Murder: True Crime Stories - UNSOLVED: The Rock 'n Roll Murder 2

Episode Date: July 31, 2025

Bobby Fuller was found beaten, doused in gasoline, and left to die in his car, but police ruled the rock star’s death a suicide. In Part 2, we explore the conflicting autopsy reports, the rumors of mob ties, and the chilling possibility that someone close to Bobby wanted him silenced. Murder: True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Murder: True Crime Stories! Instagram: @murdertruecrimepod | @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi, it's Kaylyn Moore. Crime House is home to the most gripping true crime shows, and I would love for you to check out my show that I co-host with Morgan Apscher, Clues. Want to sneak past the crime scene tape to explore the key evidence behind some of the most gripping true crime cases? Well, each week on Clues, we open up a new case file and dig into the key evidence that either solved or left authorities baffled behind the most infamous criminal cases. Join us every Wednesday and listen to Clues. on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's easy to look at celebrities and think their lives must be perfect.

After all, they have fame, fortune, and the kinds of opportunities most of us can only dream of. But behind all the glitz and glamour, these public figures are regular people with real problems. And no matter how untouchable they might seem, the truth is they're only human. Their lives are fragile, and no matter how successful they get, safety isn't a guarantee. When Bobby Fuller was found dead outside his home in 1966, his fans were left reeling. From the outside, looking in, it seemed like Bobby had everything. At 23 years old, he was already a household name, and his rock and roll career was just getting started. But now, instead of waiting for his next album, the world was waiting to learn what really happened to the young star.

Decades later, his death is still unsolved. But Bobby's family is certain that someone out there knows what happened, and they won't stop fighting until they find out. People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder, True Crime Stories, a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios.

And now we are releasing twice a week every Tuesday and Thursday. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, review, and following murder true crime stories wherever you get your podcasts and to enhance your murder true crime stories listening experience subscribe to crime house plus on apple podcasts you'll get ad free listening early access to every two-part series and exciting bonus content this is the second of two episodes on the murder of bobby fuller the frontman of the bobby fuller four In 1966, his promising music career was cut short when Bobby was found dead at just 23 years old.

Last time, I told you about Bobby's early life in El Paso, Texas, and his search for stardom in Los Angeles. Thanks to Bobby's grit and determination, the band eventually found the success he'd always hoped for. But navigating that newfound fame wasn't easy. Today, I'll detail Bobby's final moments and the strange circumstances surrounding his death. The investigation that followed left Bobby's family and friends with more questions than answers and opened the door to countless conspiracy theories. Nearly six decades later, his fans and loved ones are still searching for the truth. All that and more coming up.

After getting their start in El Paso, Texas, Bobby Fuller and his band the Bobby Fuller 4 were riding high. In 1964, they'd landed a Hollywood record deal with Bob Keane's Delphi Records and quickly shot to fame, touring the country and selling out shows. By 1966, even the Beatles were fans of the bands, Country Western Sound, but like all big groups, they had their fair share of problems, and recently their issues had come to a head. The band was at a crossroads. Their guitarist, Jim Reese, had been drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, and their drummer, Dalton Powell, wanted to go back to his wife and newborn baby in El Paso. that left just 23-year-old Bobby and his 22-year-old brother Randy the band's bass player the question was should they replace Jim and Dalton or was it time for Bobby to go solo it was a lot to think over and they didn't want to rush into anything so the band set a meeting

with Keene for the morning of july 18th 1966 in the meantime they took a break from work After a week or so, their vacation was coming to an end, but before going back to real life, they wanted to have one last hurrah. On the night of July 17th, everyone gathered at Bobby and Randy's Hollywood apartment. The whole band was there, and so was Bobby and Randy's mom, Lorraine, who was visiting from Texas and staying with the boys. Their manager, Rick Stone, dropped by as well, along with a few girls. the band was friendly with.

Ahead of their big meeting the next day, the vibes were good. The whole crew was watching TV, drinking beer, joking around, and generally enjoying themselves. Bobby especially seemed to cut loose. Rick Stone said he saw Bobby toss back five or six beers, which was a little out of character for him. Maybe he was just enjoying the last night of his vacation, or maybe he was nervous. about the meeting. Either way, a little after midnight, the party started to wind down. Rick fell asleep in the living room in front of the TV. About an hour later, Lorraine headed to bed. On her way,

she stopped to briefly chat with Bobby. She said he seemed to be in good spirits. It's not clear what time the girls left the apartment or where Dalton and Jim slept, but one thing is certain. Bobby had his own plans that evening. At some point between 1 and 2.30 a.m., Bobby left the apartment. He was a night owl, so no one thought too much of it. When Lorraine heard him leave, she assumed he was going to grab a bite to eat. According to Rick, that wasn't the case. Later, he said Bobby went to pick up some LSD.

