We lived through ’em all — OJ murder, freeway chase, and trial; Rodney King beating and ensuing riot; Northridge earthquake, and the endless parade of pulpy misdeeds that happen in Los Angeles all the time.
But none of it, not a one, could top the Ronni Chasen murder last November for its undiluted brand of L.A. noir. It tinged and prefigured a creepy holiday season one year ago — from the pert blonde publicist’s gritty death in a polished black sedan; through the suicide-offing of Harold Smith, drifter/grifter and alleged bicycle-killer; to the bumbling Keystone Kops investigation… gripping, priceless, stranger than fiction.
The insane conclusion by Beverly Hills detectives: murder by bicycle! No disrespect to the dead, but gawd! that was a good one.
Thank you arts·meme artist, Benoit Le Pennec.
Like this? Read more:
- Ronni Chasen murder suspect dies at former hotel to the stars
- Bloody Mamas: Violence Against Women in Art and in Life
- Ronni Chasen’s Restaurant Renaming
- Chasen Murder Redux
- More from Le Pennec: Michael Govan gets out of Dodge