Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:01,750 --> 00:00:05,400
It was a huge deal to be
a Playboycenterfold
back in the '70s,
2
00:00:05,590 --> 00:00:09,290
and Star Stowe was
at the center of that.
3
00:00:09,490 --> 00:00:12,400
Star was different
from the other girls,
4
00:00:12,590 --> 00:00:14,770
and she loved that.
5
00:00:14,970 --> 00:00:18,740
[Pat LaLama] She probably had
the feeling that this
will last forever.
6
00:00:18,940 --> 00:00:22,820
Sadly, that rarely happens
in this world.
7
00:00:23,860 --> 00:00:25,950
[Jeff Olson] Hef made it
very clear to Star
8
00:00:26,150 --> 00:00:28,260
that this is what
you had to do
9
00:00:28,460 --> 00:00:30,260
if you want to keep
this lifestyle.
10
00:00:30,460 --> 00:00:33,880
It was really
an indoctrination.
11
00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,190
You were groomed
to be a certain way.
12
00:00:37,390 --> 00:00:39,220
He admitted that
he drove her to a location
13
00:00:39,420 --> 00:00:42,220
and dropped her off
for a rendezvous.
14
00:00:42,420 --> 00:00:43,820
It's quite a coincidence,
wouldn't you think?
15
00:00:45,170 --> 00:00:48,400
At this point, it was
really starting to look
16
00:00:48,590 --> 00:00:50,810
like this could be
the work of a serial killer.
17
00:00:51,010 --> 00:00:54,360
If you go down the road
of false promises,
18
00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:55,440
there's no way out.
19
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,840
[Dennis Pickering] It was
the 16th of March.
20
00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,430
I received a phone call
to respond to a scene.
21
00:01:14,630 --> 00:01:17,080
I think it was about 3:30
in the afternoon.
22
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,640
We had an unidentified
white female,
23
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,840
late 20s, maybe early 30s...
24
00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,710
...and she was partially nude
from the waist up,
25
00:01:25,910 --> 00:01:28,510
laying over in the wood line
behind the Eckerd drug store.
26
00:01:29,510 --> 00:01:31,530
She was facedown
27
00:01:31,730 --> 00:01:34,570
with one of her arms, I think,
was underneath her.
28
00:01:34,770 --> 00:01:36,950
Upon examination of the body,
29
00:01:37,150 --> 00:01:38,860
they found that
she had been strangled.
30
00:01:40,890 --> 00:01:43,670
I noticed she had a star
tattooed on her body,
31
00:01:43,870 --> 00:01:46,640
and I kind of kiddingly said
to the detective,
32
00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,950
"You know," I said,
"Back in the '70s,
33
00:01:49,150 --> 00:01:50,810
there was a girl
who was dating Gene Simmons
34
00:01:51,010 --> 00:01:53,810
who had a tattoo
in the very same spot.
35
00:01:54,010 --> 00:01:56,460
She was a centerfold
forPlayboy."
36
00:01:56,660 --> 00:01:58,720
And he says, "What are
the odds of that?"
37
00:02:05,130 --> 00:02:09,570
Star Stowe was
the Playmate of the Month
in February 1977.
38
00:02:09,770 --> 00:02:12,050
It was a huge deal to be
a centerfold back in the '70s.
39
00:02:12,250 --> 00:02:16,080
The sexual revolution
was really at its height.
40
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,050
Almost 6 million people were
reading Playboyevery month.
41
00:02:19,250 --> 00:02:21,500
Just a layout in a magazine
would make you
much more famous
42
00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:23,220
than it would today.
43
00:02:23,420 --> 00:02:25,860
And Star would've been
at the center of that.
44
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,080
I worked at the Playboy
Mansion West in Holmby Hills
45
00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:37,980
from 1978 to 1980.
46
00:02:38,180 --> 00:02:40,260
I was a hostess
at the front door.
47
00:02:40,460 --> 00:02:43,260
I would guide people
through the party.
48
00:02:43,460 --> 00:02:45,840
Once you were in that house,
you had to play the game,
49
00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,080
and Star was very good at it.
50
00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,020
She loved the whole idea
of thePlayboy world.
51
00:02:51,220 --> 00:02:54,060
It was everything,
and she was gonna
climb to the top.
52
00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,570
The beginning of Star's story
must have felt
53
00:03:00,770 --> 00:03:02,410
like an absolute
dream come true.
54
00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,290
But she had no idea
about the dark side ofPlayboy
55
00:03:06,490 --> 00:03:07,820
or the way
things were going to go.
56
00:03:12,370 --> 00:03:14,460
She was from
Little Rock, Arkansas,
57
00:03:14,660 --> 00:03:17,670
and she had
a small-town-girl vibe.
58
00:03:17,870 --> 00:03:20,370
And she had aspirations
of being a dancer
59
00:03:20,930 --> 00:03:22,030
and a musician.
60
00:03:23,410 --> 00:03:24,890
[Olson] She got out
as soon as she could.
61
00:03:25,650 --> 00:03:27,460
She wanted to explore,
62
00:03:27,660 --> 00:03:31,260
and she wanted
to be in a rock group.
63
00:03:31,460 --> 00:03:35,130
So as soon as she was 18,
she left for Las Vegas.
64
00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,290
It was 1975, and she was
at the Sahara Hotel,
65
00:03:45,490 --> 00:03:48,170
and there's Gene Simmons
without his makeup.
66
00:03:49,930 --> 00:03:51,460
I don't know how
she recognized him,
67
00:03:51,660 --> 00:03:53,670
but she did,
and they got to talking,
68
00:03:53,870 --> 00:03:56,740
and they kinda took a shine
to each other.
69
00:03:56,940 --> 00:03:59,220
She said he was
just an adorable guy,
70
00:03:59,420 --> 00:04:01,120
really nice, down to earth,
71
00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,240
not like his persona on KISS.
72
00:04:04,410 --> 00:04:06,640
They hit it off
almost immediately,
73
00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,440
and it turned into
a 3-year-long relationship.
74
00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:13,200
She was crazy about him,
75
00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:16,500
and he was crazy about her.
76
00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:18,710
[LaLama] You look
at Gene Simmons
and Star Stowe,
77
00:04:18,910 --> 00:04:22,400
and you think, "Well,
they sort of were part
of writing the original book
78
00:04:22,590 --> 00:04:27,810
on how to be a famous couple
in La-La Land."
79
00:04:28,010 --> 00:04:29,360
[Holly Madison] She's
a young, small-town girl
80
00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,400
hanging out with some
of the biggest rockstars
in the world.
81
00:04:31,590 --> 00:04:33,930
It just must have felt like
such an incredible experience.
82
00:04:35,170 --> 00:04:38,500
Gene was a big act
at the peak of his career,
83
00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:40,950
and she was everything to him.
84
00:04:41,150 --> 00:04:43,330
And it wasn't just a romance
between the two.
85
00:04:43,530 --> 00:04:46,840
There was actually a romance
between Star and the band.
86
00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:48,360
She was their muse.
87
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,640
In his own autobiography,
88
00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:54,290
Gene Simmons takes credit
for suggesting to Star
89
00:04:54,490 --> 00:04:57,150
that she send her materials
toPlayboy.
90
00:04:57,350 --> 00:04:58,910
Gene had sent the pictures in,
91
00:04:59,110 --> 00:05:02,190
and there was
a scout that went out,
then reported back.
92
00:05:02,390 --> 00:05:05,400
And from there,
it just spiraled.
93
00:05:05,590 --> 00:05:08,120
So many beautiful women
were trying out to be
Playmates each month,
94
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,640
and if one of the photos
would have come along
95
00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:13,050
with a recommendation
from a rockstar
like Gene Simmons,
96
00:05:13,250 --> 00:05:14,650
that would've
definitely stood out.
97
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,670
[Olson] Hef saw the pictures
and loved it
98
00:05:18,870 --> 00:05:19,840
and thought it was great
99
00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:21,550
and wanted
to make her centerfold.
