Robert Bardo Maniac Date of Birth: 02.01.1970 Country: USA

1. Robert Bardo: The Obsessed Fan
2. Rebecca Schaeffer: The Path to Fame
3. Robert Bardo's Obsession
4. The Tragic End
5. Robert arrived in Los Angeles on the morning of July 18.

Robert Bardo: The Obsessed Fan

Robert Bardo is one of the many individuals in a whole generation marked by the devil's stamp that America nurtured in the second half of the twentieth century: lonely and lost people who choose wealthy and famous strangers as objects of adoration... and often love their heroes to death.

Rebecca Schaeffer: The Path to Fame

Rebecca Schaeffer's path to fame led her to a tragic end at the beginning of her star career. When she was 14 years old, a children's hairdresser insisted to her mother that Rebecca should become a blonde if she intends to pursue a career as a model or a fashion model. And that's exactly what Rebecca dreamed of: at the age of 16, she decided that she would achieve her goals using the natural gifts bestowed upon her by nature: long chestnut locks, charming brown eyes, and an angelic smile. Consumed by this idea, Rebecca dropped out of school to pursue her cherished dream. However, she was rejected everywhere because she needed to have a height of at least 175 cm, and Rebecca, with her 170 cm, fell short. However, she found solace in attending classes at a theater studio. Unexpectedly, even to herself, this became her new passion. Furthermore, after some time, she managed to get a small role in Woody Allen's film "Radio Days," and later she appeared on television a few times. However, these roles and appearances did not bring financial stability, and she couldn't even afford to pay her rent regularly. The young actress had her phone disconnected and lost her credit card. In order to escape the financial struggle, she had to work as a waitress in a restaurant.

Robert Bardo's Obsession

Robert Bardo lived with his parents in Arizona. He was introverted and unsociable, and television became his best friend. His idols were the "stars" of the small screen. One evening, when he saw Rebecca in a new television series, Bardo decided to write to her. He poured his love into the letter - sublime, romantic, full of youthful sincerity. One letter, then another... Week after week, he filled pages with his uneven and hurried handwriting, trying to express the depth of his adoration: how he waited by the phone every day, eagerly anticipating her call, how he reveled in the joy of seeing her for thirty minutes every evening and suffered from despair after the end of the TV show. His letters contained no hints of cruelty or indecency. Only the romantic impulse of a young man. "I am a sensitive boy, a vulnerable creature, you can hurt me," he wrote to her.

Robert Bardo sent Rebecca Schaeffer letters for two consecutive years (to the address of the TV studio), and, of course, such devotion deserved recognition. The actress sent her fan a photograph with an autograph inscription: "To my dear Robert." Upon receiving a photo of his idol, Bardo did not calm down, but, on the contrary, became completely obsessed. He acquired all the possible video clips featuring Rebecca, watching them whenever he had a free moment, but his main desire now was to see his idol in real life.

The Tragic End

Of course, the letter with the photo, given by Rebecca to Robert, did not have a return address, but the fan, driven to ecstasy by the photograph, managed to find the address himself. Like many obsessed individuals, his mind worked sharply and coldly. On June 1, 1989, a young brunette with a folder in his hands entered the office of "Anthony Agency," a private detective agency in Tucson, Arizona. The folder contained several letters and photos with a dedicatory inscription. "I am searching for my long-lost friend, with whom we parted ways several years ago," he addressed the agent. "I need her address to send her a gift." After a few obligatory questions, the agent was completely convinced of the client's integrity: 18-year-old Robert Bardo was beyond suspicion, had a driver's license, a permanent place of residence, and a job. And the two hundred and fifty dollars placed on the table for necessary expenses turned out to be the decisive argument.

Less than three hours later, Bardo held in his hands a piece of paper on which, in black and white, was written what he had been seeking for several weeks: West Hollywood, Switzer Street, Building 120, Apartment 4.

Robert arrived in Los Angeles on the morning of July 18.

The strange appearance and excited eyes of the young man frightened those he approached with a question about the location of the house at the given address. It is not surprising that Bardo had to wander for two hours, clutching his mysterious folder in his hands.

Only at the beginning of eleven o'clock did Bardo, stepping slowly and cautiously like a sleepwalker, come out onto Switzer Street, which was still deserted at this hour. Barely believing his eyes, staring blankly at the sign with the number "120," Robert rang the intercom.

The doorbell caught Rebecca in the midst of preparing for her meeting at eleven with the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, who had offered her a role in the new, third part of "The Godfather" series.

As strange as it may sound, the intercom was not working, and Rebecca went to open the door herself. Just as she approached the door, Bardo pulled out a gun from his folder and shot her directly in the chest. Mortally wounded, the actress fell to the floor, screaming in pain, horror, and surprise.

The killer himself, shocked by his actions, rushed away, throwing his gun away and tossing a book - Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" - onto the roof of a neighboring house. This same book was also carried by John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman.

Rebecca's sister, who Bardo called before the crime, helped in the investigation of the gruesome and senseless murder. She saw a news report about the actress's death and had a terrible suspicion.

The next day, the police arrested Robert, who was half-mad, running along one of Arizona's highways.

During the investigation, it was revealed that when Robert Bardo was 15 years old, he became obsessed with Samantha Smith - the famous girl who was invited to the USSR by Andropov. He even made it to Samantha's house but was apprehended by the police and released after his identity was established. He was unable to wait for Samantha - a few days later, the girl died in a plane crash.

Perhaps that saved Samantha from the killer, but at the same time, the man's attention shifted to another object of his "deadly" adoration.

Psychologists claim that fans of celebrities, realizing the impossibility of possessing their idols, often find the "simplest" outlet for their passion - the destruction of the object of their adoration.