Dorothy Stratten Crime Scene: The Tragic End of a Playboy Star

Publish date: 2020-12-24

Dorothy Stratten was a rising star in the Playboy empire. She was the Playmate of the Year in 1980, and had a promising career as an actress and model. She was also involved in a love affair with a famous director, Peter Bogdanovich, who saw her as the next Marilyn Monroe. But her life was cut short by her estranged husband, Paul Snider, who brutally murdered her in a jealous rage. Here is what happened at the Dorothy Stratten crime scene, and how it exposed the dark side of Playboy.

The Discovery of the Bodies

On August 14, 1980, Dorothy Stratten and Paul Snider were found dead in their West Los Angeles home. The crime scene was horrifying, with Stratten shot twice in the face at close range with a 12-gauge shotgun. Snider was also found dead in the same room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The bodies were discovered by friends who had become worried about Stratten’s whereabouts. They had not heard from her since she left for a meeting with Snider the previous day. They broke into the house and found the gruesome scene. Stratten’s nude body was sprawled across a bed near that of Snider. A grisly and disturbing crime scene photo of the scene has been widely shared on the internet.

The Motive for the Murder

Paul Snider was a small-time hustler and promoter who had discovered Stratten in a local Dairy Queen in Vancouver, Canada. He persuaded her to pose for Playboy, and married her in 1979. He was obsessed with her fame and beauty, and wanted to control every aspect of her life.

However, Stratten soon outgrew Snider and fell in love with Bogdanovich, who was directing her in a movie. She decided to leave Snider and filed for divorce. Snider was enraged and humiliated by her rejection. He felt that he had been snubbed by Hugh Hefner, who did not allow him to enter the Playboy Mansion without Stratten at his side. He also feared that he would lose his financial support from Stratten, who was his meal ticket.

Snider plotted to kill Stratten as a way of getting revenge and asserting his power over her. He bought a shotgun and lured her to his house under the pretext of discussing their divorce settlement. He then raped her, shot her, and killed himself.

The Aftermath of the Crime

The murder of Dorothy Stratten shocked the world and cast a shadow over the Playboy empire. It exposed the culture of toxic objectification and sexual abuse that permeated Playboy at every level. Some insiders claimed that Hefner did not care about Stratten’s safety or well-being, and only saw her as a commodity to sell magazines. Others said that Hefner was deeply affected by her death, and became more reclusive and paranoid afterwards.

Stratten’s lover, Bogdanovich, was devastated by her loss. He wrote a book about their relationship, called The Killing of the Unicorn, and later married Stratten’s younger sister, Louise. He also sued Hefner for wrongful death, alleging that he had exploited Stratten and contributed to her murder. The lawsuit was settled out of court.

Stratten’s legacy lives on as a symbol of beauty and tragedy. She has been the subject of several films, documentaries, books, and songs. She is remembered as one of the most iconic Playmates of all time, and one of the most tragic victims of Hollywood.

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