100
00:05:22,580 --> 00:05:24,190
That was her big, big moment.
101
00:05:24,390 --> 00:05:25,810
She was flown to Chicago,
102
00:05:26,010 --> 00:05:31,290
because that's where all
the main shoots for the girls
was always done.
103
00:05:31,490 --> 00:05:36,640
In the 1970s, Chicago was
still the home of Playboy
and its main hub.
104
00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:40,430
The Playboy Mansion in Chicago
was definitely just
as extravagant
105
00:05:40,630 --> 00:05:44,770
and decadent and crazy
as the Playboy Mansion
West in LA.
106
00:05:44,970 --> 00:05:48,400
Hef had it customized
in kind of a way that nobody
had ever seen before.
107
00:05:48,590 --> 00:05:52,600
He had this giant indoor pool,
an underwater tiki bar,
108
00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,100
like, a fireman's pole,
a bowling alley.
109
00:05:57,030 --> 00:05:58,840
[Donna Pazdera] So,
while she was in Chicago
110
00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,840
for a photoshoot
for the centerfold,
111
00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,410
her life at Playboy
really seemed like
a nonstop party.
112
00:06:07,750 --> 00:06:12,150
She was hanging out
and partying with all
kinds of rockstars
113
00:06:12,350 --> 00:06:15,080
such as Elton John,
Rod Stewart,
114
00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:16,910
Blackie Lawless from W.A.S.P.
115
00:06:17,110 --> 00:06:19,190
And all this attention
being paid to her,
116
00:06:19,390 --> 00:06:21,000
it had to have
been incredible.
117
00:06:25,550 --> 00:06:27,600
[Olson] When she did
her shoot in Chicago,
118
00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,980
she said it was just, like,
anything you wanted,
119
00:06:30,180 --> 00:06:32,330
you could ask for there,
you could get it.
120
00:06:32,530 --> 00:06:35,530
It would be brought to you.
They catered to you.
121
00:06:35,730 --> 00:06:37,840
You were just like
an A-list movie star.
122
00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,200
This was a 20-year-old girl
from Arkansas.
123
00:06:42,100 --> 00:06:43,330
It just makes your head spin,
124
00:06:43,530 --> 00:06:47,910
because she is in
a totally new, different
world and situation.
125
00:06:48,110 --> 00:06:49,770
[Stella Tetenbaum] This was
her big moment.
126
00:06:49,970 --> 00:06:51,570
You were the Playmate
of the Month.
127
00:06:51,770 --> 00:06:53,150
That was a really big thing.
128
00:06:53,350 --> 00:06:55,740
That wasn't just a pictorial
where people were just
going through it.
129
00:06:55,940 --> 00:06:57,370
It was like, "There I am.
130
00:06:57,930 --> 00:06:58,890
I'm the one."
131
00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:07,840
I have personal friends
who did a lot of photography
for Playboy,
132
00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:09,530
and they would express to me
133
00:07:09,730 --> 00:07:13,330
that many of the women
were uncomfortable,
insecure, afraid.
134
00:07:13,530 --> 00:07:15,220
Uh, not Star Stowe.
135
00:07:15,420 --> 00:07:19,820
She walked into that
photography studio
ready to go.
136
00:07:21,620 --> 00:07:25,840
It definitely stands out
among the history of all
the Playboycenterfolds.
137
00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,360
It's very unique.
138
00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,400
The whole motif of the spread
was that she was this
rock and roll girl,
139
00:07:32,590 --> 00:07:34,400
which was
incredibly appropriate,
140
00:07:34,590 --> 00:07:36,570
because that's what she was.
141
00:07:36,770 --> 00:07:40,190
There were
pictures of rockstars
on the walls behind her.
142
00:07:40,390 --> 00:07:44,840
She was holding this blue
Rickenbacker bass guitar.
143
00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,740
If you look at her face,
you see the sultry baby face.
144
00:07:47,940 --> 00:07:50,600
So it was sort of
this combination
of the innocence,
145
00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,710
but yet the sultry,
vixen-y vibe.
146
00:07:54,910 --> 00:08:02,740
She really saw herself
as this radical, kick-bottom
kind of rock chick.
147
00:08:02,940 --> 00:08:05,880
[Madison] Playboy tends
to stick to one style
with their centerfolds,
148
00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,950
just, like, an upscale,
kind of generic look.
149
00:08:09,150 --> 00:08:11,460
And Star very much had
a theme, you know?
150
00:08:11,660 --> 00:08:13,120
She was trying to get
into the music industry.
151
00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:14,950
She was dating
a very famous musician.
152
00:08:15,150 --> 00:08:18,170
So they gave her kind of
this glam rock centerfold.
153
00:08:22,410 --> 00:08:24,400
It's really nice to read
her words in the article
154
00:08:24,590 --> 00:08:28,220
and kinda get
a feel of who she is
and what she was like.
155
00:08:28,420 --> 00:08:30,120
Here, she says,
"Once in LA," she recalls,
156
00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:31,980
"While Gene was onstage,
I flashed him.
157
00:08:32,180 --> 00:08:33,880
I just opened my jacket
for a split second
158
00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,640
and I wasn't wearing
anything underneath."
159
00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,600
[reading]
160
00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,400
"Sometimes, when
I'm in the audience
watching Gene perform,
161
00:08:41,590 --> 00:08:43,330
every once in a while
during the concert,
162
00:08:43,530 --> 00:08:45,290
it seems like he's
looking directly at me
163
00:08:45,490 --> 00:08:46,880
and it's such
a great feeling."
164
00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,000
[reading]
165
00:08:52,930 --> 00:08:55,770
A normalPlayboy centerfold
pictorial would be nude,
166
00:08:55,970 --> 00:09:00,290
but you would usually only see
a woman from, like,
the front or back.
167
00:09:00,490 --> 00:09:02,020
[Tetenbaum] Star was
at the forefront.
168
00:09:02,220 --> 00:09:04,050
She was the first one
with a tattoo.
169
00:09:04,250 --> 00:09:07,880
She was the first one to do
the full-front, open leg,
170
00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,530
and it was a turning
of everything.
171
00:09:10,730 --> 00:09:13,120
It got more and more
like soft porn
172
00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:15,640
than the tasteful,
pin-up girl thing
173
00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:17,030
that they started out with.
174
00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,770
When her centerfold
came out in 1977
175
00:09:20,970 --> 00:09:21,890
for the month of February,
176
00:09:22,620 --> 00:09:23,710
it was huge.
177
00:09:23,910 --> 00:09:26,240
She's the most popular girl
in America for a month.
178
00:09:27,410 --> 00:09:29,020
Star found it
very overwhelming
179
00:09:29,220 --> 00:09:30,710
because of all the attention.
180
00:09:30,910 --> 00:09:32,840
She received a lot of money,
181
00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,370
and from going
from poverty almost
182
00:09:37,130 --> 00:09:38,980
to getting anything you want,
183
00:09:39,180 --> 00:09:41,440
uh, a lot of people
can't handle that.
184
00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:45,190
[LaLama] She probably
had the feeling that,
185
00:09:45,390 --> 00:09:48,400
"I've made it,
and this will last forever."
186
00:09:48,590 --> 00:09:52,050
Sadly, that rarely happens
in this world,
187
00:09:52,250 --> 00:09:55,710
because for all the glamor
and all the excitement,
188
00:09:55,910 --> 00:10:01,100
there is an ugly underbelly
breathing beneath the surface.
189
00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:06,190
[Tetenbaum] I think
it was hard for Star.
190
00:10:06,390 --> 00:10:07,950
This little girl
from Arkansas,
191
00:10:08,150 --> 00:10:10,670
she didn't know
the ways of Hollywood yet.
192
00:10:10,870 --> 00:10:14,330
She didn't know
about the mansion
and what was expected.
193
00:10:14,530 --> 00:10:17,120
It was a very,
very scary time.
194
00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:18,950
It was a dangerous time
195
00:10:19,150 --> 00:10:22,670
underneath and behind
the closed doors.
