Sharon Tate
Actress Sharon Tate was tragically murdered on August 9, 1969, by members of the notorious Charles Manson Family. While she and three friends were sleeping, four members of his cult broke into Tate’s home and stabbed her 16 times. At the time of her death, she was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with director Roman Polanski’s child.
Nicole Brown Simpson
Actress Nicole Brown Simpson was killed on June 13, 1994, and her murder case is still referred to as “the trial of the century.” She and her friend Ron Goldman were both stabbed to death and found lying in a pool of their blood outside her home in Brentwood, California. Brown’s husband, O.J. Simpson, was the primary suspect in the murder but he was acquitted of all charges.
Adrienne Shelley
Director Adrienne Shelly was found hanged to death in the shower of the studio apartment she used as an office on November 1, 2006. At first, it looked like she took her own life, however, police found a footprint beside where her body had been found. They later arrested a construction worker named Diego Pillco, who confessed to killing Shelly and staging the fake suicide.
Phil Hartman
Former Saturday Night Live comedian and Jingle All the Way star Phil Hartman was murdered by his wife, Brynn, on May 28, 1998. After reportedly getting into a heated argument, she shot him three times in his sleep and later took her own life. It is also believed that drugs were a factor in the murder-suicide.
JonBenét Ramsey
Though she wasn’t a celebrity at the time of her death, child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey became a household name after she was murdered at the age of six in her home in Boulder, Colorado on December 26, 1996. Her body was found in her basement after her mother, Patsy, said she found a ransom note demanding $118,000 for JonBenét’s return. It was later revealed she had sustained a broken skull from a blow to the head and was strangled to death. Though her case remains unsolved, it is widely believed her parents staged the note in order to cover up the crime.
John Lennon
Beatles singer John Lennon was killed on December 8, 1980, in what is probably the most famous fan murder of all time. He was shot four times by a troubled man named John David Chapman outside of his home in New York. Chapman later claimed his actions were inspired by the book The Catcher in the Rye. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Natalie Wood
Actress Natalie Wood’s body was found in the Pacific Ocean on November 29, 1981, after a boat trip to Catalina Island on board her husband Robert Wagner’s yacht. Though her cause of death was declared an “accidental drowning,” many suspect she was murdered because the autopsy report revealed she had bruises on her body and a cut on her left cheek.
Jam Master Jay
Legendary Run-D.M.C. DJ Jam Master Jay was murdered on October 30, 2002, after someone shot him in a recording studio in Jamaica, Queens. Though his murder remains unsolved, former NYPD detective Derrick Parker, also known as the Hip-Hop Cop, says he knows who killed Jam Master Jay and that the case will be closed soon.
Marvin Gaye
Singer Marvin Gaye was killed by his father on April 1, 1984, after he tried to break up a fight between him and his mother. He was shot twice in their house in California and was pronounced dead on arrival at the California Hospital Medical Center. His father, Marvin Sr., received a six-year suspended sentence and five years of probation.
John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, while riding in a presidential convertible limousine through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. His murderer was a former U.S. Marine named Lee Harvey Oswald, who fatally shot JFK in the head and neck. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead nearly 30 minutes after the shooting.
Dimebag Darrell
Guitarist Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on stage while performing with his band Damageplan on December 8, 2004, at a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio. His murderer was a crazed fan named Nathan Gale, who blamed Darrell for breaking up his former band Pantera. Three others were also murdered in the shooting before Gale was killed by police.
Tupac Shakur
Rapper Tupac Shakur was shot four times on September 7, 1996, while riding in his friend’s car after leaving a Las Vegas boxing match. He died at a local hospital six days later at the age of 25. His killer still remains unknown, however, many have theorized that Tupac’s murder was the result of his East Coast/West Coast feud with rapper Biggie Smalls.
