Margaux Mirkin, the 70-year-old heiress whose father founded Budget Rent a Car, was the victim of an apparent home invasion Thursday in which she was assaulted and strangled, police say.
Officers arrived at her Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles and learned that the attackers had left the woman inside the residence after smashing her jaw and strangling her.
Property records obtained by CNB4 confirmed that Mirkin owned the residence.
Although the extent of the theft remains unclear, police said the suspects stole cash and jewelry from the home. Neighbors said some of the jewelry belonged to the woman’s late husband, who died in a house fire two years ago.
After the incident, Kristen Stavola, executive director of We Are Laurel Canyon, spoke with NBC4.
“She’s pretty shaken up, as anyone would be after being attacked in your home and seeing your valuables being stolen and chased away,” Stavola said.
An individual who did not wish to be identified said the street was “dark” and a “dead end street.”
“There aren’t many people, so of course it’s the perfect street for a burglary,” the neighbor said.
NBC4 reported that the thieves dropped a bag containing a large amount of jewelry when leaving the house. When a neighbor saw them and shone a flashlight in their direction, they took off.
The police’s Robbery and Homicide Division is now handling the investigation.
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