196
00:10:22,870 --> 00:10:25,500
Star didn't understand much
about what would happen
197
00:10:25,700 --> 00:10:27,810
after she was used up
198
00:10:28,010 --> 00:10:29,960
and there wasn't
somebody there to catch her.
199
00:10:40,310 --> 00:10:42,710
[Olson] Star went
to her shoot in Chicago,
200
00:10:42,910 --> 00:10:46,600
and then she came
to Los Angeles.
201
00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,530
She was living in Hollywood
and at the mansion.
202
00:10:49,730 --> 00:10:52,050
Playboywas huge at that time.
203
00:10:52,250 --> 00:10:55,260
Everybody who was anybody
was at the mansion.
204
00:10:55,460 --> 00:10:58,530
She used to tell me
that she was hit on
all the time.
205
00:10:58,730 --> 00:11:01,580
Everybody that went up there
wanted to be with her.
206
00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:05,980
If you drove down the street
207
00:11:06,180 --> 00:11:09,190
where the Playboy Mansion
was situated,
208
00:11:09,390 --> 00:11:12,840
you would never imagine,
oh, my gosh,
209
00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,580
the stuff that goes on
behind those walls.
210
00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:20,400
It was like a whole open house
211
00:11:20,590 --> 00:11:22,980
all the time, 24/7.
212
00:11:23,180 --> 00:11:26,980
I kid you not.
It was just a whole lifestyle.
213
00:11:27,180 --> 00:11:28,810
[Madison] When people think
ofPlayboy or, like,
214
00:11:29,010 --> 00:11:30,500
crazy stories
from the mansion,
215
00:11:30,700 --> 00:11:34,020
it definitely stems
from the 1970s.
216
00:11:34,220 --> 00:11:37,980
I think even in Hollywood,
nobody had seen anything
like this before.
217
00:11:38,180 --> 00:11:40,360
There would just be, like,
orgies in the grotto
218
00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:42,680
and all kinds of crazy things
happening upstairs.
219
00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:46,150
When Star first got there,
220
00:11:46,350 --> 00:11:48,950
she literally was like
a little, you know,
flower child.
221
00:11:49,150 --> 00:11:50,980
She had this
straight, long hair,
222
00:11:51,180 --> 00:11:53,910
very, like,
sensual, beautiful,
223
00:11:54,110 --> 00:11:54,810
just stunning.
224
00:11:55,010 --> 00:11:57,670
And she was
a really good friend.
225
00:11:57,870 --> 00:12:01,020
But she also was friends
with a lot of the girls
in the house,
226
00:12:01,220 --> 00:12:02,260
which was unusual,
227
00:12:02,460 --> 00:12:04,770
'cause it was
a very catty atmosphere.
228
00:12:04,970 --> 00:12:09,220
There was hierarchy,
and Star was a Playmate,
229
00:12:09,420 --> 00:12:12,000
so that made her
on the upper level.
230
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,740
I was Hugh Hefner's
personal valet
231
00:12:18,940 --> 00:12:23,430
from 1978 to '82.
232
00:12:23,630 --> 00:12:25,740
We would have
a lot of conversations
233
00:12:25,940 --> 00:12:30,340
because she found out
I was from Maryland,
234
00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,530
and she was from Arkansas,
235
00:12:33,730 --> 00:12:37,840
and we would talk
about Southern food
and things like that.
236
00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,150
One of the main rules
at the mansion
237
00:12:40,350 --> 00:12:43,840
was we were not allowed
to talk to any of the girls.
238
00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,360
So it all had to be
done in secret
239
00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:49,130
in the pantry
where the butlers hang out.
240
00:12:51,170 --> 00:12:53,910
[LaLama] So, not only is
she reaping the rewards
241
00:12:54,110 --> 00:12:58,640
of being Miss February
Centerfold 1977.
242
00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,330
She later on becomes
243
00:13:01,530 --> 00:13:05,460
Playboy Japan's
Centerfold of the Year.
244
00:13:05,660 --> 00:13:09,530
She must have just been
feeling like she was
living the life,
245
00:13:09,730 --> 00:13:10,510
and she was.
246
00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:17,770
Star was different
from the other girls
that were living there.
247
00:13:17,970 --> 00:13:20,860
She knew she was valuable
to thePlayboy magazine.
248
00:13:21,370 --> 00:13:22,950
She had so many fans
249
00:13:23,150 --> 00:13:26,240
from her centerfolds,
from her pictorials.
250
00:13:28,370 --> 00:13:30,220
I think she knew her power.
251
00:13:30,420 --> 00:13:33,340
We had a nickname for her,
"El Tigre."
252
00:13:34,580 --> 00:13:38,680
Because she was feisty,
and she loved that.
253
00:13:39,550 --> 00:13:41,030
She was a fighter.
254
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,150
[Madison] Sometimes
when we're young,
255
00:13:43,350 --> 00:13:45,500
we feel like
we're more invincible
than we are.
256
00:13:45,700 --> 00:13:47,330
But I don't think
there's any way
257
00:13:47,530 --> 00:13:48,460
Star could have been prepared
258
00:13:48,660 --> 00:13:50,650
for the type of debauchery
that awaited her.
259
00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,460
The parties were
just extravagant,
260
00:13:54,660 --> 00:13:59,460
and Star and all the starlets
followed Hefner around
in the party.
261
00:13:59,660 --> 00:14:00,980
It was unreal.
262
00:14:01,180 --> 00:14:05,360
I remember Star showed up,
I think it was Midsummer
Night's Dream party,
263
00:14:05,560 --> 00:14:09,840
with a pacifier
and a baby diaper
and nothing else.
264
00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:11,650
She did what
nobody else would do.
265
00:14:14,680 --> 00:14:17,500
Star was always
at Hefner's table at the time,
266
00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:19,220
in the era that I was there.
267
00:14:19,420 --> 00:14:22,240
She was one
of the main beautiful girls.
268
00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:24,840
[Olson] She and Hef
were very close.
269
00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:26,460
Hef liked her personality.
270
00:14:26,660 --> 00:14:28,120
He liked her body,
271
00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,400
and being seen with her
was good for him, too.
272
00:14:32,590 --> 00:14:35,330
In Star's era,
a lot was expected.
273
00:14:35,530 --> 00:14:37,150
There were definitely
a strict set of rules
274
00:14:37,350 --> 00:14:38,200
the Playmates had to follow.
275
00:14:39,790 --> 00:14:43,150
[Stella] The rules basically
were you're Hefner's girl.
276
00:14:43,350 --> 00:14:44,820
Nobody else can have you...
277
00:14:46,170 --> 00:14:48,880
...if you were
Playmate of the Month.
That was it.
278
00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:53,750
You had to have scheduled
sex with Hefner privately
two days a week.
279
00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,810
[Olson] She was with Gene
right at that time,
280
00:14:59,010 --> 00:15:02,080
but she told me she
had slept with Hef
more than once.
281
00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,080
I think she felt
she had to do it
282
00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,290
if she wanted to continue
because she had heard
from other Playmates
283
00:15:07,490 --> 00:15:09,400
that you really had
to sleep with Hef
284
00:15:09,590 --> 00:15:11,440
to advance your career.
285
00:15:12,030 --> 00:15:13,260
And it wasn't just Hef.
286
00:15:13,460 --> 00:15:16,430
Anybody that came there
that was important.
287
00:15:16,630 --> 00:15:18,740
If they came to her
and chose her,
288
00:15:18,940 --> 00:15:21,050
then she had to
sleep with them.
289
00:15:21,250 --> 00:15:25,530
Hef made it very clear to Star
that this was what
you had to do
290
00:15:25,730 --> 00:15:27,270
if you wanted to
keep this lifestyle.
291
00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,080
[Stella] It was really
an indoctrination.
292
00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,770
You were groomed
to be a certain way.
293
00:15:36,970 --> 00:15:38,710
And that was your normal.
