Killer of Actress Rebecca Schaeffer Stabbed in Prison

[Janice]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D8QLM4EG0.html

Killer of Actress Stabbed in Prison



(AP) Rebecca Schaeffer, who played Patti on CBS TV's "My Sister Sam," poses in a 1987 publicity photo.... Full Image

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The man convicted of stalking and killing actress Rebecca Schaeffer in 1989 was stabbed repeatedly by another inmate in the prison where he is serving a life sentence, corrections officials said.

Robert John Bardo, 37, suffered 11 stab and puncture wounds Friday at Mule Creek State Prison in Amador County, authorities said. He was treated at University of California, Davis, Medical Center and returned to the prison, officials said.

"We have a number of high-notoriety cases, so we cannot jump to the conclusion as to whether his notoriety was a factor in the attack," said prison Sgt. Chris Weathersbee.

The slaying of Schaeffer, a former teenage model who co-starred in the 1980s sitcom "My Sister Sam," helped prompt anti-stalking laws. She was shot when she answered the door of her home in Los Angeles.

According to trial testimony, Bardo, then 19, was obsessed with Schaeffer, and sent her letters and tried to visit her. He obtained her address through a private detective, who got it from the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Bardo was housed in a maximum-security unit for inmates with sensitive needs, including former gang members, notorious prisoners and those convicted of sex crimes. State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said he was stabbed in the prison yard while inmates were on their way to breakfast. Two inmate-made weapons were found at the scene. The suspect in the attack was identified as a man serving an 82-years-to-life sentence for second-degree murder.

[Mikado]

Too bad it wasnt a fatal stabbing, nuff said

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Too bad it wasnt a fatal stabbing, nuff said

I'm with you there Mikey. DAMNIT!!! CAN'T THOSE INMATES DO ANYTHING RIGHT!!!??? STAB HIM IN THE HEART NEXT TIME!

[freshprinceofLA]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I'm with you there Mikey. DAMNIT!!! CAN'T THOSE INMATES DO ANYTHING RIGHT!!!??? STAB HIM IN THE HEART NEXT TIME!

Hey at least they tried we are only human! lol

[swedeace]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Too bad it wasnt a fatal stabbing, nuff said

That was my thought as well. The dude has not suffered enough. Oh, well...at least he is alive to feel the wounded pain slowly and hurtful. Serves him right for what he did to Rebecka! I remember that story. Poor girl.

[Mikado]

the 2 threads on this subject should be merged...how about it, mods?

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Mikado

the 2 threads on this subject should be merged...how about it, mods?

The other one is on the MSS board though.

[Mikado]

whats an MSS board?

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Mikado

whats an MSS board?

My Sister Sam. That was her TV Show.

[Mikado]

oh,,,right

[Hollow]

haha.

[Ireneparalegal]

Remember the stabbing of actress Theresa Saldana (Raging Bull)? Well, here is an article from L.A. LAWYER and the resulting anti-stalking laws that took effect because of the Rebecca Schaeffer and Theresa Saldana attacks; it also mentions the stalking and imprisonment of the man who stalked Madonna:



Shortly before he murdered actress Rebecca Schaeffer on July 13, 1989, Robert Bardo wrote to his sister, "I have an obsession with the unattainable. I have to eliminate what I cannot attain." As a result of the Schaeffer stalking and murder, and the vicious physical attack on actress Theresa Saldana by drifter Arthur Jackson, the California legislature passed the first antistalking law in the United States in 1990.(1) This law has evolved over the past six years and has become more effective in defining and addressing this increasingly common crime.

Stalking is currently defined in Penal Code Section 646.9 as:

Any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family is guilty of the crime of stalking.

The seriousness of the crime of stalking is seen in the facts surrounding the Theresa Saldana and Rebecca Schaeffer cases.

While living in Scotland in 1982, Arthur Jackson saw Theresa Saldana in a movie and was immediately attracted to her. Jackson realized that they could never have a “normal” relationship, so he came to the United States specifically to kill her, get caught, receive the death penalty, and be with her forever in the afterlife.

In Los Angeles, Jackson hired a private detective agency to locate Saldana. The agency obtained her address through DMV records. On March 18, 1982, he went to Saldana’s home where he stabbed her 10 times. A witness disarmed Jackson, which saved Saldana’s life.

Although Jackson was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to prison for 12 years, he continued to send Saldana numerous threatening letters. In 1988, he was charged with and convicted of threatening Saldana and sentenced to an additional 7 years in prison.

In 1986, while living in Tucson, Arizona, Robert Bardo saw Rebecca Schaeffer on the television series “My Sister Sam.” He began writing fan letters to her, and she sent him a handwritten card and autographed picture, which validated his delusion of their “mutual attraction.” In 1988, after four unsuccessful attempts to meet Schaeffer, Bardo saw Schaeffer in a movie and grew infuriated when he saw her in bed with a male character.

Ironically, Bardo read in a magazine how Arthur Jackson located Theresa Saldana’s home address through the DMV and obtained Schaeffer’s address in the same manner.(2) Bardo went to Schaeffer’s house and shot her once through the chest. She died at age 21.

