She was born Dorothy Ruth Hoogstraten on February 28, 1960 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Fourteen-year-old Aarushi Talwar was found murdered in her house on May 16, 2008. An attempt to surgically remove the blockage led to septic shock, and she sufferedcardiac arrest. Click to reveal The Beatles had long since broken up but John Lennon, the only member of this list that was outright assassinated, was still making music and spreading peace on the day he died in 1980 at the hands of Mark David Chapman. News reports say three children have been killed and two other children wounded in an attack at at a home in Texas Friday. Ottis Toole, who was theprime suspect for years, confessed to the crime twice but subsequently recanted his confessions. He was a music artist and actor, known for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Exit (2019) and We Are Who We Are (2020). What do you think the punishment should be for someone who murders a child? She was an actress, known for Let's Go for Broke (1974), Wonder Woman (1975) and Legacy of Satan (1974). He toured in companies of "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" and "Half a Sixpence". In 2013, the 23-year-old died in his apartment from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. In 2012, after a very heated argument, former NFL player, Jovan Belcher, killed his longtime girlfriend. Although his portrayal of Belby in the sixth Harry Potter film is his most famous role, Knox had previous acting experience on multiple British TV shows, as well as a small part in the 2004 film King Arthur. Her killer called her family repeatedly to taunt them; even after the victim's death. The films box office success led to roles in other major movies likeTimeline, Into the Blue, and Flags of Our Fathers. Reynolds had just discovered one of Old Hollywood's dirty little secretsthat drugs fueled its classic films. Known only as "Delta Dawn", Heinrich remained unidentified until 2020. The victims were Carmen Coln, Michelle Maenza, and Wanda Walkowicz. He got a life term for Rob's murder and three others for wounding Dean Saunders, 23, Nicky Lee Jones, 20, and Charlie Grimley, 17. J. Madison Wright Morris who appeared in the television series Grace Under Fire had been diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy as an adolescent and had a heart transplant at age 15. Next: Unusual travel circumstances led to this child stars death. Unfortunately, Renfros increasing drug use derailed his promising acting career. He graduated in 1957, and became one of the Died June 18, 1984, age 50; was shot 12 times by members of the White supremacist group The Order, purportedly for being Jewish and "anti-white"Was an attorney and radio show hostFour members of The Order were indicted for the crime. She died on December 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, Died December 8, 2014, age 30; was shot to death by her husband, who then killed himselfWas an American actress and dancer who appeared on the TV show "Hit the Floor". Later, while trying to decide between a career in music or art, she illustrated children's books during Died December 10, 1986, age 59; her son beat her to death with a weight-lifting bar Was an American actress best known for the films "The Wasp Woman" and "Son of Ali Baba"Her son spent 2-1/2 years in jail pending trial; he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served no additional time for her murder. Like Coleman, Dana Plato found fame as a child actor on the 80s sitcom Diffrent Strokes. Some of the stars were former child actors from Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Grimmie gained recognition after posting covers of popular songs on YouTube. Salvatore (Sal) Mineo Jr. was born to Josephine and Sal Sr. (a casket maker), who emigrated to the U.S. from Sicily. Although the 42-year-old actorwas initially conscious and lucid upon arriving in the hospital, his conditioned worsened and, by the next day, he was unconscious and on life support. Suspect's conviction was overturned in 1999. William S. Burroughs. This is a list of murdered American children that details notable murders among thousands of cases of subjects who were or are believed to have been under the age of 18 upon their deaths. Sadly, the child star of the 2012Bad News Bearsremake suffered this fate. After being an extra in a few Italian films, Sharon headed to Hollywood where she would again start as an extra. Bobby Driscoll biographical details are courtesy of IMDb. Rob Knox who acted alongside Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was stabbed to death in 2008 while trying to protect his younger brother from two men, one of whom was armed with knives. After stints as a ballet dancer, Died October 30, 1968, age 69; was beaten to death in his home by 2 male prostitutes who were brothers, ages 17 and 22Was a Mexican-American actor in silent films in the 1920's and 1930'sThe brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment, but served less than 7 years. Take a look at some of these cases and share your opinion in the comments section. His siblings were Michael, Victor and Sarina. On January 15, 2008, the 25-year-old was found dead of a heroin overdose by his friends. Who are some of the most famous murdered children? Recent isotope testing indicated she was possibly from the Western region of the United States, Alaska, or Canada before her murder in Washington. She had been sexually molested and was found with a skull fracture. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Some of them were brutally murdered while many others had serious health problems that ended up claiming their lives. About a dozen ransom notes were delivered in total. Surrounded by her family, the 30-year-old died shortly after the growth ruptured. Bobby Driscoll is one of the more well-known child stars who tragically passed away before his time. The following year, he had a small role as a young Indiana Jones in Steven Spielbergs Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Jovan Belcher. Victim of Gary Ridgway, who remained unidentified until 2021; previously known as "Jane Doe B-10" or "Bones 10." Ricardo Medina Jr - Voluntary Manslaughter. Stephanie Moseley was born on February 14, 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. True (1962). A suspect was convicted in 2012, but was eventually exonerated in 2016. Entered silent film industry as actor in 1912; most noted film as actor was Captain Alvarez (1914) for Vitagraph. Other child actors took their own lives. Many of them end of going off the rails while many others end up outgrowing their careers. Died April 25, 1999, age 47; was shot to death by his brother, who then committed suicide Was a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and the founder of the group Zapp. A man was convicted of his murder based on a confession, but the body was never recovered. Teen hitchhiker murdered for refusing sex. Mary Bell. The show turned the diminutive actor into a pop culture phenomenon, thanks to his characters memorable catchphrase: Whatchu talkin bout, Willis?. He was found guilty and sentence to 20 years to life in prison. She suffered multiple stab wounds to her . His death was ultimately ruled an accident. Directed first film for Balboa Films in 1914. Handsome Bob Crane had many careers including working as a disc jockey for a while. After her parents' divorce, she moved first to New York, and then to a posh home in Beverly Died November 4, 1982, age 22; was strangled to death by her ex-boyfriendWas an actress best known for the movie "Poltergeist"; was the daughter of actor, writer, and TV host Dominick Dunne and sister of actor Griffin DunneHer killer served less than 4 years in prison for her murder. Died April 26, 1999, age 37; was shot in the head at point blank range in front of her home Was a British journalist and newscasterBarry George, a known criminal, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. Her body was found a few days later, but her killer has never been found. April 10, 1966 - Nov. 29, 2022. In 1977, Garber passed away in the hospital at the age of 21, from what doctors categorized as hemorrhagic necrotising pancreatitis. Her family has lived in New Orleans, La since the 1800s. In 1988, Phoenix garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of a counterculture couples son in Sidney Lumets Running on Empty. A pregnant young woman found stabbed to death in a parking lot. His body was never found. 4. In 2012, Lewis entered rehab for drug abuse and seemed to improve. On 8th December 1980, tragedy struck when Lennon arrived at his home a fan came up and asked for his autograph, he agreed to give it, but when he turned to walk away . Nationally famous kidnapping of the son of. He appeared on Broadway in the 1964 revival of "West Side Story", and in other shows such as "The Died August 21, 1977, age 34; he was stabbed more than 100 times by a man he had met in a gay bar the previous night Was an actor best known for appearing in the movie "Hello, Dolly! A medical examiner ruled the 34-year-oldsdeath a suicide. Disappeared July 30, 1975, age 62; declared dead July 30, 1982Was a union activist, labor leader, and president of the TeamstersHe is presumed to have been killed by members of organized crime. Andrs Escobar was born on March 13, 1967 in Colombia. 6. Died July 2, 1994, age 27; was shot to death in a parking lot by 4 enraged soccer fans 5 days after he made an error that cost his team The World Cup One man was convicted of the murder and served 11 years in prison; the other 3 were acquittedHis funeral was attended by more than 120,000 people. Jamie Cail, 42, of New Hampshire, was found unresponsive in a . Actress Natalie Wood was a child star who began . In July 2022, Alex was indicted for their murders, with his homicide trial beginning in January 2023 and . Since we all enjoy a tragic story, weve decided to round up all of those child actors out there who were taken from us a little too soon for reasons totally outside their control. 1. 6 6)Sam Cooke. Carl Switzer. celebrities who were murdered by fans 1. Carl Switzer who played Alfalfa in Our Gang was fatally shot in 1959 when he and a friend went to collect $50 from a man by the name of Bud Stiltz. He died on October 30, 2002 in Queens, New York City, New Died October 30, 2002, age 37; was shot to death in his recording studio, purportedly over a drug dealWas the DJ for the hip-hop group Run-DMCIn August 2020, 18 years after his death, two of his former associates were indicted for his murder. Sentencing is scheduled for November 2022. Both before and after his well-known role onSons of Anarchy, Lewis had destructive run-ins with the law, including residential burglary and assault and battery. River Phoenix was an '80s heartthrob with starring turnsin the moviesStand by Me and Explorers. He died on May 28, 1960 in Mexico City, Mexico. Emergency personnel was ultimately unable to revive Phoenix because of the lethalmix of illicit substancesin his body. Biggie Smalls, was born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York. 3 3)Phil Hartman. In 2018, his conviction was overturned. On Jan. 31, 1988, ORourke collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. The exact cause of death remains undetermined, but was ruled a homicide. Trial is set to begin February 2023. Their five-year-old daughter was shot in the leg, but survivedSpear was a former Miss Venezuela and subsequent runner-up in the Miss Universe Pageant; was also a popular telenovela actressFour assailants were given sentences ranging from 24 to 26 years. ", An unidentified young woman found face down in a parking lot in Las Vegas. Next:This actress courageously battled her diagnosis. Bill Cosby. 