The tragic story of actress Dominique Dunne, known for her role in the popular 1982 film Poltergeist, continues to captivate audiences.
Dunne’s life was cut short by her ex-boyfriend, John Sweeney, who murdered her on November 4, 1982.
Despite her untimely death, Dunne had also made appearances on notable TV series like Lou Grant, CHIPs, Fame, and Hill Street Blues.
Interestingly, it was during the filming of a Hill Street Blues episode called “Requiem for a Handbag” in 1982 that Dunne played the role of a girl suffering abuse at the hands of her mother.
Shockingly, Crimefeed.com revealed on March 8, 2016, that Dunne’s bruises for the role were unnecessary as Sweeney had already physically assaulted her, leaving her with visible injuries.
While Dominique’s life tragically ended, her brother Griffin Dunne continues to pursue his acting career to this day.
Some of his notable credits from the 80s include SNL, After Hours, and An American Werewolf In Paris.
According to a post on Snopes.com from 2015, Dominique Dunne passed away on November 4 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Just days before her death, Sweeney strangled her outside her home for a horrifying four to six minutes, ultimately leaving her in a coma.
When the police arrived, Sweeney confessed, saying, “I killed my girlfriend, and I tried to kill myself.”
Dunne was only 22 years old.
John Sweeney faced trial on September 23, 1983, and was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and misdemeanor assault.
He received a sentence of six and a half years but was released after serving only three.
Throughout the trial, Dominique’s father, Dominick Dunne, kept a journal documenting each day’s events.
In 1984, these journal entries were published as an article in Vanity Fair.
Following Sweeney’s release from prison, Dominique’s mother and brother reportedly distributed flyers outside The Chronicle, a Santa Monica restaurant where Sweeney was employed.
The flyers boldly stated, “The food you will eat tonight was made by the hands that killed Dominique Dunne.”
Due to the ongoing protests, Sweeney eventually left his job, changed his name to John Maura, and relocated.
On January 20, 2015, Richard White, a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), commented on Quora.com, claiming that Dominique Dunne’s father had stalked Sweeney since his release in 1986.
According to White, Dunne made consistent efforts to get Sweeney fired from any job he secured, even picketing businesses that hired him.
Private detectives were allegedly hired to monitor Sweeney’s activities around the clock.
White added that the stalking and harassment ceased shortly before Dominick Dunne’s death in 2009.
Although White’s status as a SAG member does not inherently establish credibility or insight, his remark struck a chord.
By referring to Dominick’s actions as “stalking,” he portrayed Sweeney as the victim.
However, considering that Sweeney had completed his sentence and been released, one might question whether Dominick’s actions amounted to harassment.
While it can be argued that Sweeney should face all consequences, not just those imposed by the justice system, perspectives may differ on this matter.
With Dominick’s passing, one wonders if anyone is still monitoring John Sweeney/John Maura’s whereabouts today.
Does he continue to