294
00:15:38,910 --> 00:15:41,880
Star would be
an ambassador for Hefner
295
00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:45,980
and go to the different
advertising account executives
296
00:15:46,180 --> 00:15:50,190
and do a lot of schmoozing
and pleasing the men.
297
00:15:50,390 --> 00:15:51,910
And there were
a lot of favors.
298
00:15:52,110 --> 00:15:53,950
There was always
a lot of favors.
299
00:15:54,150 --> 00:15:57,430
She was expected
to be a play thing.
300
00:15:57,630 --> 00:16:01,260
You can't keep
that lifestyle up
and, and be okay
301
00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:03,270
and wake up
and feel good, you know?
302
00:16:05,370 --> 00:16:08,120
[Olson] At times she was
as happy as can be
and feeling great,
303
00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:09,460
and other times
she was depressed.
304
00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:12,750
I could see it was
everything that was
being forced upon her.
305
00:16:13,860 --> 00:16:16,670
Being forced to
sleep with men.
306
00:16:16,870 --> 00:16:20,100
She told me, "I don't want to
sleep with these guys,
they're gross."
307
00:16:21,310 --> 00:16:25,330
Star was basically advised
to take drugs
308
00:16:25,530 --> 00:16:29,260
and alcohol because
you gotta party,
309
00:16:29,460 --> 00:16:32,460
and when these people
want you,
you have to do this.
310
00:16:32,660 --> 00:16:35,670
So, you increase
your alcohol consumption,
311
00:16:35,870 --> 00:16:39,890
adding more and more and more
until you really don't care
what you do.
312
00:16:41,650 --> 00:16:44,430
They had an extensive
open bar at all times,
313
00:16:44,630 --> 00:16:46,640
and they also had
extensive drugs.
314
00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,290
There was always drugs.
315
00:16:48,490 --> 00:16:50,840
There was certain places
they would keep the drugs,
316
00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:52,430
and Star would go
to these places.
317
00:16:52,630 --> 00:16:54,330
She knew where
to open the box.
318
00:16:54,530 --> 00:16:58,290
take out, shoot shoot,
snort snort.
319
00:16:58,490 --> 00:17:01,820
Hefner would usually give
the girls Quaaludes,
that was his thing.
320
00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,330
[Olson] It was a date rape
drug basically,
321
00:17:05,530 --> 00:17:09,680
which would make her
relaxed and lethargic,
really didn't care.
322
00:17:11,310 --> 00:17:14,710
After a year of the fame
and the glamor
323
00:17:14,910 --> 00:17:16,840
and the fast lane and the sex
324
00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,100
and the orgies and...
It hardens you.
325
00:17:19,750 --> 00:17:21,510
She was just in a haze.
326
00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,430
[Madison] Star was really
a fish out of water.
327
00:17:26,630 --> 00:17:29,190
She was brought into
this environment where,
328
00:17:29,390 --> 00:17:31,810
you know, if things are
starting to go off
the rails for her,
329
00:17:32,010 --> 00:17:33,020
who's gonna notice?
330
00:17:33,220 --> 00:17:35,000
You know, her family
and her friends
aren't close by.
331
00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,640
[Stella] Some girls had
a certain limitation,
332
00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:41,050
and they knew it.
333
00:17:41,250 --> 00:17:42,430
Star didn't have that.
334
00:17:42,630 --> 00:17:44,330
She didn't know how to stop.
335
00:17:44,530 --> 00:17:46,400
She needed to be put in rehab,
336
00:17:46,590 --> 00:17:48,430
but that wasn't an option
337
00:17:48,630 --> 00:17:50,880
because you can't be
normal and straight
338
00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:52,080
and live that lifestyle.
339
00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,260
You have to be out of it...
340
00:17:54,460 --> 00:17:57,860
...to drown out all the hell
that you're gonna
have to go through...
341
00:17:58,510 --> 00:17:59,680
...on a daily basis.
342
00:18:02,270 --> 00:18:04,170
At one time she told me...
343
00:18:05,340 --> 00:18:07,650
..."I think I'm
addicted to coke...
344
00:18:08,340 --> 00:18:10,120
...'cause I can't sleep.
345
00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:14,120
How do I kick this stuff?
I, I don't know how
to go cold turkey."
346
00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,880
She was feeling really
down and depressed.
347
00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:19,810
She told me that a few times,
348
00:18:20,010 --> 00:18:22,260
she would, just out of
the clear blue,
349
00:18:22,460 --> 00:18:26,150
start crying and weeping
uncontrollably.
350
00:18:26,350 --> 00:18:29,260
[Stella] It was really hard
for her to be in
a relationship with Gene
351
00:18:29,460 --> 00:18:31,430
because of all
the other stuff going on.
352
00:18:31,630 --> 00:18:34,400
And Gene was also a womanizer,
353
00:18:34,590 --> 00:18:37,740
and he was in
the mansion a lot.
354
00:18:37,940 --> 00:18:39,640
And I think it was
hard for Star,
355
00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,370
because she really wanted
him to be all hers.
356
00:18:44,030 --> 00:18:46,260
[Stefan] She had told me
a few times that
357
00:18:46,460 --> 00:18:48,710
she was having
problems with Gene
358
00:18:48,910 --> 00:18:51,980
because he seemed
to be a purist.
359
00:18:52,180 --> 00:18:55,580
Gene always claimed that
he never did any drugs.
360
00:18:56,750 --> 00:18:59,840
So, when he found out
that up at the mansion
361
00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,240
she was doing coke,
he was very angry with her.
362
00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,820
And so, she was always...
363
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,580
...torn between
Gene's world...
364
00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,750
...and Hefner's world,
where there was so many drugs.
365
00:19:16,790 --> 00:19:18,840
Who knows what goes
on behind closed doors,
366
00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,840
but it is understood that
the relationship became
quite difficult,
367
00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,360
and he eventually moved on.
368
00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,440
[Stella] Star had such
a hard time when
it was over with Gene.
369
00:19:31,650 --> 00:19:33,880
That whole flower child thing
kinda disappeared,
370
00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,770
and she became extremely wild.
371
00:19:36,970 --> 00:19:39,460
You know, just really
out of control.
372
00:19:39,660 --> 00:19:41,130
It was really sad to watch.
373
00:19:42,790 --> 00:19:46,810
She woke up after a while
and realized that she wasn't
374
00:19:47,010 --> 00:19:48,810
getting out of it
what she wanted,
375
00:19:49,010 --> 00:19:52,910
but Playboywas definitely
getting what they wanted
out of her.
376
00:19:53,110 --> 00:19:56,220
It's too late to change
once you get
wrapped up inPlayboy,
377
00:19:56,420 --> 00:19:59,330
especially if they've
gotten you addicted
to drugs and alcohol.
378
00:19:59,530 --> 00:20:01,710
It became a real nightmare.
379
00:20:01,910 --> 00:20:05,020
[Madison] I don't think Star
could have ever imagined
in her wildest dreams
380
00:20:05,220 --> 00:20:07,050
that her decision
to go toPlayboy
381
00:20:07,250 --> 00:20:09,000
would have a deadly outcome.
382
00:20:21,170 --> 00:20:24,570
[Stella] After Star got
her main centerfold,
383
00:20:24,770 --> 00:20:29,460
and all of the work that
she had that first year,
384
00:20:29,660 --> 00:20:34,770
she realized that there was
another crew coming up.
385
00:20:34,970 --> 00:20:36,840
There was always turnover,
386
00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:42,260
because once you start
to lose that perfect 18,
19-year old skin,
387
00:20:42,460 --> 00:20:46,400
they see that you're not
that fresh young
girl next door.
388
00:20:46,590 --> 00:20:49,080
You pretty much are over.
389
00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:53,400
You're just a child,
but in their world,
you know, you're used up.
390
00:20:53,590 --> 00:20:55,500
[Madison] There was
a real disconnect
in thePlayboy world
391
00:20:55,700 --> 00:20:58,640
because they expect
Star to be this party girl,
392
00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,000
but then the second she
develops a problem with it,
she's the problem.
