Gun Recovered After Elderly Married Couple Found Deceased in Newbury Park

NEWBURY PARK, Calif. — Law enforcement authorities in Ventura County are conducting a death investigation after finding an elderly married couple deceased inside their residence during a welfare check, public safety officials reported.

The investigation is being carried out jointly by detectives assigned to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Bureau and patrol officers from the Thousand Oaks Police Department under official report number 26-124149.

Deputies identified the deceased couple as 89-year-old Aleksander Tukalski and his 86-year-old wife, Kazia Berlach Tukalska, both longtime residents of Newbury Park.

The discovery occurred on Monday morning, September 21, 2026, at a single-family home located in the unit block of Lucas Court in Newbury Park.

Wellness Check Call Leads to Discovery

According to an official incident advisory issued by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff’s Communications Center received an incoming telephone call at approximately 11:11 a.m. from a concerned family member.

The caller requested that deputies check on the welfare of Tukalski and Tukalska after being unable to reach or contact them for an extended period.

Patrol deputies assigned to the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to the Lucas Court address. Upon making entry into the home, officers located both individuals deceased inside.

Search Warrant Executed and Firearm Recovered

Recognizing the complex nature of the scene, responding deputies requested assistance from specialized investigative units. Detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, the East County Investigation Bureau, the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, and the Advanced Real Time Information Center deployed to the residential property.

Detectives drafted and executed a search warrant for the residence to examine physical evidence throughout the interior spaces.

A field investigator from the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived on scene to collaborate with major crimes detectives during the forensic documentation.

During the search, law enforcement officers located and recovered a firearm from inside the residence. Investigators have not publicly disclosed the exact placement of the firearm or the preliminary forensic findings regarding its involvement.

"On 9/21/2026, at approximately 11:11 AM, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a telephone call from a subject who requested deputies respond to a residence in the unit block of Lucas Court... The caller requested a wellness check on his family members, Aleksander Tukalski and Kazia Berlach Tukalska, after being unable to get a hold of them for a period of time," the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office detailed in an official public statement.

"Detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau and the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths... A firearm was recovered at the scene. Detectives believe this is an isolated incident and do not believe there is an outstanding threat to the public," public safety representatives added.

Medical Examiner Review and Investigator Contact Information

Sheriff's officials emphasized that the incident appears isolated to the home, reassuring neighbors and local residents that there is no active threat or outstanding suspect imperiling the surrounding neighborhood.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office has taken custody of the decedents to conduct formal autopsies, toxicology testing, and anatomical evaluations. The official cause and manner of death remain pending final determination by medical examiners.

The death investigation remains active and ongoing.

Members of the public who possess information regarding this incident or recent interactions with the couple are encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detective Mitchell Peterson at (805) 384-4728 or via email at Mitchell.Peterson@venturacounty.gov.

Anonymous information can also be submitted to Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

For more news updates regarding public safety, official advisories are published on the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Official Portal.