Deaths of Producer, Child an Accident

A Hollywood producer found dead in his car suffered a heart attack, then fell on top of his young daughter who suffocated, according to a coroner’s report.

The body of Terry Carr, 62, fell onto his 9-year-old sleeping daughter, leaving her unable to escape or breathe, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Russ Perdock. Carr and his daughter, Arieka, were found dead Aug. 1 in the cargo area of their Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Carr weighed about 212 pounds and his daughter was about 53 pounds, Perdock said.

The vehicle was found parked at a convenience store in Clearlake Oaks a day after Carr abandoned his wife at a grocery store in Ashland, Ore. Clearlake Oaks is about 280 miles south of Ashland.

Although Carr had not worked on a film for several years, he remained a well-known producer and screenwriter. His movie credit list included “The Boost,” “The Innocents,” “Yes, Giorgio,” “Coast to Coast,” “Welcome to 18,” “An Almost Perfect Affair” and “The Bad News Bears Go to Japan.”

He and his family recently had left Los Angeles in search of a more tranquil lifestyle in Oregon, family members told The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat.

The autopsy report completed Tuesday solved the mystery of the deaths, but failed to explain other puzzling questions raised during the investigation.

Chikako Carr, 50, said she had no idea why her husband took off while she was in a restroom. He also dumped a box of belongings, including important personal papers and photos, in a pasture on the outskirts of Ashland a few days before he was found dead.

At the time, Chikako Carr thought it was done to symbolize leaving behind their old life in Los Angeles, according to Brent Jensen, an Ashland police detective.

Authorities also don’t know why Carr drove to Clearlake Oaks.

His brother, John, lives there, but he said he had not heard from Carr, Perdock said.