393
00:21:03,130 --> 00:21:05,080
It was like that even
when I was there.
394
00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,190
It was seen as, like,
a character flaw
within that person.
395
00:21:08,390 --> 00:21:11,130
So, it was a really weird,
hypocritical attitude.
396
00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:16,880
[Olson] Three years after
her centerfold came out,
397
00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,670
things were going
downhill very fast.
398
00:21:19,870 --> 00:21:22,190
She couldn't handle
all this that was going on,
399
00:21:22,390 --> 00:21:25,670
and then that's when
she got abusive with Hef...
400
00:21:25,870 --> 00:21:29,360
...and told him
basically to piss off
and she didn't need him,
401
00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,050
and that's the one person
you can't get abusive with.
402
00:21:33,250 --> 00:21:37,100
Almost immediately,
everything with Playboy
turned against her,
403
00:21:38,270 --> 00:21:39,930
and that was the end for her.
404
00:21:41,170 --> 00:21:43,190
They didn't want her at
the mansion anymore.
405
00:21:43,390 --> 00:21:46,530
She was basically cut
off for everything.
406
00:21:46,730 --> 00:21:50,810
Advertising, promotions,
personal appearances.
407
00:21:51,010 --> 00:21:53,310
All of her income now
is completely turned off.
408
00:21:58,170 --> 00:21:59,640
[Madison] The moment that
Star was kicked out,
409
00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,950
it must have just felt
like she lost everything.
410
00:22:03,150 --> 00:22:05,120
Even if bad things were
happening to Star
at the mansion,
411
00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:06,950
that was all she knew
at that time.
412
00:22:07,150 --> 00:22:10,050
Those were the only people
she knew in L.A.,
that was her income.
413
00:22:10,250 --> 00:22:12,050
That was her job,
it was everything.
414
00:22:12,250 --> 00:22:15,310
She didn't have any
outside resources.
415
00:22:16,510 --> 00:22:18,430
She was 22 years old.
416
00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:20,740
She's now addicted
to drugs and alcohol,
417
00:22:20,940 --> 00:22:22,960
and it just must have felt
like she was adrift.
418
00:22:27,820 --> 00:22:29,740
[Olson] Star stayed in
L.A. for a little bit,
419
00:22:29,940 --> 00:22:34,220
but it wasn't very long...
the Playboy corporation,
420
00:22:34,420 --> 00:22:37,190
had put a stigma on her
and her name,
421
00:22:37,390 --> 00:22:39,710
and no one really wanted
to hire her or do anything,
422
00:22:39,910 --> 00:22:41,370
'cause they're
a powerful company.
423
00:22:43,370 --> 00:22:48,260
All those people that she met,
like Gene Simmons
and Rod Stewart,
424
00:22:48,460 --> 00:22:51,120
there were no calls coming
to her from them.
425
00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,890
And she was realizing that
that was all over with.
426
00:22:56,340 --> 00:22:58,810
So, she decided to leave...
427
00:22:59,010 --> 00:23:01,170
...and go to Las Vegas
and try something there.
428
00:23:03,650 --> 00:23:06,020
In 1981, she married
Peter Maligo,
429
00:23:06,220 --> 00:23:09,290
who was an aspiring musician,
rock musician, of course.
430
00:23:09,490 --> 00:23:10,910
They had a son,
431
00:23:11,110 --> 00:23:13,500
and within a couple of days
after giving birth,
432
00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:17,600
he forced her to go out
and start stripping
433
00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:19,240
so that they could make money.
434
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,430
[Olson] She made decent money.
435
00:23:26,630 --> 00:23:29,810
That's so she could support
a family, easily.
436
00:23:30,010 --> 00:23:31,770
People still wanted to
see a centerfold.
437
00:23:31,970 --> 00:23:36,150
Uh, they still wanted to
see the star that was at
her bikini line.
438
00:23:36,350 --> 00:23:39,200
So, that was her gimmick,
and that worked.
439
00:23:43,170 --> 00:23:46,740
Most friends of hers
said that this relationship
with this guy,
440
00:23:46,940 --> 00:23:49,190
Peter Maligo, was not great.
441
00:23:49,390 --> 00:23:50,710
I don't think it's
a great relationship
442
00:23:50,910 --> 00:23:52,600
when you have a baby
and then, you know,
443
00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:53,740
a few days later,
your husband's like,
444
00:23:53,940 --> 00:23:55,500
"You need to go
back out and strip
445
00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:56,950
and dance for a living."
You know?
446
00:23:57,150 --> 00:23:58,500
'Cause they needed
to pay bills.
447
00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:01,500
And so, she
and the husband split.
448
00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:05,530
One of the biggest challenges
of making money off of
the way that you look
449
00:24:05,730 --> 00:24:07,410
is eventually that fades.
450
00:24:10,310 --> 00:24:12,740
When the...
451
00:24:12,940 --> 00:24:15,840
...stripping jobs in Vegas
started drying up,
452
00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:17,670
she moved to Fort Lauderdale
with her son
453
00:24:17,870 --> 00:24:20,020
in order to make a living.
454
00:24:20,220 --> 00:24:23,430
A lot of the clubs around here
thought that she was
sort of a celebrity,
455
00:24:23,630 --> 00:24:24,910
because she had
been in Playboy,
456
00:24:25,110 --> 00:24:26,750
and so that was
sort of an attraction.
457
00:24:30,170 --> 00:24:33,530
[Olson] She thought that there
was places she could
dance, and she did.
458
00:24:33,730 --> 00:24:35,740
But she got older...
459
00:24:35,940 --> 00:24:39,770
...and that rock and roll
lifestyle, with the...
460
00:24:39,970 --> 00:24:43,060
...alcohol and the drugs,
was catching up to her.
461
00:24:47,620 --> 00:24:49,190
[Madison] It must have been
really hard for Star
462
00:24:49,390 --> 00:24:52,530
to be 30 and not being
booked at the exotic
dancing clubs,
463
00:24:52,730 --> 00:24:54,600
because it was really
all she had known,
464
00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,360
was dancing, was
posing forPlayboy.
465
00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,020
From an outside perspective,
466
00:25:00,220 --> 00:25:03,840
it seems like there could
be so many options,
467
00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,740
but when your self-esteem
is at a certain place,
468
00:25:06,940 --> 00:25:08,770
and you've been told
for so many years
469
00:25:08,970 --> 00:25:10,500
you're only good
for one thing,
470
00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:12,840
it can feel very differently.
471
00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,290
[LaLama] She needed to pay
her bills, she need to have
a roof over her head.
472
00:25:16,490 --> 00:25:17,980
She didn't have the body
and the beauty
473
00:25:18,180 --> 00:25:19,950
by Hollywood
standards anymore,
474
00:25:20,150 --> 00:25:23,430
but she still could have sex,
and still make money
475
00:25:23,630 --> 00:25:25,600
by using her body for sex.
476
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:27,500
And it is this...
477
00:25:27,700 --> 00:25:30,460
...dire need to survive
that led Star Stowe
478
00:25:30,660 --> 00:25:32,200
to become a prostitute.
479
00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,950
I told her,
"That's a definite no-no.
You gotta do something else.
480
00:25:41,150 --> 00:25:43,740
You've already gone
through that withPlayboy."
481
00:25:43,940 --> 00:25:45,510
And then she'd say,
"What can I do?"
482
00:25:50,030 --> 00:25:52,640
A couple times when I went
to see her at the house,
483
00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,740
and she was already drinking
and doing drugs.
484
00:25:55,940 --> 00:25:59,190
I would say to her, "You know,
this is not your life.
485
00:25:59,390 --> 00:26:03,460
You know, you can't
do this, it's gonna
take its toll on you."
486
00:26:03,660 --> 00:26:05,460
And she just said,
"I can handle it.
487
00:26:05,660 --> 00:26:07,290
I can quit any time I want."
