In 1960, in Guam, Donatila Leonardo awoke to find her husband snoring, something which he didn't normally do. She tried to awake him but couldn't. He had died from a suspected stroke. By the late 1960's, she had re-married and moved to California.

Then in 1981, her 27 year old daughter died suddenly from heart failure. Not long after, her 24 year old son collapsed while playing softball and died from cardio myopathy and irregular heart beat. A year later, her 33 year old son had died from heart failure while watching television.

In November 1991, her 15 year old grandson collapsed while at a school dance and died from a similar heart condition.

Doctors believe there is a genetic connection, but are not exactly sure about the cause of the deaths.