On the evening of April 4, 1958, Beverly Hills police responded to a distress call at Lana Turner’s home on North Bedford Drive.
Turner, a well-known actress, was already a Hollywood legend at this point, having starred in films such as “The Postman Always Rings Twice” and received an Oscar nomination for her role in “Peyton Place.”
However, that night would forever cement her status as a Noir icon in a tragic turn of events.
In her upstairs bedroom, the lifeless body of Johnny Stompanato, her handsome boyfriend and reputed associate of mobster Mickey Cohen, lay on the floor.
He had been stabbed in the abdomen with a butcher knife, and it would later be revealed that Turner’s 14-year-old daughter, Cheryl Crane, confessed to delivering the fatal wounds.
Crane, whose father was restaurateur Stephen Crane, claimed that she acted in self-defense to protect her mother from what she believed was Stompanato’s homicidal rage.
This shocking killing sparked one of the most sensational coroner’s inquests in Los Angeles’ history.
A week later, Turner took the stand and delivered what was described as the most crucial performance of her life.
For an hour, she recounted the escalating argument that culminated in the deadly knife thrust.
The first witness called was mobster Mickey Cohen, who stubbornly refused to identify Stompanato as the deceased, fearing he might be accused of the murder.
As Turner entered the Hall of Records hearing room, she exuded an air of elegance in a gray coat and matching silk dress.
The atmosphere was tense, with reporters, news camera crews, and curious onlookers crowding the space.
Throughout her testimony, Turner displayed visible signs of distress, occasionally fighting back tears and struggling to maintain composure.
Describing her relationship with Stompanato, Turner portrayed him as possessive and prone to violent outbursts.
She detailed a series of arguments that had escalated during their recent trip to London, where Stompanato had even threatened to disfigure her with a razor.
On the day of the fatal confrontation, Turner testified that she had warned her daughter about the impending stormy night.
As she finally decided to end the relationship with Stompanato, he became physically aggressive, grabbing her arms and threatening her with violence.
He asserted dominance, claiming she had to do anything he commanded, or else he would harm her and her loved ones.
Turner’s daughter, Cheryl, witnessed the altercation, despite Turner’s plea for her to stay in her room.
According to Turner, she turned around to face the door and saw her daughter standing there.
In a split second, she believed her daughter had struck Stompanato in the stomach, but she never saw a blade.
After hearing Turner’s testimony, the 12-member coroner’s jury reached a unanimous verdict of justifiable homicide swiftly.
Turner, who had returned home, expressed relief upon learning the outcome.
However, not everyone was satisfied with the decision.
Outside the courtroom, a friend of Stompanato caused a commotion, claiming he wanted to testify.
He fervently argued against the verdict, stating that Cheryl was in love with Stompanato and that jealousy between her and her mother played a significant role.
Another theory suggested that Turner had actually stabbed Stompanato and manipulated her daughter into taking the blame.
Years later, in her autobiography, “Detour: A Hollywood Story,” Cheryl Crane seemed to settle the debate.
She admitted to stabbing Stompanato but alleged that he had s**ually abused her, similar to one of Turner’s previous husbands.
Crane suffered a difficult life, including two suicide attempts, and was eventually placed under the custody of Turner’s mother.
Turner continued her career in Hollywood following Stompanato’s death.
In the 1980s, she appeared in the television soap opera “Falcon Crest.”
When she passed away in 1995, she had been married seven times.
However, her legacy still carries the weight of The Times’ editorial, which criticized her lack of moral sensitivity in the presence of her child while absolving Cheryl of blame.
The tragic events that unfolded on that fateful night in 1958 forever left their mark on Lana Turner’s life and career, reminding the world of the dark side that lurks beneath the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
