The Murder of Rebecca Schaeffer
Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer was born in Oregon and began modelling during high school. She quickly found success and fame, appearing in catalogues and commercials and moved to New York City to pursue a modelling career. Rebecca was cast on various soap operas but struggled to find work due to her height, she briefly moved to Japan also struggled to find work there and returned to NYC to focus on acting. Rebecca gained roles in various films and television series.
In 1989, Robert John Bardo, a 19-year-old fan had been stalking Rebecca for three years. He had attempted to meet Rebecca multiple times, including once when he was armed with a knife. Bardo watched Rebecca in Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills in which she appeared in bed with another actor on screen and was furious. Bardo became extremely jealous and called the actress 'another Hollywood whore.' He paid a detective agency $250 to find Rebecca's home address and his brother helped him obtain a handgun.
On 18th July 1989, Bardo travelled to the neighbourhood Rebecca had lived, confirmed with neighbours she lived there and went to her home. Rebecca was expecting a script to be delivered so answered the door Bardo showed her an autograph she had signed for him. After a short conversation, she asked him not to come to her house again. Bardo ate breakfast nearby and then returned to Rebecca's home an hour later. She answered the door, he pulled out the handgun and shot her point-blank in the chest. Despite being rushed to the hospital she died from the attack.
Bardo was arrested and immediately confessed and was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. The case helped prompt America's first anti-stalking laws and led to laws preventing the release of information, such as a person's address, through the DMV.
