Authorities on Tuesday launched an investigation into the slaying of four people in an upscale gated community in Orange County near Los Angeles.
All the victims were females, Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino said.
The victims were all members of the same family and no one inside the rented home in the
exclusive Careyes community survived, said Amormino.
The victims were discovered inside the rented home in the exclusive Careyes community just before 2 p.m. local time Monday, he said, adding that no one inside survived.
"It started out as a domestic disturbance about 1:30 p.m.," Orange County Sheriff's Lt.
Tom Slayton said. "It is now a death investigation. Homicide is on scene. There are multiple deaths."
Authorities were expected to disclose later how the people were killed.
The Careyes community is "a private, gated enclave of only 42 luxury executive residences, overlooking the Talega golf course," according to a Talega Community website.
Four-to six-bedroom homes in the neighbourhood sell for more than 1 million U.S. dollars apiece.