Gina Heslop
Ron Ely, a well-known actor from the 1960s Tarzan TV series, passed away at the age of 86 after spending his final years surrounded by tragedy.
His life took a devastating turn in October 2019, when his wife, Valerie Lundeen Ely, was fatally stabbed by their son, Cameron Ely, at the family’s home in Santa Barbara, California. This heartbreaking event brought an end to their 35-year marriage and shattered their family.
Valerie, 62 at the time of her death, had once been a flight attendant and had achieved recognition as Miss Florida USA in 1981.
She and Ron married in 1984 and had three children together-Kirsten, Kaitland, and Cameron. The couple experienced the joy of becoming grandparents in 2018 when their daughter Kaitland welcomed her first child.
Valerie was known as a devoted mother and wife, but her life came to a shocking and tragic end.
On October 15, 2019, officers responded to a 911 call from the Ely residence. They found Valerie inside the home, having suffered multiple fatal stab wounds. Cameron, their
30-year-old son, was identified as the suspect. According to reports, officers located him outside the house and deemed him a threat after failing to gain verbal control over him. In response, four deputies fired their weapons, killing Cameron on the scene.
Following the incident, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released a statement explaining their actions and confirming that no deputies were injured. However, Ron Ely later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sheriff’s Office in 2020.
He claimed that Cameron was surrendering when he was shot over 20 times, alleging that the deputies’ actions were excessive and unconstitutional. Despite Ron’s efforts, a federal jury ruled in favor of the Sheriff’s Office in 2022, stating that the use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances.
Ron had retired from acting in 2001, apart from a brief appearance in a 2014 TV movie, and spent his later years focusing on his family.
