In the summer of 1987, he'd traveled to California carrying a teddy bear and flowers. He tried to see Rebecca at the Warner Bros. studio. Still, he had been turned away by the security guard, according to Rhonda Saunders, formerly with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. After "My Sister Sam," Schaeffer had scored a big part in a movie called "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills." The movie contained a love scene that Schaeffer appeared in -- a break from her character in "My Sister Sam" -- and it flicked some sort of evil switch inside Bardo.
"All those rageful feelings. ... 'How dare she? She's mine. ... She's supposed to stay innocent for me.' That gets ... converted into a plan of cold-blooded revenge," said Dr. Kris Mohandie, a clinical police and forensic psychologist. "I’m going to punish you and permanently possess you by taking your life." In July 1989, he walked into a gun store in Tucson and tried to purchase a firearm but was turned away.
Bardo's initial attempt to purchase a firearm at a local gun store was thwarted by the owner's vigilance. Sensing something amiss, the owner probed Bardo with questions, leading him to reveal his history of mental illness. Recognizing the legal implications, the owner refused to sell Bardo the gun, citing his status as a prohibited possessor.
Undeterred, Bardo manipulated his brother, Edward, into buying the gun for him. Edward, unaware of his brother's sinister intentions and believing the gun was for target practice, agreed to the purchase. However, he imposed a condition: Robert could only use the weapon in his presence. This naive act of trust would have devastating consequences.
With the gun in his possession, Bardo's next step was to obtain Rebecca Schaeffer's address. He hired a private investigator, who illicitly procured it from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Armed with this information and fueled by his obsession, Bardo boarded a Greyhound bus from Tucson to Los Angeles, carrying a bag containing a chilling collection of items: the autograph Schaeffer had sent him, her photograph, and a copy of "The Catcher in the Rye," a book infamously associated with the murder of John Lennon.
On the morning of July 18, 1989, as Rebecca awaited the delivery of a script for "The Godfather Part III," Bardo arrived at her doorstep. Her faulty intercom system forced her to answer the door in person. Holding up the autographed photo, Bardo briefly conversed with Rebecca before politely excusing herself, mentioning an upcoming interview.
However, Bardo's obsession wouldn't be deterred. He went to a nearby diner, stewing in his twisted thoughts, before returning to Rebecca's apartment. When she opened the door again, her irritation evident, Bardo uttered a chilling phrase: "I forgot to give you something."
Clutching a letter he had written, Bardo presented it to Rebecca, a seemingly harmless gesture masking his sinister intent. As Rebecca began to read the letter, unaware of the impending doom, Bardo's hand reached for the cold steel of a .357 Magnum revolver concealed beneath his clothes.
With a swift and calculated motion, he raised the weapon and fired a single shot, piercing Rebecca's heart. Her last words were, "Why? Why?"Her life, filled with promise and talent, was instantly snuffed out.
Bardo, his twisted mission accomplished, fled the scene, leaving behind a lifeless body and a community in shock.
The news of Rebecca's senseless murder sent shockwaves through Hollywood and the nation. Friends and colleagues were stunned and heartbroken, grappling with the horrifying reality that such a tragedy could befall someone so young and promising. The question on everyone's lips was, "How could this happen? How could someone simply walk up to another person's house and take their life?"
Rebecca's death marked a turning point in the public's understanding of stalking and the urgent need for greater protection for its victims.
Her death became a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of celebrities and the insidious nature of stalking.
As the sun beat down on the bustling streets of Los Angeles, a frantic air and ground search unfolded near Rebecca Schaeffer's apartment. Police helicopters buzzed overhead, their spotlights sweeping the landscape. At the same time, officers on the ground combed the area for any clues that could lead them to the person responsible for the young actress's senseless murder.
Unbeknownst to them, Robert John Bardo was already miles away, fleeing the scene of his heinous crime. He boarded a Greyhound bus back to Tucson, Arizona, seeking refuge in the familiar surroundings of his hometown. But the guilt and paranoia gnawed at him, manifesting in a bizarre episode on the freeway.
A day after the murder, witnesses reported seeing Bardo running erratically alongside the highway, his face contorted in anguish. He screamed the chilling confession, "I killed Rebecca Schaeffer," his words echoing in the ears of those who heard them. This disturbing display of remorse and madness further solidified Bardo's connection to the crime, setting the stage for a swift apprehension and a high-profile trial that would grip the nation.
As the manhunt for Rebecca Schaeffer's killer intensified in Los Angeles, a pivotal moment occurred in Tucson, Arizona. Robert John Bardo, disheveled and seemingly unrested, was apprehended by Officer Paul Hallums. A quick search revealed a damning piece of evidence: a photograph of Rebecca Schaeffer tucked into Bardo's shirt pocket. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.
Meanwhile, back in Rebecca's hometown of Portland, Oregon, a somber funeral was held. Friends, family, and fans gathered to mourn the young starlet's death, overflowing the synagogue and spilling onto the street. The outpouring of grief was a testament to Rebecca's impact on those who knew her.
In a poignant interview, Rebecca's father, Dr. Benson Schaeffer, reflected on the devastating loss, saying, "I was still in a state of... personally, in a state of unreality. The world just seemed physically wrong."
Stay tuned for Part 3 ...
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