Daughter of famous director found dead in car alongside husband during extreme heat warning

Judith Sheldon, 84, daughter of acclaimed film director William Wyler, and her husband Wylie Sheldon, 86, were discovered deceased in their parked Jeep on California’s Interstate 5 near Redding on 15 June.

Their deaths occurred on a day with an extreme heat warning, where temperatures reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 43C).

Authorities found their car's engine running with the fan on high, but the air conditioning was non-functional, and there was no water inside the vehicle.

The couple was en route to Oregon to attend the Ashland Shakespeare Festival with their friend David Smith, stating: “We're still in a state of shock.”

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, with officials noting that the role of the extreme heat “may be determined” by the findings.