3 Kurt Cobain. As noted in Corey Feldmans memoir Coreyography, both actors used hard drugs at a young age. Known for his infectiously funny and good-natured personality, the loss of Williams left a lasting impact on Hollywood. Casey Anthony, 23, is awaiting trial on first-degree murder charges in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Hector Camacho was born on May 24, 1962 in Bayamn, Puerto Rico. Next: Addiction ended this child stars promising career. One fourth of the supergroup The Beatles, the murder of John Lennon shook the world. Feldman also claimed they were both sexually abused as children by people in the movie industry, and that this trauma likely fueled Haims self-destructive behavior. In October 2011, Lewis was involved in a motorcycle crashand suffered head injuries. She was a child beauty queen and her murder garnered copious media attention because of the strange circumstances surrounding her death. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Sharon Tate, an actress married to director Roman Polanski and pregnant with his child at the time, was brutally murdered in 1969 by members of the Charles Manson Family - a cult notorious for this killing that would see Sharon Tate stabbed in her home 16 times. He died on September 4, 2005 in Crescent City, California, USA. Possible victim of an unidentified serial killer. Death Cause And Obituary. After her stepmother stomped on her as punishment for lying, Michelle died the next day of internal injuries. At age 36, actress Barbara Colby was on the brink of TV-character stardom when the native New Yorker was senselessly shot and killed one evening on the streets of Los Angeles. On the show, Coleman played one of two African-American brothers adopted by a wealthy white widower. It is sad that the actor that brought smile to so many homes around the world couldn't bring a smile to his own face. Practitioner of filicide, Empress Wu Zentian. Later in his career, Died January 21, 1959, age 31; was shot to death during a fight over $50His death was ruled justifiable homicide and his murderer was acquitted She was an actress, known for The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), The Gertrude Berg Show (1961) and G.E. He was one of eight children of Doris Marguerite (Wardell) and Rupert Loebig Hartmann, a salesman. Known previously as only "Caledonia Jane Doe" or "Cali Doe", Alexander remained unidentified until 2015. He was 23 years old. When Haims popularity waned in the early 90s, his drug addiction became more serious despite many attempts to get clean in rehab. Born in Georgia, Byrd earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Morris Brown College and later received a master of fine arts degree in dance from California Institute of the Arts. Additional reporting byNick Cannata-Bowman and Ali Harrison. His sister, who also appeared on Everybody Loves Raymond as his older sibling, posted on Facebook, At this time I would like to encourage everyone to reach out to the ones you love. Though Martin was unarmed and Zimmerman was told by police to stay in his vehicle, Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder. Tara Correa-McMullen was born on May 24, 1989 in Westminster, Vermont, USA. Smith opened the door and promptly shot himself in the head before the police could question him. Some famous people had family members who were killed while they were children and others had family members killed when they were successful adults. Gianni Versace was born on December 2, 1946 in Reggio di Calabria, Italy. John Lennon, a 40-year-old rock icon and member of the Beatles, was shot five times in the back outside his Manhattan apartment building on December 8, 1980, by Mark David Chapman, a former Beatles fan. Tragically, his Jeep Cherokee pinned the 27-year-old against a pillar outside his home, after the car rolled backward in his driveway a result of a common transmission error that later led to a recall. Dana Hill who played Audrey Griswold in National Lampoons European Vacation alongside Chevy Chase and Beverly DAngelo was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age. Doctors pronounced him dead on arrival at the hospital, after suffering from acute internal bleeding. Sharon's early life was one of constant moving as her father served in the military. His is not just one of the most famous suicides, but also one of the most baffling. She was an actress, known for Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010), Iron Men (2009) and Three Kingdoms (2008). He was an actor and composer, known for Triple Frontier (2019), The Big Short (2015) and Lethal Weapon (2016). Her first leading role came in 1993, as Myra Monkhouse inFamily Matters. Although the original amount of $50,000 was paid, the child's body was found with a crushed skull a few miles from the Lindbergh home on May 12, 1932. 5. Peter Arne was for a short time the perfect villain in British film. On May 8, 1999, her fianc found Plato in their Winnebago motorhome, dead of a drug overdose. She was misdiagnosed with Crohns Disease the year before her death, but had actually been suffering from a congenital intestinal abnormality.