BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — The sister and brother-in-law of Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff were found dead in their South Florida home, authorities said.
Sondra Wiener, 87, and Marvin Wiener, 90, were found dead of gunshot wounds on Thursday afternoon in Boynton Beach, the Miami Herald reported. The news was first reported by Boca News Now on Saturday.
“After further investigation, it appears to be a murder-suicide,” the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sondra Wiener and Marvin Wiener, who reportedly lost millions in the investment scam run by Sondra’s brother, Bernie Madoff, were found in their home dead of gunshot wounds Thursday afternoon, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said. https://t.co/AveAWd8e8Y
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) February 20, 2022
It is unclear which person shot the other one, the sheriff’s office said.
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office took possession of both bodies to determine the cause of death, WBPF-TV reported.
The Wieners lived in the Valencia Lakes area outside Boynton Beach, the Herald reported. According to Palm Beach County property appraiser online records, the couple bought the home for $315,000 in December 2009.
PBSO Detectives Investigate Murder/Suicide in unincorporated Boynton Beach. Deputies responded to a 911 call advising a male and female were unresponsive inside their residence. Upon arrival deputies located an elderly female and male deceased from a gunshot wound. pic.twitter.com/rEcBnOwCIU
— PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) February 20, 2022
Madoff was known for orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme that wiped out people’s fortunes and ruined charities, according to The Associated Press. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2009 to fraud and other charges; he died while incarcerated in North Carolina on April 14, 2021. He was 82.
>> Bernie Madoff, former financier and Ponzi schemer, dies in prison at 82
Sondra Wiener and Marvin Wiener also reportedly lost millions in the investment scam run by Madoff, the Herald reported.
The couple was sued by the trustee representing Madoff’s victims, alleging that they “received at least $1,715,000 of other people’s money,” the Sun-Sentinel reported in 2010.
Palm Beach County property records state the couple sold their 3,409-square foot in Palm Beach Gardens at a $75,900 loss in May 2009, the newspaper reported. The couple sold the home for $575,000, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
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