Again, this would have been pretty unusual. According to Dalton, Bobby didn't really do drugs. He only got high on his music. Whatever his exact reasons were for leaving the apartment, Bobby was next scene at about 3 a.m. That's when he had a few more beers with the building manager, Lloyd Essinger, in his downstairs apartment. Like Lorraine, Lloyd would later report that Bobby was in good spirits.

By all accounts, he seemed fine. And like, nothing was wrong. But the next morning, that would be called into question. On July 18th, Lorraine woke up in a panic. Bobby hadn't come home the night before, and she had no idea where he was. Five years earlier, Lorraine's firstborn son, Jack, had gone missing. A few days later, he was found brutally murdered. Lorraine had never gotten over the loss, and knowing Bobby was MIA,

I must have felt like the worst kind of deja vu. Especially because his meeting with Bob Keene was in just a couple of hours. Bobby knew how important it was. The entire future of the band depended on what Keene had to say. Bobby would never skip it, not intentionally at least. And yet he was nowhere to be found when Rick and the rest of the band headed over to Delphi to see Keene. They sat down at 9.30 and waited for Bobby to show. After an hour, he still wasn't there, so they decided to reconvene later that afternoon.

But nobody could get a hold of Bobby or figure out where he was, so everyone went there separate ways. A few hours later, Bobby finally appeared, just not in a way anyone expected. At around 5 p.m., the doorbell rang at the apartment, where Lorraine had been anxiously waiting all day. It was two of Bobby's friends from the El Paso music scene, Ty Grimes and Mike Chichorelli. They were in town and decided to come see Bobby. When they pulled up, they didn't see his blue Oldsmobile parked out front. Still, they went upstairs and rang the doorbell anyway, just in case no one answered. That's because while Ty and Mike were on their way upstairs, Lorraine was on her way downstairs to check the mail.

We don't know where Randy was, but all day long Lorraine had been on high alert hoping Bobby would show up. Then, while she was getting the mail, she saw Bobby's car parked in the lot. Even though, according to Ty and Mike, it hadn't been there just a few minutes ago. So either they'd missed it somehow, or someone had just parked it. All Lorraine knew was that her son was finally home. She rushed over to the car to see him, and that's when she realized something was very wrong. As soon as she flung open the driver's side door, the smell of gasoline hit her. After fighting off the fumes, Lorraine looked down to see Bobby slum.

lumped over the steering wheel. In one hand, he held his keys. In the other was a plastic hose connected to a can of gas in the passenger seat. At first, Lorraine thought he was asleep. She called his name and tried to shake him awake, but after a few moments, she couldn't deny it any longer. Bobby wasn't going to respond because he was already dead.

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From the director of Meet the Parents and the writer of Poor Things Comes The Roses, starring Academy Award winner, Olivia Coleman, Academy Award nominee, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Sandberg, Kate McKinnon, and Allison Janney. A hilarious new comedy, filled with drama, excitement,

and a little bit of hatred, proving that marriage isn't always a bed of roses. See The Roses, only in theaters, August 29th. Get tickets now. At around 5 p.m. on July 18, 1966, 23-year-old Bobby Fuller was found dead in his car outside of his apartment complex. His mother Lorraine was the one who discovered him

slumped over the steering wheel. She ran to call the police, and they arrived just a few. minutes later. Bobby's friends, Ty Grimes and Mike Chichorelli, who were up at the apartment, came down to see what was going on. It wasn't long before Rick Stone got there too. He was on his way over after Bobby never showed up to the band's meeting at Delphi Records. Despite all the police around, they all got a good look at Bobby. And what they saw was shocking. Not only did he appear to be dead. But according to Rick, it looked like someone had beaten Bobby up.