Sam Cooke
Singer Sam Cooke was shot and killed on December 11, 1964, by a hotel manager named Bertha Franklin. Police ruled his death a justifiable homicide because Frankin claimed Cooke had threatened her life after attempting to rape a young woman who had accompanied him to the motel. However, many still believe that there was a conspiracy to murder Cooke.
Andrés Escobar
Soccer player Andrés Escobar was killed on July 2, 1994, in Medellin, Colombia following the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Columbia was eliminated after he accidentally scored in his own team’s net, which subsequently led to his murder when two men pulled out a gun and shot him six times. It is believed his death was retaliation for his error.
XXXTentacion
Rapper XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroym, was shot and killed in an apparent robbery on June 18, 2018. He was 20 years old. He was shot multiple times in the neck by two men after leaving a motorsports store in Florida. At the time of his death, XXXTentacion was facing 15 felony charges including domestic violence involving his pregnant girlfriend.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana, the beloved mother of Prince William and Harry, was killed in a fatal car crash in Paris, France on August 31, 1997. Though there are tons of conspiracy theories to suggest the royal family had her murdered, others believe the paparazzi are responsible for causing the driver to lose control of the car.
Carl Switzer
Carl Switzer, best known for his role as Alfalfa from the Our Gang comedies, was shot to death during an alleged argument over $50 on January 21, 1959. His assailant, Moses Samuel Stiltz, claimed the actor threw a knife at him across the room so he shot Switzer in the stomach.
Rebecca Schaeffer
Model-turned-actress Rebecca Schaeffer’s life was tragically cut short on July 18, 1989, after she was shot and killed in the doorway of her home. Her murderer was an obsessed fan named Robert John Bardo, who had been stalking her for years. He reportedly became enraged with jealousy after seeing her in bed with another man on TV.
Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia)
Aspiring actress Elizabeth Short, aka the Black Dahlia, was found dead on January 15, 1947. Though she wasn’t famous before her death, her murder became highly publicized due to the graphic nature of the crime. Short’s naked body was found severed into two pieces and drained entirely of blood. She also had cuts on the side of her mouth, thighs, and breasts. After a deep and lengthy investigation, her murder still remains unsolved.
Dominique Dunne
Actress Dominique Dunne was strangled by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, in the driveway of her home on the evening of October 30, 1982. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was placed on life support. However, she never regained consciousness and died on November 4. Even though Sweeney admitted “he killed his girlfriend” when police arrested him, he was only sentenced to six years in prison for manslaughter.
Dorothy Stratten
Playboy model Dorothy Statten was brutally murdered at the age of 20 by her estranged husband/manager Paul Snider. He shot her and then shot himself in their West Los Angeles apartment on August 14, 1980. Her body was later found raped and beaten and she had a gunshot wound on her face.
Biggie
Just like his rival Tupac, Biggie Smalls (aka The Notorious B.I.G.) was killed in a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997, and his murder remains unsolved. After leaving the Soul Train Music Awards, the rapper was gunned down by a man at a red light. He was shot four times and died shortly after arriving at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai hospital.
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
Rising star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was murdered by Yolanda Saldivar, the founder of the Selena fan club, on March 31, 1995. When Saldivar was accused of embezzling money, she bought a gun, lured the singer to a Days Inn motel, and shot her in the back. Selena died of her injuries shortly after. She was 23.
Gianni Versace
Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan on July 15, 1997. He was shot and killed on the steps of his Miami mansion after his morning walk. It’s still unclear what Cunanan’s motive was but he also killed four other people and later took his own life.
Stephanie Moseley
Actress Stephanie Moseley starred in movies like The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. Earl Hayes, a rapper, killed her in what appears to have been a murder-suicide. After neighbors heard gunshots and screaming, their bodies were discovered.
Lord Mountbatten
Lord Mountbatten, an uncle of the late Prince Philip of the British royal family, was killed while lobster fishing on his boat. A member of the IRA had placed a radio-controlled bomb on the boat, and when it went off, Mountbatten was injured and ultimately died.
