA suburb of Valencia (pictured). Despite being the sole owner of the property, Scott appears to have transferred ownership of the property to the George Scott Romney Trust in July 2024
Scott purchased the three-bedroom, three-bathroom Valencia condo in November 2022, property records revealed.
Scott, whose marital status was disclosed at the time of purchase, purchased the property for $710,000. He financed $630,000 with a 30-year mortgage, according to the records.
The 84-year-old moved to transfer ownership of the home to his personal trust last year, deed records showed.
The transfer was recorded with the LA County accessor's office in September 2024, at which point it was valued at $738,000.
Scott's divorce filing states the couple had no shared property, but the home is listed as the permanent address for both Carrie and Scott.
Neighbors told the New York Post that Carrie had been living at the residence not long before her death.
'She was quiet. Very nice,' one neighbor, speaking to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity, said.
Scott was seen walking through the neighborhood in the rain on Tuesday. Photographs obtained by the Post showed him sporting a dark blue rain coat with the hood pulled up.
Carrie Elizabeth Romney, 64, was found dead at the bottom of a five-story parking garage last Friday. It is unclear whether she died by suicide or fell by accident
Carrie (pictured with her son Carlos more than a decade ago) had been living at the Valencia condo not long before her death, neighbors have claimed
According to California law, a home purchased during a marriage - regardless of whose name is on the deed - is regarded as communal property.
During a divorce, unless specific exceptions or agreements apply, a communal home is typically subject to a 50/50 split.
However, assets placed in a trust, under certain circumstances, can be considered separate property and are not subject to division in a divorce, according to legal experts.
It is unclear if this exemption applies to the condo as the specifics of the George Scott Romney Trust are not publicly available.
Scott and Carrie were wed on November 26, 2016 and had no children together.
It was the 84-year-old lawyer and politician's third marriage. Scott is the father of former RNC chairman Ronna McDaniel through his first marriage. Carrie has multiple children from a previous marriage.
The duo were never photographed in public together and appear to have kept their relationship private.
Neither were active on social media and Scott hasn't been interviewed by a major media outlet since Mitt's 2012 presidential campaign.
Carrie was Scott's third wife. Scott (pictured during the 2012 Republican National Convention) is the father of former RNC chairman Ronna McDaniel through his first marriage
Scott separated from Carrie on May 25 and filed for divorce just a few weeks later. He moved to 'terminate the court's ability to award support' to either party in the divorce, the filing stated. It also aimed to keep assets separate.
Carrie responded with her own filing requesting that Scott pay spousal support and her legal costs. She also requested to restore her maiden name, Carrie Dimas.
She was found dead, lying next to a garage near a Valencia shopping mall and the local Hyatt Regency Hotel at around 8.30pm on Friday.
The parking structure belongs to an apartment complex on the 24000 block of Town Center Drive in the city of Santa Clarita. Her vehicle was found parked in the garage.
Foul play is not suspected, according to homicide detectives.
LA County Sheriff's spokesman Lieutenant Daniel Vizcarra told the Daily Mail: 'We don't know if it was suicide or accidental. There is not enough information to go by yet on what the coroner has given us so far.'
Carrie's cause of death has been listed as 'deferred' while toxicology tests were pending, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
Her attorney Paulina Markey, in a statement to Daily Mail on Tuesday, said: 'This is an immensely difficult time for Ms. Romney's loved ones, and the family has requested privacy as they grieve. We extend our deepest condolences to them during this time.'
'Please be advised that the family has requested privacy during this difficult time and I have no comment on behalf of Mr. Romney at this time,' Scott's attorney said in a separate statement.
Mitt Romney (pictured with his wife Ann in 2017) has spoken out on the sudden death of his sister-in-law Carrie, saying 'our family is heartbroken by the loss'
Mitt Romney, a two-time presidential candidate, comes from a large family with three older siblings, including his brother Scott. His wife Ann also has two older brothers, and together the couple share five sons.
Scott was described by The New York Times as the most visible of Romney's siblings on the campaign trail in 2012.
He told PBS of his role on his brother's campaign: 'In 2006 he called me and said, "I'd like somebody with a little gray hair to help raise money, and I wonder if you'd be willing to help me." And he asked me to help with him on his campaign. Since then, I've been doing everything I can to help his political career.'
Scott is currently an attorney at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn in Michigan and serves on several boards, including Compuware Corporation.
The Romney family is notoriously close and competitive, with The Washington Post once profiling the then-30 person brood's annual family Olympics on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
Similarly, the former governor often championed his status as a family man when he ran for national office in 2008 and 2012.
Mitt, in a statement to the Daily Mail, said the entire family was 'heartbroken' by Carrie's death, adding that she 'brought warmth and love to all our lives.'
