A married couple who shared decades of their lives together and frequently posted photographs of their travels were found dead inside their Santa Monica home in what police believe was a murder-suicide.
Hendrick Rabitzsch, 48, and Nicole Rabitzsch, 47, were discovered during a welfare check at a residence in the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard, according to reporting by the Daily Mail.
Investigators believe Hendrick shot Nicole before taking his own life. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Police said no other individuals were believed to be involved and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Welfare check led officers to the couple
According to the report, officers arrived at approximately 9:40 p.m. on a Saturday after receiving a request to check on the residents.
Authorities believe the shooting occurred earlier that morning, approximately 15 hours before the couple was found.
The supplied reporting did not explain who requested the welfare check or what prompted it.
Both Hendrick and Nicole had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. The circumstances remained under investigation, and authorities had not publicly provided a motive.
“This was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the public,” the Santa Monica Police Department said in its statement.
The department initially withheld the couple’s identities pending formal identification and notification of relatives by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
Social media documented decades together
Hendrick and Nicole were originally from Essen, Germany, and had been together for nearly 30 years, according to Hollywood LA News. They had spent much of their lives in the United States.
Their social media accounts featured photographs spanning their relationship, including an image of them smiling together as teenagers.
Other posts documented Caribbean cruises, rooftop New Year’s celebrations, desert trips and time spent on the water.
The couple also shared photographs of activities closer to home, including cycling and roller skating. Nicole frequently referred to Hendrick as her “hubby,” while followers described them as a “power couple,” according to the Daily Mail.
Those photographs recorded the experiences they chose to share publicly, but do not establish what was happening privately before their deaths.
In a June 2023 anniversary post, Hendrick reflected on their long relationship.
“Congratulations on 26 years my love — we’ve been through so much together!” he wrote.
Their last documented trip mentioned in the report was a Royal Caribbean cruise in May.
Investigation continues into their deaths
Nicole had worked at an Audi dealership in downtown Los Angeles for nearly 13 years, following more than five years with the automaker in Germany, according to her LinkedIn profile cited by the Daily Mail.
Hendrick’s occupation was not established in the report. His social media posts showed interests in luxury and vintage cars, motorcycles and aviation.
Authorities have asked anyone with information about the deaths to contact the Santa Monica Police Department Watch Commander.
For now, the investigation centers on the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Police have described the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide, while the reason behind the violence remains unexplained in the supplied reporting.