Steve McNair
NFL player Steve McNair was found dead in his rented property with multiple gunshot wounds. His body was found next to the body of a woman he had been romantically linked with. It was believed the woman, Kazemi, shot him first whilst he slept and then shot herself in a murder-suicide.
Lana Clarkson
Model and actress Lana Clarkson. While working in LA, she met the record producer Phil Spector, who was subsequently discovered dead at his mansion. The deadly shooting of Clarkson, which Spector initially claimed was an “accidental suicide,” was subsequently proven to have occurred.
Bashar Jackson
Bashar Jackson, better known as the rapper Pop Smoke, was fatally shot by four teens who stormed into his rented Los Angeles house. Four of them—Corey Walker, 19, Keandre Rodgers, 18, and two younger adolescents—were accused of killing Pop Smoke.
Lenny Breau
1981 album cover “Standard Brands,” Lenny Breau and Chet Atkins.
Guitar master Lenny Breau died tragically. In 1984, his body was discovered in his Los Angeles apartment building’s rooftop pool. The killing was determined to be a strangulation. The murder was never solved and no one has ever been found guilty of it.
Claude Vivier
Claude Vivier, whose life was tragically cut short, was already regarded as Canada’s best composer. But at the age of 34, a man he had met at a homosexual bar killed him. When the two of them returned to his flat, this man killed him.
Albert Ebossé
The Cameroonian striker Albert Ebossé passed away at the age of 24 after being killed. The player’s squad had just lost a game when he was hit by a sharp rock that landed on his head. After failing to save himself from the harm, he passed away in the hospital a few hours later.
Natalie Stelle
Natalie Stelle was a well-known Russian classical pianist and musician. She was slain by her partner John Martin, who then committed suicide. She had severe head and neck injuries and was 38 years old. In addition, John Martin was guilty of attempting to kill a 14-year-old child.
Jimmy Wopo
At the age of 21, up-and-coming rapper Jimmy Wopo was killed in a double drive-by shooting in Pittsburgh. He was killed by members of an opposing gang. Jimmy Wopo was deeply involved in gangs and gang violence before he was killed in 2018.
Winston Riley
The Techniques band member and music producer Winston Riley was shot in the head and the arm at his Kingston, Jamaica, residence. He was rushed to the hospital and kept there, but because of his irreversible injuries, nothing could be done and he passed away there.
Big Hawk
To play dominoes with his friends, the Hip-Hop celebrity had made the trip to a residence. He was alone when an assailant approached and shot him multiple times, instantly killing him. The killer remained a mystery. Just 8 years had passed since the death of his younger brother before the murder.
Roger Troutman
The American singer-songwriter Roger Troutman was having a disagreement with his brother Larry when the latter pulled a revolver and fatally shot Roger. Immediately after, Larry shot himself in the head with the gun. Nobody really understood what exactly caused this murder-suicide.
Jacki Byard
Jazz multi-instrumentalist Byard, who was 76 years old at the time of his death, was shot in the head while he was in his home by an unidentified assailant. He was an accomplished pianist. Due to the fact that no one knows who killed Byard or why the homicide is still an open case.
Patrick Hawkins
Fat Pat, also known as Patrick Hawkins, was fatally murdered at the Meadows Southwest Apartment Complex after arriving to collect an appearance fee. He was killed in the hallway as he was leaving. He was only 27 years old. Two males ran from the flat, according to his companions.
Cristie Codd
Actress Cristie Codd and her husband were both murdered, their bodies were torn apart, their parts burned in a wood furnace. They had recently made friends with the criminal. At the time of her death, she was five months pregnant.
Randy Walker
Stretch, the alias of Randy Walker was shot four times. He had just dropped off his 23-year-old brother when a car began pursuing his vehicle. He was hit by two of the rounds before crashing his van into a wall. He was identified as dead.
