Jean Harlow’s dead husband was the talk of the town, causing Dorothy Millette to check out of the Plaza Hotel in San Francisco.
After hearing the news on the radio, she settled her bill and boarded the Delta King riverboat with a $3 stateroom.
Witnesses confirmed that Millette was seen onboard, appearing distraught and disinterested in food.
In the early hours of the morning, a man spotted her crying and staring into the dark water.
Shortly after, a night watchman discovered Millette’s coat and shoes abandoned on the deck.
When the riverboat docked, she was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, the police in Beverly Hills were also searching for Millette as they investigated the death of Jean Harlow’s husband, Paul Bern.
It was revealed that Bern had another wife, and it turned out to be Millette.
Paul Bern, an MGM studio executive, was known for his serious demeanor, but he saw potential in Jean Harlow and helped launch her career.
Despite their age difference, they married in July 1932.
Just two months later, Bern took his own life, shocking Harlow and those around them.
Instead of immediately contacting the police, the studio sent their top fixers to the scene.
It was during this time that police discovered Bern’s secret marriage to Millette through his insurance advisor, George G. Clarken.
Bern’s sister provided more details about his relationship with Millette.
They met in Toronto while working together in a theater company and eventually got married.
However, Millette’s deteriorating health led to her residing in a sanitarium, while Bern pursued his career in California.
Despite the physical distance, Bern continued to support Millette financially.
Letters found in Millette’s possession at the Plaza Hotel confirmed their ongoing communication.
The case took another turn when Millette’s lifeless body was discovered in the Sacramento River.
Speculations arose, suggesting that Millette had faked her death and murdered Bern out of jealousy.
However, the truth appears to be less sensational.
Witnesses at the coroner’s inquest stated that Bern had long expressed suicidal thoughts, possibly due to depression and the pressures of being married to a Hollywood star.
Millette’s decision to end her own life may have been driven by her husband’s decision to change his will, leaving Harlow as the sole beneficiary.
Despite occasional rumors, there has been no evidence to support the theory that Millette murdered Bern.
The timeline alone makes it highly unlikely, as Millette would have had to travel from San Francisco to Beverly Hills and back within a few hours.
Following Bern’s death, Harlow remarried but faced declining health.
She passed away from kidney failure at the age of 26.
Millette rests at East Lawn Memorial Park in Walnut Grove, while Harlow was laid to rest in a private vault in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The tragic events surrounding their lives continue to captivate audiences, reminding us of the complexities and mysteries of human relationships.