488
00:26:07,490 --> 00:26:09,500
But you can't.
489
00:26:09,700 --> 00:26:12,530
She had hoped that
she might be able
to stop someday,
490
00:26:12,730 --> 00:26:15,810
but she needed
to drink and do drugs
491
00:26:16,010 --> 00:26:18,200
so she didn't have
to think about it
and didn't have to feel.
492
00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:28,910
About this time, she sent
her son to go live with
her mom in Arkansas,
493
00:26:29,110 --> 00:26:32,530
because she just felt
like he deserved
a better upbringing
494
00:26:32,730 --> 00:26:34,790
than what she was
able to provide.
495
00:26:37,060 --> 00:26:41,050
She had been a prostitute
for a number of years.
496
00:26:41,250 --> 00:26:45,370
And then in 1990,
Star was jailed for
drug possession.
497
00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:49,220
When Star was in jail,
498
00:26:49,420 --> 00:26:52,290
she wrote a letter
to her best friend,
Mitchie Stone.
499
00:26:52,490 --> 00:26:54,360
I think this letter is,
is really interesting,
500
00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,330
because it speaks
to her aspirations
501
00:26:57,530 --> 00:27:00,710
and what she dreamed of
and a lot of regret.
502
00:27:00,910 --> 00:27:04,400
She said, "I had
such high hopes,
and now they're gone.
503
00:27:04,590 --> 00:27:06,770
I did it to myself,
and it's a nightmare.
504
00:27:06,970 --> 00:27:08,650
But when I get home...
505
00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:13,020
...I get to go be the old me.
506
00:27:13,220 --> 00:27:17,190
I get to be by my son
and go to church,
507
00:27:17,390 --> 00:27:19,620
and it will be good, someday."
508
00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:26,080
[Madison] Unfortunately,
Star was not able to
turn her life around.
509
00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,710
I think Star had a huge
struggle ahead of her,
510
00:27:28,910 --> 00:27:31,950
just trying to get away
from all the addiction
and all the demons
511
00:27:32,150 --> 00:27:34,720
that really originated from
her time with Playboy.
512
00:27:36,510 --> 00:27:38,430
You can have this idea, like,
"I wanna change my life,"
513
00:27:38,630 --> 00:27:40,080
but then when the rent's due,
514
00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,480
you know, there was just
so much stacked against her.
515
00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,290
Almost 20 years to the day
since her centerfold came out,
516
00:27:49,490 --> 00:27:53,100
Star was last scene
getting into a car
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
517
00:27:57,860 --> 00:28:00,680
The next day,
Star was found dead.
518
00:28:17,580 --> 00:28:18,710
[Olson] I was heartbroken.
519
00:28:18,910 --> 00:28:20,640
Nobody deserves
to be murdered,
520
00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,880
and especially someone
that is trying to get
back on the right track.
521
00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:26,640
Because she told me
she was gonna try,
522
00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,810
and I believe she would
at some point.
523
00:28:30,010 --> 00:28:32,600
I called her mother
on March, uh, the 17th.
524
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:34,500
She was uncontrollably crying,
obviously.
525
00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:36,120
I mean, it's your child...
526
00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,650
and, you know,
it's a tough thing.
527
00:28:43,370 --> 00:28:46,960
Her mother did tell us
of a friend of hers
named Mitchie Stone,
528
00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:49,440
and we spoke with Mitchie,
529
00:28:50,550 --> 00:28:53,020
and she said
she was afraid for her,
530
00:28:53,220 --> 00:28:54,720
and she was trying to get Star
out of that lifestyle.
531
00:28:56,750 --> 00:28:59,430
Mitchie told us
that she had an ex-boyfriend.
532
00:28:59,630 --> 00:29:02,190
They had broken up
about three weeks prior
533
00:29:02,390 --> 00:29:04,720
to her disappearing
and being killed.
534
00:29:08,130 --> 00:29:11,030
[Pazdera]
Star was staying with Mitchie
at the time of her death
535
00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:16,190
because she
and her former boyfriend
broke up.
536
00:29:16,390 --> 00:29:18,080
They had
a pretty okay relationship
537
00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:19,500
for a while,
538
00:29:19,700 --> 00:29:21,620
and then a couple of days
before Star was found murdered
539
00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:24,360
they got into a fight.
540
00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,120
And she ended up with
this nasty bump on her head
541
00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:29,620
and got away from him.
542
00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:37,530
We did find out
that he was actually arrested
for domestic violence.
543
00:29:37,730 --> 00:29:40,240
We thought he had potential
as a suspect.
544
00:29:41,820 --> 00:29:43,000
We knew
we had to speak with this guy.
545
00:29:48,410 --> 00:29:50,500
He was arrested
for domestic violence,
546
00:29:50,700 --> 00:29:52,460
except the charges
were dropped
547
00:29:52,660 --> 00:29:56,950
because the witnesses all said
that he never did strike her.
548
00:29:57,150 --> 00:29:59,020
She was so highly intoxicated
that she fell down
549
00:29:59,220 --> 00:30:01,100
and actually got the bump
on her head.
550
00:30:02,620 --> 00:30:03,950
He was very upset.
551
00:30:04,150 --> 00:30:07,260
He obviously had
a very clear love for her,
552
00:30:07,460 --> 00:30:11,260
and I don't think
he had the wherewithal
to do something like that,
553
00:30:11,460 --> 00:30:13,200
so we eliminated him
as a suspect.
554
00:30:15,550 --> 00:30:18,330
[Pazdera]
The police were working
hundreds of leads.
555
00:30:18,530 --> 00:30:21,840
They were out there
getting rid of shoe leather
and handing out fliers,
556
00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:24,260
knocking on doors,
talking to people,
557
00:30:24,460 --> 00:30:26,360
just trying to, you know,
figure out
558
00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:28,880
if they could deduce,
you know,
559
00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:32,600
who might be responsible
for the death of Star Stowe.
560
00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:34,260
[Pickering]
We went to the strip
in Fort Lauderdale
561
00:30:34,460 --> 00:30:35,670
where she worked.
562
00:30:35,870 --> 00:30:39,260
We hit every single bar,
we hit every single hotel,
563
00:30:39,460 --> 00:30:40,680
we hit every single pawn shop.
564
00:30:42,620 --> 00:30:44,290
We spent
hundred of hours on this,
565
00:30:44,490 --> 00:30:47,330
just trying to find out
if anybody saw her,
566
00:30:47,530 --> 00:30:50,670
you know,
during the last few hours,
few days of her life,
567
00:30:50,870 --> 00:30:52,200
and everything
came back negative.
568
00:30:57,790 --> 00:31:01,000
[Madison] I think often times
sex workers like Star
are targets
569
00:31:02,550 --> 00:31:05,810
because they're seen as people
who don't have a lot
570
00:31:06,010 --> 00:31:08,570
of close friends and family
around them
571
00:31:08,770 --> 00:31:11,880
or who are kind of
lost in the system,
572
00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,820
and I think that's why
these cases can be harder
to solve.
573
00:31:18,820 --> 00:31:20,840
[Pickering] When we were doing
one of the many canvases,
574
00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:23,430
we actually developed
another boyfriend.
575
00:31:23,630 --> 00:31:26,190
He was a little small time
drug dealer,
576
00:31:26,390 --> 00:31:29,960
but from what
everybody was telling us
that was also her pimp.
577
00:31:31,510 --> 00:31:34,930
At that point,
he became more of
a suspect for us.
578
00:31:37,170 --> 00:31:39,600
We conducted
an interview with him.
579
00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,170
He admitted
that he was with her
on the night she disappeared.
580
00:31:43,340 --> 00:31:45,260
He admitted that
he drove her to a location
581
00:31:45,460 --> 00:31:47,910
and dropped her off
for a rendezvous.
582
00:31:48,110 --> 00:31:49,790
And that's the last time
that anybody ever saw her.
583
00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,430
We executed a search warrant
on his van.
584
00:31:54,630 --> 00:31:56,130
It was just
a plain old white van.