Mia Zapata
Mia Zapata, a well-known vocalist, was only 27 years old. She was killed by being raped, beaten, and strangled to death while she was traveling home after attending a concert. The killer was unknown until Jesus Mezquia was convicted and given a 36-year prison term a decade later.
David Rowbotham
In 1991, rock musician David Rowbotham was discovered by his fiancée laying in a pool of his own blood; he was later discovered dead in his living room. It was determined that the murder weapon used on him was a plasterer’s hammer. Nobody has ever been found guilty of his homicide up until this point.
Cornell Gunter
The Coasters member and American rhythm and blues vocalist Cornell Gunter was killed while operating a motor vehicle. He was slain in Nevada when a gunshot entered his automobile through the windshield. Once more, the murder has not been solved.
Peter Tosh
A well-known reggae star is Peter Tosh. When multiple assailants attacked the residence they were in, he was killed alongside another man. Five more of the group still had injuries. After the murder, Peter Tosh and Wilton Brown tragically passed away.
Nipsey Hussle
Photo by Ser Baffo/Getty Images
Airmiess Joseph Asghedom was professionally known as Nipsey Hussle. An American rapper and founder of Marathon Clothing, it was actually near his clothing store that Hussle was killed. Shot over ten times in the parking lot of his store in Los Angeles back in 2019, Nussle’s death may have been the result of a personal issue but the killer was apprehended and charged.
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Pier Paolo Pasolini was an Italian filmmaker who was known for his radical techniques and scandalous content. His strongly left-wing activism alongside him being openly gay led to him being targeted throughout his life. Pasolini was murdered in 1975 on a beach. He had been bludgeoned, run over with a car several times, and his body was burned with gasoline after his death. Pasolini’s politics was one reason given for his obscene murder.
Barbara Daly Baekeland
Barbara Daly Baekeland was an American socialite and model known for her wondrous beauty. Baekeland was 51 when, in 1972, she was murdered in her kitchen in Chelsea, London by her own son, Antony Baekeland. Antony stabbed Barbara to death with a knife, and later confessed to the crime.
Christina Grimmie
Singer and former The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie’s life was cut short on June 10, 2016, after an obsessed fan named Kevin James Loibl murdered her. She was 22. As she signed autographs inside of The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida, he pulled out a gun and shot her three times — once in the head and twice in the chest.
Maurizio Gucci
Maurizio Gucci was an Italian businessman who used to be the chair at fashion giant Gucci. In 1995, when Maurizio was 46 years old, he was murdered. A hitman had been hired to take the Gucci heir out by Patrizia Reggiani, Maurizio’s ex-wife, who was resentful towards her ex-husband over money and the breakdown in their relationship. Reggiani was sentenced to 18 years in prison and was released in 2016.
Marie Trintignant
Marie Trintignant began her acting career when she was just four years old, then worked consistently in the French film industry throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. In 2003, she began an affair with French rock star Bertrand Cantat, and in July of that year they had a fight that ended her life. After Trintignant received a text message from her husband, Cantat flew into a rage and slapped her 19 times before putting her to bed. Little did he know, his blows had caused her brain damage, and Trintignant slipped into a coma before dying days later.
Mónica Spear
Mónica Spear was a successful actress, model and pageant title holder, thrust into the spotlight when she won the title of Miss Venezuela at the Miss Universe competition in 2005. In 2014, Spear went on holiday with her ex-husband and their five-year-old daughter, where the family were tragically targeted by robbers. Both Spear and her ex-husband were killed in the clash, while their daughter survived after suffering a gunshot wound to her leg.
Jack Nance
Any fans of the cult classic Eraserhead will know the name, or at least the face, of Jack Nance. Nance worked closely with David Lynch for over a decade, appearing in many of his projects, but he unfortunately died of a hematoma in 1996. The exact circumstances surrounding Nance’s death remain a mystery, though Nance allegedly met with friends on the day; apparently he explained to them that he had been involved in a brawl that morning and that he had “got what [he] deserved.”