Ty and Mike agreed, adding that they saw dried blood on him. Beyond that, the slippers he was wearing looked dirty and worn, like someone had dragged Bobby around while his feet skimmed the ground. Even more concerning, he was holding his car keys in one hand and a plastic hose in the other. It was connected to a can of gas in the passenger seat. And it looked like Bobby had been completely doused in fuel. Even his hair was oily. After taking one look at the crime scene, the responding officers believed it was a suicide. Based on the gas canister, they believed Bobby had either died from drinking the liquid or inhaling the fumes. The case seemed to be open and shut. Which meant the authorities didn't feel the need to secure the crime scene.

They didn't impound the car, dust for fingerprints, or interview the many witnesses surrounding the vehicle who could have told them the car had only appeared a few minutes before Lorraine found it. Most shocking of all, they didn't even call a coroner to estimate how long Bobby had been dead. Bobby's friends and family were livid. Despite the police's working theory, they weren't so sure Bobby had taken his own life. But the police weren't interested in digging any deeper because they had their hands full with something else entirely. Two days earlier on Saturday, July 16th, LAPD police chief William H. Parker had unexpectedly passed away.

In the wake of his death, the department was reeling. and distracted. Parker's funeral was coming up on July 20th, and it seemed like the responding officers were more focused on that than on the crime scene at hand. Bobby's service ended up being that same day. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, and while his body was laid to rest,

the question surrounding his death weren't. Without a real investigation, or an official cause of death, the media was free to jump to their own conclusions. Around the time of Bobby's funeral, local papers like the Los Angeles Herald and the LA Times published obituaries. They leaned on the details that were available, including how Bobby had been found with the hose in his hand connected to the gas can. They didn't say outright that Bobby had killed himself, but they certainly implied it. They also included a statement from Lorraine that was taken out of context. They quoted her saying that Bobby had been despondent in his

final days. When speaking to police, Lorraine explained that Bobby had been worried about the future of the band. Still, that didn't mean he'd been depressed, especially since it seemed like he was in a good mood the night before the meeting. And Bobby's friends and family weren't the only ones who disagreed with the police and the papers. After learning about Bobby's death, his fans were equally as shocked. They couldn't understand why someone who was so young, with so much talent and such a promising career ahead of him, would take his own life. Of course, we never really know what demon someone is facing. Even so, many fans didn't believe he died by suicide, and some even suspected foul play.

It was a line of thinking that Bobby's loved ones were already considering, and they only became more convinced when the preliminary autopsy report was released on July 25th a week after he died. The one thing that was clear was Bobby's cause of death. According to the L.A. County Coroner, he died of asphyxiation from inhaling the gas fumes, not from drinking it. but that didn't mean he did it on purpose. Beyond that, there were several other inconsistencies

that called the LAPD's assumptions into question. While the department insisted Bobby had intentionally killed himself, the coroner wasn't so sure. Later in the report, there were question marks next to the words accident and suicide. It seemed like even the coroner was uncertain about what actually had. happened. Even more confusing, the document included a blood test that showed Bobby didn't have any traces of alcohol in his body. Considering Bobby had been drinking until 3 a.m., that didn't

seem possible. It made Bobby's family wonder. If the corner had missed that, what else had they'd gotten wrong. Or were they covering something up? Based on the other omissions, it definitely seemed possible. The report stated Bobby had no bruises, cuts, or broken bones, but multiple witnesses remembered seeing dried blood on Bobby's clothes and scrapes on his face and elbows. Looking at Bobby that day, it was obvious that someone had beaten him up. So why weren't those details included in the autopsy. It was suspicious. And just one of the details that wasn't adding up. Since several days had passed between the discovery of Bobby's body and the autopsy, the corner couldn't determine an exact time of death. However, they found that Bobby had been

unconscious for a while before he died, which is important. Remember, when Ty Grimes and Mike Chichorelli pulled into the parking lot, they didn't see Bobby's car. They went upstairs to check if he was home anyway. At that very same moment, Lorraine was checking the mail in the lobby, and when she looked out the window, she did see Bobby's car. It was about a three-minute walk from the parking lot to Bobby's unit. That meant Lorraine must have just missed Ty and Mike. It also meant there was an extremely tight window of time, during which Bobby's friends entered the building and the car appeared in the lot. But the coroner estimated that Bobby had been unconscious for a long time before succumbing to the fumes. It didn't seem possible that he'd

driven to the lot and inhaled enough gas to asphyxiate, then lay there unconscious until Lorraine found him, all in three minutes' time. The only way the timeline added up was if Bobby was already dead. when he got there. And if that was the case, there's no way he was the one driving the car. Which means that someone else had driven the Oldsmobile there, then posed Bobby in the driver's seat. But who and why? In the wake of Bobby's death, his friends realized there were some people who'd wanted to hurt Bobby. According to Bobby's manager, Rick Stone, a few days before Bobby died, he was threatened by two strangers. Rick said they were driving together when two men pulled up beside them and gestured for Bobby to come out and talk to them.

