On 4 April 1958, Johnny Stompanato was killed at the Beverly Hills home of film star Lana Turner. Turner’s 14-year-old daughter, Cheryl Crane, stabbed him during a violent fight. A coroner’s jury ruled it was justifiable homicide. Crane was not charged.
Key Facts
- Date: 4 April 1958, about 8:30pm.
- Place: 730 North Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills, California.
- Who died: Johnny Stompanato, 32, Lana Turner’s boyfriend.
- Who: Cheryl Crane, 14.
- Inquest: 11 April 1958. The jury ruled justifiable homicide.
Who Was Johnny Stompanato?
Stompanato was a former Marine. He was linked to Los Angeles gangster Mickey Cohen. He dated Turner for about a year. Their relationship was violent and abusive, accounts say.
The Sean Connery Story
In 1957, Turner was filming Another Time, Another Place in London with a young Sean Connery. Stompanato came onto the set. Reports say he pointed a gun at Connery. Connery took the gun away and hit him. Turner later had Stompanato sent out of the UK.
The Night of 4 April
Stompanato and Turner had a heated argument in her bedroom. He threatened her. Cheryl heard the fight. She grabbed a kitchen knife from downstairs to protect her mother. When the door opened, she stabbed him once. He died at the scene.
The Inquest
More than 100 reporters went to the inquest. After about 25 minutes, the jury ruled the killing was justifiable homicide. Cheryl was placed in the care of her grandmother.
Later Years
Some people later claimed Turner did the stabbing. Cheryl Crane has always denied this. “I killed John Stompanato,” she said in 2012. “And I didn’t do it to cover it up for my mother.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who killed Johnny Stompanato?
Cheryl Crane, Lana Turner’s 14-year-old daughter. The jury ruled it justifiable homicide.
Did Sean Connery fight Stompanato?
Reports say Connery took a gun off him and hit him on a London film set in 1957.
Was Cheryl Crane charged?
No. She was not prosecuted.
Conclusion
This case is still one of Hollywood’s most famous true stories. It shows how violence at home can end in tragedy.
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