California’s stalking law would not have protected Schaeffer and Saldana. In 1991, Penal Code Section 646.9 required that a stalker make a “credible threat of death or great bodily injury” toward the victim, placing the victim in reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury. Saldana and Schaeffer were not aware of the threats made against them by their stalkers. Even if they had known, the threats themselves were implied and not direct.

Major revisions were made to Penal Code Section 646.9 in 1994, enhancing the ability of law enforcement officials and prosecutors to protect victims of stalking. Currently, to convict a defendant of the crime of stalking, the prosecutor must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt: (3)


1) A person willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly followed or harassed another person.(4)
2) The person following or harassing made a credible threat.
3) The person who made the threat did so with the specific intent to place the other person in reasonable fear (5) for his or her safety or the safety of the immediate family of such person(s) (6)


If a court or restraining order is in effect at the time the stalking occurs, the defendant can be charged with aggravated stalking.


From 1991 through 1993, stalking was a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of one year in the county jail when no restraining order was in effect. Under the current law, a first-time convicted stalker can be sentenced to up to three years in state prison, even without a restraining order.(7) If a court or restraining order is in effect or if the defendant had previously been convicted of felony stalking against any person, he or she could be sentenced to up to four years in state prison.

Most important, the term “credible threat” has been redefined to include not only a verbal or written threat, but also “a threat implied by a pattern of conduct or a combination of verbal or written statements and conduct” The threat or threats do not need to be direct.

Stalking is a crime of conduct, not necessarily of words. For example, a stalker may send a note stating, “I love you,” but enclose a bullet in the envelope. The credible threat made by the stalker must be against the safety of the victim or the victim’s immediate family.(8) It no longer needs to be a threat of “death or great bodily injury.”(9) The test of credible threat is whether or not a reasonable person would fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family, and whether this threat actually caused substantial emotional distress to the victim. (10)


Substantial emotional distress can be shown through the victim’s actions, such as hiring a bodyguard, adding additional security at home and at work, avoiding public appearances, or seeking psychological counseling. Stalking takes a heavy psychological toll on its victims and those around them. In a typical reaction to the emotional stress of being stalked, one victim said, “I have given up all hopes of ever having a safe life. For the rest of my life, I will be looking over my shoulder, expecting to see him there.”

Imprisonment of the perpetrator does not necessarily end stalking. Many stalkers, such as Arthur Jackson, will continue to send letters or make phone calls to their victims while in jail or prison. However, new charges of stalking can be filed against them, and telephone and mail privileges can be restricted. The inmate could also lose “good time/work time” credits toward an earlier release date.




• Penal Code Section 12021(a)(1) and (c) (1) provide that it is a crime for any person who is convicted of stalking (felony or misdemeanor) to possess or have custody or control of a firearm.
• Civil Code Section 1708.7 establishes the tort of stalking, whereby a victim can sue the stalker for general, special, and punitive damages.
• Government Code Section 6254 allows a victim of stalking, upon request, to block from the public record his or her name and address in reports generated by the police.
• Code of Civil Procedure Section 527 allows victims of harassment or threats to obtain a civil restraining order at no cost to them,
• Code of Civil Procedure Section 527.8 permits a stalking victim’s employer to obtain a restraining order against someone who is stalking or harassing an employee.


In April 1995, Robert Dewey Hoskins scaled a wall surrounding entertainer Madonna’s home and proceeded to the courtyard adjacent to the living quarters. Basil Stephens, Madonna’s bodyguard, scared Hoskins away. Hoskins returned the next day and was rebuffed by Caresse Henry, Madonna’s personal assistant. Hoskins grew enraged and threatened to kill both Madonna and Henry. Hoskins also threatened to kill Stephens. Hoskins told Stephens that if Madonna didn’t marry Hoskins that evening, he would slice her throat from ear to ear.

Hoskins returned to the house several weeks later and scaled the wall to gain entry onto the property. When he was confronted by Stephens, Hoskins once again threatened to kill him. This time, Hoskins lunged for the bodyguard’s holstered gun and ultimately was shot twice by the bodyguard.

In January 1996, Hoskins was brought to trial and accused of stalking and making a terrorist threat against Madonna Ciccone; making terrorist threats against Madonna’s bodyguard, Stephens, and personal assistant, Caresse Henry; and assaulting Madonna’s bodyguard.

Madonna testified at the trial that she was still having nightmares about Hoskins eight months after these incidents occurred. The jury found Hoskins guilty of all charges, and he was sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

Hoskins, Bardo, and Jackson are examples of obsessed fans who were willing to commit acts of violence to link their names forever with the names of their celebrity victims. In fact, these celebrity stalker’s often do accomplish that goal. For example, Hoskins is now referred to as “the Material Guy” by his fellow inmates in prison.

[Mikado]

once again, thx for the legal info GG

[Ireneparalegal]

No problema Mikey.

[Jrnygrl]

Thanks Irene for posting the info.