He did, and when he came back, Rick said he looked, quote, ashen and shaken up. When Rick asked what they wanted, Bobby wouldn't say. Separately, band members Dalton Powell and Jim Reese said two men with guns tried to break into their apartment at some point. It's not clear if these were the same people who approached Bobby. But afterward, Dalton and Jim called Randy for backup. The three of them tried to track the men down, but they couldn't find them. Then, the day after Bobby's death, Rick claimed he was almost run off the road by a car that was

following him. We don't know if Bobby's friends went to the police with any of this information. Based on how the investigation was proceeding, it wouldn't be surprising if they didn't bother. But that didn't mean they were giving up on Bobby. And it turned out there was one person who may have wanted Bobby dead. Someone Bobby had trusted implicitly who may have committed the ultimate act of betrayal. You've probably heard the stories, ghost in the water, hands-grabbing swimmers, and boats malfunctioning out of nowhere.

But did you know Lake Lanier and Georgia was built over an entire community, including cemeteries that were never moved? This week on Moms and Mysteries, we're diving into the murky history of Lake. Lake Lanier, from racial violence that erased a thriving town to decades of freak accidents, drownings, and the legend of the Lady of the Lake. It's haunting, it's heartbreaking, and it's one of the most chilling stories we've ever told. So listen now to the Mystery of Lake Lanier on the Moms and Mysteries podcast, available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The sudden death of 23-year-old Bobby Fuller on July 18, 1966, left his family, friends and fans, heartbroken, and baffled. Initially, the LAPD believed Bobby had died by suicide. However, a week later, the preliminary autopsy report cast doubt on that theory. Months later, in October, 1966, the full work. report came in. But instead of providing closure for Bobby's loved ones, it only raised more questions. According to the coroner, Bobby's death was officially an accident. As far as the LAPD was concerned, and that was enough to move on to their next case. But that didn't explain how Bobby showed up at his building, possibly already dead, with cuts and bruises on his body. And even though the

authorities refused to consider the possibility of foul play, the public hasn't. In the nearly six decades since Bobby's death, countless conspiracy theories have sprung up to explain what really happened that night. And one of the most popular centers around the very same person who made Bobby into a rock icon. Bob Keane, the record executive who took a chance on Bobby when no one else would. The man who turned the Bobby Fuller 4 into a worldwide sensation and the man who Bobby

wasn't afraid to stand up to. Financially, Keen would have had a lot to gain if Bobby or anyone else in the band turned up dead. According to Randy, at some point before Bobby died, Keen took out a couple of life insurance

policies on the band. One was for the group as a whole worth $100,000. The other one was for Bobby individually, and it was worth a whopping $800,000. If Bobby or another member died, all of that money would have gone to Keen through his company. Given the timing, it's possible. Keen knew that one or all the members were in danger, and some people think that's because Keen had put them in the line of fire.

Still, there is one major detail that casts doubt on this theory. The only way Keene could have cashed out was if there was a wrongful death, meaning Bobby or the others were either killed or died through negligence or misconduct. Because Bobby's death was ruled accidental, Keene never saw a penny of the insurance money. Instead, it reportedly went to the label's financier, Larry Nunes. Even then, there are some very strange coincidence. that are impossible to ignore. Before Bobby, two of Keane's protégés died young and under mysterious circumstances.

First, there was Richie Valens, who went on to music stardom after Keane turned him into a solo act. On February 3rd, 1959, Valens died in a plane crash. He was only 17 years old. In a twist of fate, Bobby's idol, Buddy Hawley passed. Buddy Hawley passed away in the same crash on what became known as the day the music died. The official cause of the crash was said to be pilot, error, and bad weather. And there was another notable musician with ties to Keene who lost his life. Back in 1957, Keene had signed Sam Cook to a three-year contract.