585
00:31:57,270 --> 00:31:59,600
And you could tell
there was nothing in it.
586
00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:01,910
The carpet
had been ripped out of it.
587
00:32:02,110 --> 00:32:04,370
Everything was out of it.
It was completely gutted.
588
00:32:05,510 --> 00:32:08,080
Just had the seat to drive
and then passenger seat.
589
00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:10,000
If there was
any evidence in it
it was gone.
590
00:32:13,580 --> 00:32:16,890
And, of course,
he denied any knowledge
of Star's murder.
591
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,880
We didn't develop
another lead on this at all
592
00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:27,050
from any of that.
593
00:32:27,250 --> 00:32:30,570
It wasn't until
maybe a month later.
594
00:32:30,770 --> 00:32:34,220
West Palm Beach had a homicide
and they contacted us.
595
00:32:34,420 --> 00:32:36,330
It was a prostitute
who was strangled as well.
596
00:32:36,530 --> 00:32:38,740
It was a month
before Star's murder.
597
00:32:38,940 --> 00:32:43,060
Sandra Walters
was left half naked
behind an adult video store,
598
00:32:43,580 --> 00:32:45,770
February 25th.
599
00:32:45,970 --> 00:32:49,050
She had similar
physical characteristics
to Star,
600
00:32:49,250 --> 00:32:51,330
and so the detectives
were trying to explore
601
00:32:51,530 --> 00:32:54,340
whether or not
this was something
that could be related.
602
00:32:55,550 --> 00:32:57,980
We went to West Palm Beach
Police Department,
603
00:32:58,180 --> 00:33:00,150
we spoke with
their detectives,
604
00:33:00,350 --> 00:33:04,220
and we compared
our case to theirs
at that point.
605
00:33:04,420 --> 00:33:08,120
There were parallels.
They were both prostitutes.
606
00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:12,080
They were both on drugs,
they were both alcoholics.
607
00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:14,810
They did in fact
have similar, you know,
appearances and builds,
608
00:33:15,010 --> 00:33:17,360
but at that point
we weren't convinced
609
00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:19,100
that serial killers
operate like this.
610
00:33:24,860 --> 00:33:27,740
[Pazdera]
The day after Thanksgiving
in 1997,
611
00:33:27,940 --> 00:33:32,500
several months after
Star and Sandra Walters
were found murdered,
612
00:33:32,700 --> 00:33:35,440
another woman turned up dead
in Broward County.
613
00:33:36,860 --> 00:33:41,020
She had fair hair, brown eyes,
and a similar height.
614
00:33:41,220 --> 00:33:42,500
She also was a prostitute,
615
00:33:42,700 --> 00:33:43,810
and at this point
616
00:33:44,010 --> 00:33:46,120
it was really starting
to look like
617
00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:47,890
this could be the work
of a serial killer.
618
00:33:49,930 --> 00:33:53,150
[Pickering] She was strangled
and they threw her body
in a dumpster,
619
00:33:53,350 --> 00:33:56,290
and, of course, right away
we wanted to look into
that as well
620
00:33:56,490 --> 00:33:57,810
to see if there was
any similarities.
621
00:33:58,010 --> 00:34:01,220
By the time
it was spring of 1998,
622
00:34:01,420 --> 00:34:04,270
there were six sex workers
that were found murdered
623
00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,790
and had
very similar characteristics.
624
00:34:13,820 --> 00:34:15,050
[Madison]
With all these murders,
625
00:34:15,250 --> 00:34:17,050
it must have been terrifying
for any sex worker
626
00:34:17,250 --> 00:34:20,100
to think that possibly
there was a serial killer
out there
627
00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:23,720
and they might be next.
628
00:34:32,170 --> 00:34:34,640
In September, we got a call
from West Palm Beach
629
00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:35,810
about a guy
named Kevin Johnson
630
00:34:36,010 --> 00:34:37,710
that they had in custody.
631
00:34:37,910 --> 00:34:39,570
He was arrested
in connection with
632
00:34:39,770 --> 00:34:41,570
beating a prostitute
so severely
633
00:34:41,770 --> 00:34:43,330
that she wound up
losing her eye.
634
00:34:43,530 --> 00:34:46,020
They told us that he said
that he was a monster
635
00:34:46,220 --> 00:34:50,020
and he became
very, very violent
when he smoked crack cocaine.
636
00:34:50,220 --> 00:34:52,150
[Pazdera] Kevin Johnson
told the detectives
637
00:34:52,350 --> 00:34:56,360
he picked on sex workers
and was glad he got caught,
638
00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:57,400
because he felt like
639
00:34:57,590 --> 00:34:59,430
he had this monster
inside of him
640
00:34:59,630 --> 00:35:01,880
and had so much rage
against women
641
00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:04,910
that he was scared
what might happen next.
642
00:35:05,110 --> 00:35:07,050
[Pickering] And, you know,
eventually he admitted
643
00:35:07,250 --> 00:35:09,220
he had killed two prostitutes.
644
00:35:09,420 --> 00:35:12,950
He'd bludgeoned one to death
and he stabbed the other.
645
00:35:13,150 --> 00:35:16,430
When they called us,
obviously antenna went up
at that point
646
00:35:16,630 --> 00:35:19,130
because they thought
he could be responsible
for everything.
647
00:35:24,370 --> 00:35:25,810
[LaLama]
This man is readily admitting
648
00:35:26,010 --> 00:35:28,260
to violently murdering
two women,
649
00:35:28,460 --> 00:35:30,120
and the more
cops are listening,
650
00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:32,880
they're thinking, "Well,
we may have the very guy
651
00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:34,580
who murdered Star Stowe."
652
00:35:36,930 --> 00:35:38,570
[Pickering] He didn't confess
to any other killings
653
00:35:38,770 --> 00:35:40,550
other than the ones
that he was arrested for,
654
00:35:41,510 --> 00:35:43,740
so we compared our cases.
655
00:35:43,940 --> 00:35:46,910
But he didn't
come down this way
to Fort Lauderdale,
656
00:35:47,110 --> 00:35:48,670
to the strip,
or anywhere around here.
657
00:35:48,870 --> 00:35:52,480
And the way he picked them up,
where he killed them,
the locations,
658
00:35:53,240 --> 00:35:54,290
was completely different.
659
00:35:54,490 --> 00:35:55,570
You know, the messiness.
660
00:35:55,770 --> 00:35:58,740
Like, stabbing somebody,
that's a pretty messy
crime scene
661
00:35:58,940 --> 00:36:00,790
versus strangling somebody.
662
00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:02,440
It's a big difference.
663
00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,810
[Pazdera] Detectives
were able to figure out
664
00:36:06,010 --> 00:36:10,150
that Kevin Johnson
was not responsible
for the death of Star Stowe
665
00:36:10,350 --> 00:36:14,670
or any of the other women
that were found murdered.
666
00:36:14,870 --> 00:36:18,960
[LaLama] At this point,
police have still not found
Star's killer.
667
00:36:19,890 --> 00:36:21,370
Things seemed to quiet down,
668
00:36:22,510 --> 00:36:24,930
but then tragedy strikes
once again.
669
00:36:28,930 --> 00:36:31,360
[Pazdera] About three years
after Star was murdered,
670
00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:33,890
there were two women
that were found murdered.
671
00:36:35,100 --> 00:36:36,880
Again, in South Florida.
672
00:36:37,080 --> 00:36:40,980
Their bodies were found
in black duffle bags
on the side of the road.
673
00:36:41,180 --> 00:36:43,980
It wasn't Kevin Johnson,
he was in jail.
674
00:36:44,180 --> 00:36:45,710
It's either
a different serial killer
675
00:36:45,910 --> 00:36:50,710
or a set
of very tragic coincidences.
676
00:36:50,910 --> 00:36:54,370
[LaLama]
Their names are Sia Demas
and Kim Livesey.
677
00:36:57,060 --> 00:36:59,050
It appears almost undeniable
678
00:36:59,250 --> 00:37:04,510
that there is still
a serial killer on the loose
in South Florida.