Danny Lockin
Unless you’ve seen Barbra Streisand’s lavish 1969 movie musical Hello, Dolly!, you probably haven’t seen Danny Lockin. Lockin worked consistently as a stage actor and dancer throughout the 60s and early 70s, before retreating to teach at his mother’s dance studio. In 1977, Lockin left a California gay bar with Charles Leslie Hopkins, who stabbed him over 100 times before calling the police and claiming he had been the victim of an attempted robbery. Though the death penalty was considered, Hopkins was given a three-year prison sentence.
Ronni Chasen
Ronni Chasen was a big name in Hollywood for decades, but not because she was ever on screen. A prolific publicist, she directed Academy Award campaigns for over 100 films across her career. In 2010, Chasen was shot while driving home from the movie premiere of the film Burlesque. Though initially theories ranged from road range to assassination, Chasen’s murder was eventually put down to a failed robbery attempt.
Michael Malloy
Michael Malloy, otherwise known as Iron Mike or Mike the Durable, lived in New York throughout the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, he became a local legend for surviving over five assassination attempts, all committed so his acquaintances could collect the life insurance they’d set up in his name. After surviving poisoning by antifreeze, turpentine, horse liniment, rat poison and wood alcohol, his friends attempted to freeze him to death and hit him with a taxi, all of which he survived. He was eventually killed via gas inhalation in 1933. His killers were sentenced to death.
Paul Frappier
Paul Frappier, also known as Bad News Brown, began his music career as a Montreal busker before becoming a rising star in Canada’s hip-hop and soul scene. Beloved by his city, his life came to a tragic end in 2011 when, after preparing for a Quebec City concert the next day, he left his girlfriend’s house at midnight to meet an unknown acquaintance. His body was found in an alley showing clear signs of trauma, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His killer has not yet been found.
Elli Perkins
Ellie Perkins was a talented glass artist who had a steady career creating pieces for renaissance fairs in New York, as well as being instrumental in running the Niagara Craft Association. She was also a dedicated Scientologist, and that indirectly led to her death. When her son Jeremy began to exhibit signs of schizophrenia, Ellie decided to treat him in line with her religion, meaning that any form of psychiatry was off-limits. In 2003, Jeremy attacked his mother with a steak knife, stabbing her 77 times. He was later classified as dangerously mentally ill by the state.
Judith Barsi
In her short life, Judith Barsi was a prolific child actress, appearing in over 25 projects in just five years. Most famously, she voiced Ducky in The Land Before Time, and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven. Tragically, Barsi’s success drew the ire of her alcoholic father, and she developed compulsive behaviours to deal with his physical abuse. Though Child Protective Services identified the danger, they halted their investigation after Barsi’s mother assured them a divorce was imminent. In July of 1988, three bodies were found at Barsi’s home, a murder-suicide committed by her father.
Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca was a talented poet, playwright and theatre director, active in both New York City and Spain in the 1920s and 30s. An outspoken socialist, he spent years touring rural Spain in the wake of the Second Spanish Republic, in order to bring theatre to people who had never had access to it before. This commitment to left-wing principles made him a target of the country’s Nationalist faction, and he was shot to death in August 1936. His murder has been the subject of intense historical debate ever since.
Reeva Steenkamp
Gallo Images / Stringer/Getty
A South African supermodel, Reeva Steenkamp regularly collaborated with FHM and was one of the faces of Avon cosmetics. On February 14th, 2013, Steenkamp was repeatedly shot by her boyfriend, famed Paralympian Oscar Pistorius. The case lasted six months and garnered global attention, with Pistorius eventually being found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in prison.
Peter Arne
Peter Arne was a British character actor who appeared in over 50 films and TV series across his career, often playing villainous characters. The highlights of Arne’s career include The Avengers TV series, Danger Man and several Pink Panther films. In 1983, Arne was beaten to death by a homeless man he had been providing with food. His murderer subsequently committed suicide by drowning himself in the Thames.
