Crime & Safety

Despondent Sherman Oaks Couple Found Dead in Murder/Suicide, Police Say

Burton Levin called family members before he died, according to the LAPD.

An 88-year-old man who apparently shot himself in his back yard called family members shortly before he died, saying he had just given his wife a lethal dose of medication, police said Wednesday.

Burton Levin called family members about 4:10 a.m. Tuesday to tell them what he had done to his 85-year-old wife, according to a statement released by the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Division.

When officers arrived at his home in the 3500 block of Weslin Avenue, they found Levin dead in the back yard. They then searched the home and found his wife Lenore, whose body showed no outward trauma.

Find out what's happening in Sherman Oakswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Detectives believe the motive for both deaths was despondency over their declining health, according to the LAPD.

A firearm and medications were found at the home.

Find out what's happening in Sherman Oakswith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.