679
00:37:10,510 --> 00:37:12,770
In the murder cases
of Kim and Sia,
680
00:37:12,970 --> 00:37:16,500
12 years later
there's a big break
in the case.
681
00:37:16,700 --> 00:37:22,710
Through fingerprints,
police were able to identify
a guy named Robert Fernandes.
682
00:37:22,910 --> 00:37:27,080
People ask
why does it take so long?
It's not bad police work.
683
00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:32,640
Robert Fernandes
had left South Florida
after the murders.
684
00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:36,020
[Pazdera]
He was a Brazilian national
who was living in Miami.
685
00:37:36,220 --> 00:37:38,960
When he went back to Brazil
the killing stopped.
686
00:37:40,820 --> 00:37:44,080
[LaLama] This is
an awakening for detectives
because they're thinking,
687
00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:48,530
"Well, maybe it was him
that killed Star and others."
688
00:37:48,730 --> 00:37:50,910
[Pazdera] Detectives
were able to figure out
689
00:37:51,110 --> 00:37:55,740
that this guy
was not responsible
for the death of Star Stowe
690
00:37:55,940 --> 00:37:59,740
because he was
nowhere in that area
at the time of her death.
691
00:37:59,940 --> 00:38:03,640
[LaLama] It's another
disappointing turn
for detectives.
692
00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:06,950
Regarding his link
to the murders of Sia and Kim,
693
00:38:07,150 --> 00:38:09,880
well, their families
would never see justice
694
00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:14,580
because Fernandes died
in a plane crash in 2006.
695
00:38:18,620 --> 00:38:22,060
Star's case
still remains open today,
25 years later.
696
00:38:25,060 --> 00:38:26,360
[Pickering] I don't think
it was just the work
697
00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:27,770
of a serial killer
in this case,
698
00:38:27,970 --> 00:38:29,330
I just don't think it was.
699
00:38:29,530 --> 00:38:31,840
I think that she knew
who her killer was,
700
00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:34,020
and I obviously
can't prove that
701
00:38:34,220 --> 00:38:37,150
but just, you know, my heart,
that's what it tells me.
702
00:38:37,350 --> 00:38:39,340
She didn't scratch the person
or fight.
703
00:38:41,060 --> 00:38:44,260
It just seems to me
like she willingly
got in that car,
704
00:38:44,460 --> 00:38:47,340
and I keep going back
to the guy who was her pimp.
705
00:38:48,370 --> 00:38:49,640
You know, I can't get that
out of my head
706
00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:52,190
that he gave her a ride
on the day she disappears.
707
00:38:52,390 --> 00:38:53,680
It's quite a coincidence,
wouldn't you think?
708
00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:01,190
[Pazdera] I found out recently
709
00:39:01,390 --> 00:39:04,430
that the Coral Springs
Police Department
have reopened this case,
710
00:39:04,630 --> 00:39:06,910
which I think
is pretty significant.
711
00:39:07,110 --> 00:39:11,260
Detectives took some DNA
from Star's body
at the time of her death,
712
00:39:11,460 --> 00:39:15,740
so it is possible
that they may be able
to find out who's responsible.
713
00:39:15,940 --> 00:39:18,570
[Pickering] In '97
DNA was still kinda new.
714
00:39:18,770 --> 00:39:21,400
There wasn't a whole lot
we could do with it
like today.
715
00:39:21,590 --> 00:39:25,600
There was very few people
in the database, suspect wise.
716
00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:27,910
DNA is like
a whole another level now.
717
00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:30,220
There's some evidence
in this case
718
00:39:30,420 --> 00:39:32,360
and I'm sure
the police department
will probably resubmit it
719
00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:33,620
for new testing.
720
00:39:35,200 --> 00:39:38,020
This case, I think,
will forever stay with me.
721
00:39:38,220 --> 00:39:43,150
There's always that side
that you feel bad
because you didn't solve it,
722
00:39:43,350 --> 00:39:44,910
and, you know,
you know how hard
you worked on it,
723
00:39:45,110 --> 00:39:46,820
and you just came up short.
724
00:39:48,060 --> 00:39:50,360
And I'm hoping that
they get some DNA back
on this,
725
00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:52,670
and I'm hoping
they do arrest somebody.
726
00:39:52,870 --> 00:39:54,510
It would, you know,
it would make my day.
727
00:39:55,860 --> 00:39:57,670
I'm really happy that finally
728
00:39:57,870 --> 00:40:01,020
the PD is gonna
open this cold case again.
729
00:40:01,220 --> 00:40:04,770
I think this'll be great
if the police find the person
that did it.
730
00:40:04,970 --> 00:40:09,330
That would be a good closure
for her family, and son,
and friends,
731
00:40:09,530 --> 00:40:13,240
and for her
because Star deserved justice.
732
00:40:15,890 --> 00:40:19,740
Not long after
she was murdered,
I got ahold of her son,
733
00:40:19,940 --> 00:40:24,430
and he was 14 at the time,
and he had very fond memories
of his mom.
734
00:40:24,630 --> 00:40:26,710
He thought that she was
an incredibly cool mom.
735
00:40:26,910 --> 00:40:28,840
They would talk on the phone
very often,
736
00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:31,220
and he recalled that
when they were living together
737
00:40:31,420 --> 00:40:33,770
that she would
make him stir fry,
738
00:40:33,970 --> 00:40:35,980
and, you know,
they would play video games,
739
00:40:36,180 --> 00:40:39,050
and just basically
have a good time.
740
00:40:39,250 --> 00:40:42,190
The other thing
that he and his mom shared,
they both loved music,
741
00:40:42,390 --> 00:40:47,500
and he told me that
they were both crazy about
the new Nine Inch Nailsalbum
742
00:40:47,700 --> 00:40:49,480
that had come out recently.
743
00:40:50,860 --> 00:40:53,570
Star Stowe's case
is heartbreaking.
744
00:40:53,770 --> 00:40:58,570
Young, beautiful girl,
big ambitions of going
to the big city.
745
00:40:58,770 --> 00:41:02,080
Gets there,
falls into the cesspool
of decadence
746
00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:04,670
and is not prepared for it,
747
00:41:04,870 --> 00:41:08,000
and something terrible
happens to her.
748
00:41:10,580 --> 00:41:13,430
I thought about
what Star could have become
749
00:41:13,630 --> 00:41:16,570
if she hadn't got that gig
with Playboy,
750
00:41:16,770 --> 00:41:18,600
and I think
she could have made it.
751
00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:22,430
She was a very good singer
and she was learning
to play guitar, too,
752
00:41:22,630 --> 00:41:24,810
so she could have done it.
753
00:41:25,010 --> 00:41:27,840
She would have been
a good front person
in a group.
754
00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:31,600
I think she would have been
a really great rocker chick.
755
00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:34,080
She definitely
could have done that.
756
00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:38,360
It's just sad that
that was a dream
that never transpired for her.
757
00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:39,460
I can relate to her,
758
00:41:39,660 --> 00:41:40,640
because I know
what it feels like
759
00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:41,950
you know, to have those dreams
760
00:41:42,150 --> 00:41:44,260
and to want to be
a centerfold.
761
00:41:44,460 --> 00:41:46,770
And I know how it feels
to live at the mansion,
762
00:41:46,970 --> 00:41:48,360
feel like the world
is so insular,
763
00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:49,680
and feel afraid.
764
00:41:50,750 --> 00:41:51,880
If you're a young girl today,
765
00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:56,080
I think that Star
would be a good example
766
00:41:56,280 --> 00:41:57,600
of what could happen
767
00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:01,950
if you go down
the road of false promises
of Playboy
768
00:42:02,150 --> 00:42:04,030
or buy into that dream.
769
00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:05,880
It ruins you.
770
00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:08,950
There's no way out.
It's just a tragedy.
771
00:42:09,150 --> 00:42:09,890
It's sad.
64171
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.