Taylor, a silent film director, was found murdered in his bungalow on the morning of February 2, 1922. Todd was an actress during the '20s and '30s, and appeared in Marx Brothers classics like Monkey Business. On December 16, 1935, she was found dead in her car of carbon monoxide poisoning. In the purse was an unfinished note, written to someone named "Kirk." By that point it was too late for treatment. Rappe may not have even been a victim of murder; instead she may have received an illegal abortion, which could have caused the peritonitis that killed her. It will work best this way while mother is away.". The Case Two young men had called... 3. A passerby discovered Short's mutilated body in a residential section of L.A. on January 14, 1947. The CaseShort's corpse was cut in half, and her face had deep gashes. These are the thirteen most fascinating unsolved murders of actors, actresses, and celebrities. Beyond what you see on the big and small screens, Los Angeles really is a lot of bright lights and red carpets, but also real people, real crimes, and even real ghosts. In spite of this, the case remains unsolved. He died suffering from a brain disease that may have made him more violent and it was rumored he'd been blackmailed by a former mistress about some misdeed. The Case Where the Case Stands Today Police Say Wagner Not a Suspect, Weird Details In The Unsolved Death Of Natalie Wood That Make It Seem Suspicious#88 of 199 Famous Women You'd Want to Have a Beer With#26 of 186 The Greatest Actresses Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting). And sometimes, the rich and famous will do anything - even kill - to protect their reputations and careers. WATCH: The Evolution of the Hollywood It Girl. The 22-year-old aspiring actress (real name: Elizabeth Short) was found murdered on January 15, 1947. Bambina Maude Delmont, another party attendee, led the charges against Arbuckle, saying Rappe had confided to her that "Roscoe hurt me." Was Natalie Wood's Death Foul Play? The silent-film star was found murdered in 1968 in his Laurel Canyon home. Rappe was just 26 when she died in 1921 of a ruptured bladder and secondary peritonitis. According to Medium, Virginia Rappe was the illegitimate daughter of a chorus girl.When her mother died, the 14-year-old left her native Chicago for San Francisco where she worked designing dresses and modeling. ... Nobody was tried for the murder due to the lack … Two days later, police found Spangler's purse in Griffith park. Editors handpick every product that we feature. He appeared in some comedy shorts in 1933, but his short-lived comeback ended when he died in his sleep of a heart attack. She was never found, however, and her case remains open. Radu Alexander. The Black Dahlia is at the heart of one of Hollywood's most infamous murder mysteries. TheoriesBefore her death, Monroe had been hospitalized for psychiatric problems and was receiving long-term psychiatric care. Iconic actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood home on August 5, 1962. Who was she? The two had a long-term, tempestuous relationship, having divorced in 1957 and remarried in 1972. The killer followed reports of the investigation and mailed investigators personal items belonging to Short, including her birth certificate. For more Hollywood scandals, particularly the deadly kind, check out the Parcast podcast drama series Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories at parcast.com. The night before, Wood had been on a nearby yacht with her husband, Robert Wagner, and their friend, actor Christopher Walken. A crowd gathered around the body, and a man who identified himself as a doctor examined announced that Taylor had died of a stomach hemorrhage. Please thumbs up and share to spread Christa Helm's unsolved story! The CaseOn August 4, 1962, the 36-year-old Monroe died in her Brentwood home. Captain Says Wagner Responsible for Wood's Death About the Fatty Arbuckle Scandal The young actress' death led to a huge scandal and lengthy Hollywood trial. While her death was officially ruled a probable suicide, there are a number of conspiracy theories about it, placing the blame on everyone from the mafia, to the CIA, to the Kennedy family. Arbuckle found Rappe when he went to change clothes, and he and other guests were seen approaching her. Who was she? Virginia Rappe was a pretty, somewhat successful 1920s starlet who attended a Labor Day Weekend party, celebrating Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle's signing of a million-dollar contract with Paramount. Others, however, have faded into obscurity, even though the public indulged in their salaciousness … In 1958, Stompanato was stabbed to death in Turner's home in Beverly Hills. Turner's teenage daughter Cheryl Crane immediately confessed to the murder, claiming that she was defending her mother, who Stompanato had been violently attacking at the time. Where the Case Stands TodayAt the time, the killer followed the case in the papers, even going so far as to mail the contents of Short's purse to an LA paper. Spangler was an actress, model, and dancer who disappeared mysteriously in 1949 (two years after the Black Dahlia murder) when she was just 26. Dean died in a car accident on September 30, 1955, when he was 24 year's old. Rappe continued to be ill at the hotel for three days before she was finally taken to a hospital. Born: January 5th, 1914 Died: June 16th, 1959 Age: 45 yrs old This is unsolved as it's never been proved whether he took his own life, or was murdered. After three trials, Arbuckle was formally acquitted, but his career never recovered from the scandal. She died of peritonitis from a ruptured bladder. Taylor was found wearing a diamond ring and with his wallet full of cash, so investigators ruled out a robbery. Who was she? Eve of Naharon (20–25) is the skeleton of a Mayan female who had lived 13,600 years ago who was found in an underwater cave which is near to the town of Tulum south west of Cancún in Mexico. Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, was a famous actress, known for her roles in movies such as Some Like It Hot and for her relationships with powerful men of the day, from Arthur Miller to Joe DiMaggio to JFK. In the aftermath of her death, authorities concluded that Wood had gone at night to take a dinghy to the dock, and simply slipped into the water. But there are some famous Hollywood crimes that remain complete mysteries, with an intriguing cast of suspects and multiple motives... but no answers. Spangler's friends told police that she was pregnant at the time of her disappearance and seeking an abortion (which was illegal at the time). They claim that the damage done was too light for a high-speed crash and contend that Dean faked his own death. Who was she? The boat's captain, Dennis Davern, wrote in a 2010 book that he believed Wagner is responsible for Wood's death, and that Wagner didn't search diligently for Wood when she went missing. Where the Case Stands TodayAlthough rumors and speculation continue, there is no more definitive answer now about Monroe's death than in the 1960s. Jill Dando’s shooting sparked a manhunt that ultimately yielded no results. For 30 years, Natalie Wood was classified as a victim of accidental drowning. It’s a modern twist on old time radio that delves into the mystery of true cold cases and unsolved murders. While other theories were put forward for the cause of Rappe's condition (including cystitis), Arbuckle was tried for manslaughter. One later theory is that Dr. Walter Bayley, who lived near the lot where the body was found and whose daughter was a friend of the Short family, was the killer. In his home in Hollywood, he was found shot to death. Natalie Wood was a star at an early age, appearing in the 1947 holiday classic Miracle... 2. The details of the accident are public knowledge—his Porsche 550 Spyder was hit almost head-on by a 1950 Ford Tudo, driven by 23-year-old Donald Turnupseed. What Marilyn Monroe’s Colleagues Said About Working With Her#31 of 753 People We Wish Were Still Alive#51 of 831 The Best Actresses In Film History. Although her death was determined to be either accidental or a result of suicide (though she had bruises around her throat, a broken nose, and cracked ribs), there are some who believe she was murdered. Several people were present at the time of Reeves' death, including his fiancée Leonore Lemmon. We may earn commission from the links on this page. She disappeared on January 9, 1947. Crime Library: Fatty Arbuckle, #12 of 19 19 Infamous Celebrity Murders That Remain Unsolved To This Day#107 of 189 Famous People Buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery#2 of 26 26 Famous Unsolved Murders in California. Unsolved deaths Before 1900. Tabloids leapt into the story, with one theory holding that Arbuckle raped Rappe, and his weight (over 300 pounds) caused injuries that led to her death. The union was reportedly "stormy" and, by some accounts, abusive. Given the large suspect pool and the time that has passed, the murder may never be solved. Short was a 22-year-old who worked as a waitress while hoping to make it in Hollywood. Wood was married to actor Robert Wagner at the time of her death. More than a dozen people were eventually named as suspects, but no one was ever formally charged with the murder. Hollywood is a place of glamour and intrigue; and it can be a dangerous place if you're famous, partying too hard, suffering from intense depression, or are caught up with the "wrong" crowd. Reeves was found laying naked in bed, with his feet on the floor and the gun between his feet. Today's Hollywood is full of drama—but the feuds of modern celebrities have nothing on the mysteries, conspiracies, and all-around craziness of Old Hollywood. Later, when the body was turned over by investigators, it was clear Taylor had been shot at least once in the back. But many believe Monroe was murdered, possibly to make sure she wouldn't talk about her liaisons with both JFK and his brother, Robert. On the morning of January 15, 1947, a mother taking her child for a walk in a Los Angeles neighborhood stumbled upon a gruesome sight: the body of a young naked woman sliced clean in half at the waist. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, J.Lo and A-Rod Were Spotted Having Dinner Together, Diana Blushed When She Danced With Neil Diamond, Glenn Close Dances to "Da Butt" at the Oscars, Yuh-jung Youn Isn't Afraid to Call Out Brad Pitt, Alan S. Kim Channeled David Rose at the Oscars, How Daniel Kaluuya's Mom Reacted to His Speech, Margot Robbie Debuted Bangs at the Oscars, Zendaya Stuns in a Custom Valentino Dress, Regina King Wears Louis Vuitton at the 2021 Oscars. The Last Tango In Paris Rape Scene Is Just One Of Old Hollywood’s Many Scandals. 14 Chilling Hollywood Deaths That Are As Intriguing As They Are Creepy. The doctor left the scene and was never heard from again. Her exact cause of death is unknown. There were also reports at the time that her lover, director Roland West, had locked her out, causing her to seek warmth in a car and to accidentally die of carbon monoxide poisoning. https://www.factinate.com/things/facts-old-hollywood-scandals 43-year-old Natalie Wood was a successful actress, known for her roles in West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause. On August 25, 1939, The Wizard of Oz was released, thus changing the face of cinema forever. Marks on her wrists indicated she'd been tied up and possibly tortured. Though Arbuckle was acquitted, he had been found guilty in the court of public opinion and could not find work for years following this scandal. The press started calling Short the Black Dahlia (possibly a reference to Short's dark hair and the recent release of a film called The Blue Dahlia). Kayleigh Roberts is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, covering celebrity and entertainment news, from actual royals like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle to Hollywood royalty, like Katie Holmes and Chrissy Teigen. He received an apology from the jury due to the complete lack of evidence against him. Arbuckle was arrested and tried for Rappe's death. All current Hollywood drama PALES in comparison. Wood also had a lifelong fear of water, making the idea of her taking a small boat alone, as Wagner contended, difficult to believe. Marie Claire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The attractive victim and gruesome murder garnered a lot of press attention. 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