Lloyd Avery II
Lloyd Avery II was an American actor who appeared in a number of films, including 1991’s Boyz n the Hood, where he played a gangster who kills one the film’s protagonists. In a case of life imitating art, Avery II was convicted of a double homicide in 2001 and sentenced to life behind bars. Four years into his sentence, the actor was murdered by his cellmate, a Satanist who stabbed him repeatedly and smeared his blood over the walls of the cell.
Takeoff
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Kirsnick Khari Ball – aka Takeoff – rose to prominence as the youngest member of rap group Migos. During his time with the group, Ball recorded multiple Billboard Hot 100 top-ten hits, and was twice nominated for a Grammy. On November 1st, 2022, the rapper was gunned down outside of a Houston bowling alley after an altercation broke out. Numerous arrests have been made, but the case is still ongoing.
Ramón Gay
Ramón Gay was a Mexican actor who appeared in a number of films during his lifetime, most notably the Aztec Mummy trilogy, in which he played Dr Eduardo Almada. On May 28th, 1960, the actor was fatally shot by the jealous ex-husband of actress Evangelina Elizondo, whom Gay was dating at the time.
Sally Anne Bowman
Peter Macdiarmid / Staff/Getty
A young hairdresser, Sally Anne Bowman’s modelling career was about to take off when her life was cut tragically short. Bowman – who was frequently compared to supermodel Kate Moss – had just signed a deal with Pulse Model Management and become the face of Swatch when she was sexually assaulted and murdered by Mark Dixie, a serial rapist with 17 criminal convictions. Dixie was caught and convicted three years after Moss’s death, and is currently serving a life sentence.
Thelma Todd
Born in 1906, Thelma Todd excelled academically and had her sights set on becoming a schoolteacher, but her mother pushed her to enter beauty pageants. Eventually Todd won the Miss Massachusetts contest, which helped her get into film acting. On December 16th, 1935, Todd was discovered dead, apparently as the result of suicide. However, the incredibly suspicious circumstances surrounding her death have led many to suspect she was murdered.
Helen Hill
Editor B/Wikimedia
Helen Hill was an American filmmaker, artist and writer, celebrated for her work with experimental animation. Hill’s final film, The Florestine Collection, was particularly well received, with critics lauding her innovative style. In the early hours of January 4th, 2007, an intruder broke into Hill’s home, shooting both her and her husband multiple times (he survived, she did not). No arrests were ever made, and the case remains open.
Big L
One of the most precocious rappers in the history of hip-hop, Lamont Coleman – more commonly known as Big L – set the scene ablaze during his tragically short career. Coleman, who was revered for his exceptional wordplay, was also responsible for bringing Jay-Z into the industry. On February 15th, 1999, whilst standing outside his house, Big L was shot nine times in a drive by shooting, possibly in retaliation for something his brother had done. He was 24 years old at the time of his death.
Star Stowe
Star Stowe moved to LA as a teenager, where she found work as a stripper before getting romantically involved with KISS bassist Gene Simmons, who sent her photos to Playboy. Stowe was chosen as Playboy’s Playmate of the Month for February 1977, and she used the fame to become an exotic dancer. Unfortunately, her dancing career eventually fell apart, and Stowe resorted to prostitution, eventually leading to her murder in 1997. Her killer was never apprehended, and police believe she fell victim to a serial killer.
Jill Dando
A well-known British journalist and newscaster, Jill Dando was ruthlessly executed with a gunshot to the head outside her home in 1999. She was 37 years old at the time of her death. Barry George, a previously convicted criminal, was found guilty of the killing and sentenced to life in prison, but he was acquitted after seven years and Dando’s murder remains unsolved.
