It was on this day in 1967 that the beloved actress and screen icon, Jayne Mansfield, tragically lost her life in a horrifying car crash.
This incident went on to give rise to one of the darkest urban legends in the history of Hollywood.
In the early hours of that fateful day, the 34-year-old starlet embarked on a drive in a 1966 Buick Electra along a narrow country lane near a swamp in Louisiana.
Her destination was a TV appearance in New Orleans.
Unfortunately, as they made their way down the road, thick mosquito repellent obscured the view ahead.
This prevented Jayne's driver from realizing that a slow-moving truck was dangerously close in front of them.
At precisely 2:55am, the two vehicles collided, instantly claiming the lives of Jayne, her boyfriend Sam Brody, and their driver Ronnie Harrison.
Despite the tragic outcome, Jayne's three children – Mariska, 3, Zoltan, 6, and Miklos Jr., from her second marriage to Mickey Hargitay – who were all asleep in the backseat, miraculously survived with only minor injuries.
However, due to the severity of Jayne's injuries, rumors quickly spread suggesting that the Hollywood actress had been decapitated.
The urban legend surrounding Jayne's death originated from police photographs that depicted the wreckage of the car with its roof torn off, along with what appeared to be strands of white-blonde hair embedded in the shattered windshield.
Nevertheless, these rumors of decapitation were debunked by the official police report, which stated that Jayne had died from severe head trauma.
The report stated, “The upper portion of this white female's head was severed.”
Her death certificate further recorded her cause of death as a “crushed skull with avulsion (forcible separation or detachment) of cranium and brain.”
Jim Roberts, the undertaker assigned to Jayne's case, expressed, “People always had misconceptions about Jayne, both in the way she lived and the way she died.
Her head was as intact as mine,” he clarified.
Eight years after the tragic accident, filmmaker Kenneth Anger released “Hollywood Babylon” in 1975.
This scandalous book delved into the Golden Age of cinema and its stars, further fueling the morbid rumors surrounding Jayne's death.
Within its pages, the controversial publication included a photograph capturing the aftermath of the fatal car crash.
The image showed Jayne's lifeless dog lying on the road alongside what appeared to be strands of human hair.
From there, whispers circulated regarding Jayne's alleged involvement with Anton LaVey, the self-proclaimed leader of the Church of Satan.
Some theorists even linked this association to her untimely demise.
According to the myth, Jayne's boyfriend, Sam Brody, succumbed to overwhelming jealousy and threatened LaVey.
In response, LaVey supposedly cursed him, leading to a tragic end for both men.
Between 1966 and 1967, Jayne and Sam miraculously survived seven car accidents before the eighth one claimed their lives.
The car they perished in was eventually acquired by a private collector in Florida, who transformed it into a roadside attraction during the 1970s.
Today, the car belongs to Scott Michaels, who showcases it as the centerpiece of his Dearly Departed Tours and Artifact Museum in Los Angeles.
The museum also features various items of historical significance, including bricks from the Tate murder house and the bed and blanket used by actor Rock Hudson on his final night.
Jayne Mansfield, originally named Vera Jayne Palmer, was born in Pennsylvania in 1933.
Starting her career as a nightclub entertainer, she rose to fame in the 1950s and early 1960s after signing a contract with 20th Century Fox as a potential successor to Marilyn Monroe.
Her breakthrough role came in 1956's “The Girl Can't Help It,” which earned her recognition as a promising newcomer at the Golden Globe Awards.
Jayne went on to star in numerous films, become Playboy magazine's “Playmate of the Month,” and even traveled overseas to support US troops during the Vietnam War.
Alongside her successful career, Jayne
