American Scandal - Listen Now - Hollywood & Crime: The Cotton Club Murder

Episode Date: December 16, 2024

On June 10th, 1983, the decomposing body of a well-dressed man was found in a desolate canyon near Los Angeles. John Doe #94 would soon be identified as missing variety show producer Roy Radin. He'd last been seen after meeting with a mysterious woman in a gold dress. Her name was Lanie Jacobs.Jacobs and Radin were obsessed with becoming Hollywood movie producers. And when their paths collided, it led them to a tantalizing film deal promising fame and fortune. But then, a twisted script unfolded, plunging them into a million-dollar cocaine and cash heist, a tangled web of lies, and ultimately – murder.The trail led investigators right to Hollywood's doorstep, linking former golden boy producer Robert Evans to the case and dredging up Radin's own troubled past.But the case turned ice cold. It would take more than five years of dogged pursuit by the L.A. Sheriff’s Department detectives, a secret undercover witness, and another murder almost 3,000 miles from Hollywood – to unlock the truth.This is the story of a doomed Hollywood partnership, a grisly murder and the search that stretched across the country for a killer – or killers.From Wondery, and the team behind the hit series Hollywood & Crime: The Dating Game Killer, The Wonderland Murders, Death of Starlet, and the Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley comes a six part series that dives into the dark side of Hollywood through a shocking murder – fueled by ruthless ambition and desperate dreams. Co-hosted by Tracy Pattin and Josh Lucas.Listen to Hollywood & Crime: The Cotton Club Murder: Wondery.fm/Hollywood_and_Crime_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

They say that Hollywood is where dreams are made, a seductive city where many flock to get rich, be adored, and capture America's heart. But when the spotlight turns off, fame, fortune, and even lives can disappear in an instant. When TV producer Roy Radin was found dead in a canyon near L.A. in 1983, there were a lot of questions. The last person seen with him was Laney Jacobs, a seductive cocaine dealer who desperately wanted to be part of the Hollywood elite. Together, they were trying to break into the movie industry. But things took a dark turn when a million dollars worth of cocaine and cash went missing. From Wondery comes a new season of the hit show Hollywood in Crime, The Cotton Club Murder. Hosts Tracy Patton and Josh Lucas guide you through the gritty underbelly of Hollywood's golden age,

unpacking a gripping story of ambition and betrayal that led to a brutal murder. You're about to hear a clip from Hollywood in Crime, The Cotton Club Murder. Follow Hollywood in Crime on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Lainey Jacobs had a pounding headache. A trip to Vegas with friends on a private jet had been the perfect getaway. But the endless supply of Coke and top-shelf liquor caught up with her. Now all she craved was her own bed and sleep. It was early Monday, April 4th, 1983. Her limo crept through the quiet neighborhood

of Sherman Oaks, California, then stopped in front of her house. Once she was inside, Lainey kicked off her shoes. She headed to the nursery to check on her baby, five-month-old Dax. Still fast asleep. Even her nanny Miriam hadn't stirred yet. One more task to do before she could crash. One of her distributors was going to drop by later for a pickup.

She needed to set aside a stack of kilos from the garage safe. It was quiet as she flipped on the light. Her Mercedes and Porsche sat gleaming in their parking spots. She headed for the storage closet where she kept a hidden safe. Then she froze. The door to the closet hung open. It was always closed. Lainey raced over and slid open the panel to the safe, then spun the combination.

There should have been 11 kilos of coke inside. Instead, it was empty. Lainey sprinted upstairs in a panic. She had another safe in her bedroom hidden inside a wall. But when she flung open her door, her stomach dropped. The door to that safe was wide open too, and $270,000 in cash, also gone. Laney paced across the room and rubbed her temples. This was a nightmare.

She purchased the Coke from Columbians on the come, which meant they sold it to her without any cash up front. Her job was to sell it and pay them back with a profit. They wouldn't care whether the merchandise was stolen. They just wanted their money. The street value of 11 kilos was almost $900,000, and that wasn't counting the 270 grand. Over a million dollars in drugs and cash. Stolen. Lainey thought hard. She'd have to call Milan Bellachossus in Miami. He'd be livid. Plus, the Columbians needed to be told something.

She felt a wave of dread. If Laney didn't find the culprit and the cocaine, she could end up paying with her life. But Laney already knew who robbed her, and she vowed to rain down holy hell on him and anyone else involved with this fiasco.