Jasmine Fiore
Ethan Miller / Staff/Getty
At the time of her death, American swimsuit model Jasmine Fiore was planning on using the money from her modelling career to launch a chain of gyms. Tragically, Fiore never got the chance to see her vision become a reality as she was murdered by her husband – reality TV star Ryan Alexander Jenkins – who committed suicide shortly after. Fiore’s body was found stuffed into a suitcase with her face mangled beyond recognition, and her corpse had to be identified via the serial number on her breast implants.
King Tubby
Osbourne Ruddock – known professionally as King Tubby – was a Jamaican sound engineer credited with pioneering the dub reggae genre in the 1960s. On February 6th, 1989, Ruddock was fatally shot near his home in Kingston, Jamaica, whilst walking home from his recording studio. Despite an extensive investigation, his killer was never apprehended, and the motive for his murder remains a mystery.
Proof
Timothy M. Moore/Wikimedia
DeShaun Dupree Holton – known by his stage name Proof – was a member of the rap group D12 and Eminem’s best friend since childhood. On April 11th, 2006, Proof was shot three times in the head and chest whilst partying at the CCC Club on 8 Mile Road in Detroit, after an argument broke out over a game of billiards. Eminem was deeply affected by his friend’s death, spiralling into substance abuse and penning numerous homages to Proof.
Abby Choi
On February 24th, 2023, the body of model and socialite Abby Choi was found in an apartment in a quiet Hong Kong suburb. Choi, a popular social media influencer, was active in the fashion industry, regularly attending high-profile events such as Paris Fashion Week. According to the police report, Choi’s dismembered body was found in a refrigerator, and some of her body parts had apparently been eaten. The killer’s identity remains a mystery.
Carlton Barrett
L-R: Earl Lindo, Bob Marley, Carlton Barrett, Peter Tosh, Aston Family Man Barrett. Credit Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
A Jamaican reggae musician, Carlton Barrett is best known for being the drummer of Bob Marley’s band The Wailers. Across a distinguished career, Barrett was widely praised for his innovative style of drumming, and he is credited with pioneering the ‘One Drop rhythm.’ On April 17th, 1987, the musician was gunned down by 39-year-old Junior “Bang” Neil, who carried out the hit at the behest of Barrett’s wife and her lover.
Eddie Jefferson
Brianmcmillen/Wikimedia
Eddie Jefferson was an American musician and pioneer of the ‘vocalese’ style of jazz, who achieved fame with his 1952 record ‘Moody’s Mood for Love.’ On May 8th, 1979, Jefferson was fatally shot outside Baker’s Keyboard Lounge by a disgruntled dancer whom he had fired some time before. Despite compelling evidence, including eyewitness testimony, his killer was acquitted at trial.
Berry Berenson
Berry Berenson with husband Anthony Perkins (credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
After a brief but successful modelling career in the 1960s, Berry Berenson (the wife of Psycho actor Anthony Perkins) turned her talents to photography, with her work frequently published in magazines including Glamour, Life, Vogue and Newsweek. Aside from photography, Berenson also dabbled in cinema, appearing in Winter Kills, Remember My Name and Cat People. On September 11th, 2001, Berenson was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11 – the first of the two hijacked planes to hit the Twin Towers.
William Desmond Taylor
Born in Ireland at the end of the 19th century, William Desmond Taylor emigrated to America where he found work as a gold miner, engineer, antiques dealer and stage actor. Eventually, Taylor’s acting skills were noticed. He got his break in the silent film industry, turning in his most notable performance in 1914’s The Adventures of Captain Alvarez. Taylor continued working in silent films as both an actor and director, but his career was brought to a premature close when he was gunned down in his home at the age of 49. The identity of his killer remains a mystery.
David Akeman
A true Jack of all trades, David “Stringbean” Akeman was an American musician, songwriter, comedian and baseball player. Akeman had a relatively successful career singing and playing the banjo, but he gained mainstream recognition with his role on Hee Haw, a variety show that achieved popularity during the early 70s. On the night of November 10th, 1973, Akeman and his wife were ambushed and gunned down at their home by burglars who had spent hours waiting for them to return.