Several years later, in December 1964, Cook was gunned down by the manager of a CD-Lod. Los Angeles Motel. That happened less than two years before Bobby died. And like him, Cook's death was shrouded in mystery. Although the LAPD called it a justifiable homicide, there were discrepancies in the crime scene and autopsy report that pointed to a potential setup. Of course, it's entirely possible that Keane's connection was pure coincidence. But it's also possible there was something more sinister at play. One theory put forward by music critic Dan Epstein was that the mob was involved.

Decades after Bobby's death, Epstein suggested that a mobster who was in business with Delphi Records put a hit out on Bobby Fuller. Several names have been floated, but the most likely candidate would have been Morris Levy, the owner of roulette records. He was described as the godfather of the American music business. And just before Bobby's death,

Keen's record label signed an exclusive distribution deal with Levy's company. That meant all of Keene's artists would release their music through roulette records, and that Levy was heavily invested in Delphi's success, especially in the success of the Bobby Fuller 4, who was Delphi's most popular group at the time. So it's possible that Keene and Levy were at odds about the best way to keep them relevant. Although Keen thought Bobby should go solo, he stood to make money either way, with a group intact or with Bobby on his own.

But maybe Levy thought that keeping the band together was the best way to keep the cash flowing. Epstein thinks that perhaps Levy sent some guys to motivate Bobby to motivate Bobby to. to stay with the group. That could have been what happened during the incident that Rick described when two men appeared to threaten Bobby. If Bobby had resisted, maybe Levy would have had him killed in retaliation. Randy seems to believe a version of this theory

that Bobby died because of a business deal gone wrong. Whether that meant Bobby wanted out of his record deal or something else, we're not sure. But there are some people out there with even more extreme theories about what went down. One of the more unbelievable possibilities involves the infamous Manson family. Now, this theory is pretty convoluted,

but according to Randy, Jim Rees' wife said that Charles Manson had come by their apartment once. Apparently, he wanted Bobby to give him guitar lessons. Now, Manson did spend some time in Los Angeles trying to start a music career, but that came several years after Bobby's death. In fact, Manson was in prison for a different crime when Bobby was killed,

so there's no way he could have been involved in Bobby's death. And this was also before he formed his murderous Manson family cult, who would later commit brutal murders on his behalf. Beyond all the outlandish theories and speculation, there is a less dramatic but equally tragic possibility. that the coroner was correct, and Bobby's death was an accident. Whether Keene or Levy were involved, maybe someone was sent to give Bobby a message,

and things spiraled out of control, leaving Bobby dead. Or perhaps Rick Stone was right, and Bobby did go out and get LSD that evening. If he was high on acid, maybe he somehow injured himself causing his death. If that's the case, he probably wasn't partying alone. It's possible that someone drove Bobby back to the apartment, then staged the scene with a gas can to make it look like a suicide to avoid more questions.

And if that's true, they got their wish. While the LAPD never finished their official investigation, the Fuller family later hired two private detectives to look into Bobby's death. death. Ultimately, neither one was able to cut through the mystery surrounding the case. In fact, they only added to it. According to Rick Stone, one investigator abruptly quits without saying why, and the other one claimed to have been threatened, then quickly left town. Maybe one or both of the private eyes got too close to the truth and were silenced by the same person who ended Bobby's life.

While we may never know the truth, Bobby's family does wonder what might have happened if he'd lived. Randy believes that Bobby might have returned to El Paso, opened up a new teen club, and continued his experiments in the studio. He probably would have stepped away from the spotlight, at least temporarily.

That way, he would have been free from the pressures of being a commercial success, and his music could have soared to even greater heights. There's a good chance that if Bobby were able to keep growing and learning, his name would be up there alongside performers like Elvis and Buddy Hawley. Instead, his life and career were cut short, like a haunting melody that trails off without a resolution. Thanks so much for joining us.

I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Come back next time for the story of another murder and all the people it affected. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. like what you heard today, reach out on social media at Crime House on TikTok and Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow. Murder, True Crime Stories, wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference.

And to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crimehouse Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad-free, and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two-part series, get access to both at once plus exciting bonus content. We'll be back on Tuesday. Murder True Crime Stories is hosted by me, Carter Roy, and is a crime house original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories team, Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benadon, Natalie Pertsovsky, Sarah Camp, Nani Okulogu, Beth Johnson, and

Russell Nash. for listening.