Dorothy Millette left the Plaza Hotel in San Francisco upon hearing the news of Jean Harlow’s husband’s death.
After residing at the hotel for four months, she settled her bill and secured a $3 stateroom on the Delta King riverboat on Sept. 6, 1932.
Riverboat officials confirmed Millette’s boarding later that day.
A waiter recalled seeing Millette at dinner, describing her as a lovely yet weary woman who scarcely ate.
In the early morning hours, a man from Walnut Creek encountered Millette on the top deck of the riverboat, crying and staring into the dark waters without acknowledging his presence.
Shortly after, a night watchman discovered a woman’s coat and shoes on the deck.
When the riverboat docked, Millette was nowhere to be found, prompting a search by Delta King staff.
Meanwhile, in Beverly Hills, police investigating the home of Jean Harlow were puzzled about Dorothy Millette’s whereabouts.
It was revealed that Harlow’s husband, MGM executive Paul Bern, had been found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.
Surprisingly, it surfaced that Dorothy Millette was not only his first wife but still legally married to him.
Paul Bern, a 40-year-old MGM film executive, had a plain and serious demeanor.
Despite this, he played a significant role in Harlow’s career by advocating for her talent beyond her physical appearance.
Their marriage, which occurred in July 1932, was short-lived as Bern tragically took his own life just two months later.
Following Bern’s death, inquiries unveiled his concealed marital history with Millette.
Reports indicated that Bern had financially supported Millette during their separation, even after moving to California to pursue his career at MGM.
Letters exchanged between Bern and Millette, discovered at the Plaza Hotel, shed light on their ongoing communication prior to his union with Harlow.
Millette’s disappearance from the Delta King led to speculations and rumors in the press, dubbing her the “ghost wife.”
Some theories suggested foul play in connection to Bern’s death, insinuating that she may have sought revenge.
However, the truth behind the tragic events remains largely unknown.
At the coroner’s inquest, friends of Bern shared insights into his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts.
While MGM attempted to safeguard Harlow’s reputation, details emerged regarding Bern’s psychological turmoil.
His doctor hinted at underlying issues contributing to his tragic end, unrelated to his past relationships.
Contrary to sensationalized narratives, Millette did not fabricate her own demise.
She leaped from the Delta King, leading to the discovery of her body in the Sacramento River a week later.
Facing financial destitution following Bern’s death, she succumbed to despair rather than orchestrating a crime of passion.
Despite lingering suspicions of Millette’s involvement in Bern’s death, no concrete evidence has ever surfaced.
The logistical impossibility of her being in two cities simultaneously discredits such claims.
Harlow, on the other hand, remarried within a year of Bern’s passing, marking her third marriage that eventually ended in divorce.
Tragically, Harlow’s health began to deteriorate at a young age, culminating in her untimely death from kidney failure.
She was laid to rest in a private vault at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, distant from her deceased spouse Paul Bern.
Meanwhile, Millette rests at East Lawn Memorial Park in Walnut Grove, immortalized on her gravestone as Dorothy Millette Bern.