The murder of Bob Crane occurred on a hot June night in Scottsdale, Arizona. Crane was bludgeoned to death as he slept The year was 1978 and Crane’s career was on the decent after scandal and two failed marriages. There is a rule in homicide, you only hurt the one you love. The spouses and love interests of a murder victim are always the usual suspects. Crane’s murder is no different.
I have my own ideas after conducting an investigation before the trial of Bob Crane’s friend, John Carpenter who was arrested and tried for the murder two decades later.
I had several extensive conversations with both Carpenter and his lovely wife before he went to trial. When Carpenter posted bail in Phoenix, I drove him to the airport so he could go home to California and prepare for the fight for his life. Carpenter had no money left to pay for lawyers or investigators and his case was handled by the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office.
The investigation by Scottsdale Police had little to offer because in 1978 they had limited experience and lousy tools to handle a major homicide case like Crane’s.
My usual suspect was the jealous and angry ex-wife. Her real name was Sigrid Valdis (her professional stage name was Patricia Olson). Just before the murder, Valdis showed up unexpectedly in Scottsdale while Crane was performing at the Windmill Dinner Theater. She was very angry that Crane was not giving her enough money and as always bedding the bimbos. Valdis had the motive, means and opportunity to kill Crane. She became a prosecution witness against John Carpenter and I believe she had an agenda to convict him taking suspicion away from her.
A trial was held and Carpenter was rightly acquitted of the crime.
After Carpenter’s acquittal, Valdis had Crane’s body removed from his Chatsworth, CA cemetery and re-planted in Westwood Memorial Park where Marilyn Monroe is on ice. Crane had a simple headstone and that was replaced with a much more elaborate headstone with that Name Hogan on it and Bob Crane’s image with that trademark flyer cap.
Valdis has recently died from lung cancer. Now Crane and this ex-wife will share the same gravesite since she had her name and picture also put on the new fancy headstone. Valdis now has the ultimate control over Bob Crane knowing where he is through eternity…
So please tell us WHO did murder Bob Crane? You can't leave me hanging like this! Was it the wife who knew how Bob loved his porn? Some pal's I know say he loved his porn so much that he had a hard time figureing out which was real and which was porn? Excuse the pun but a source of mine claimed that Bob got to where he didn't know his peter from his pistol You MUST tell us who you suspect!!! Your blog fan, The Old Copper.
ReplyDeletethe gravestone states that patricia crane was a 'humanist' along with the darwin fish. well what did she evolve into once passed? a toad, a tiger or a tick?
ReplyDeletenope she went to the smoking section. and i aint taken about the sweet armoma of cigar smoke. im talken the real smoken section.
Shhhhhhhh! The Chicago media and feminists might blame Drew Peterson. They'll say he was stealing all the hot women from Bob and the girls.
ReplyDeleteI believe that John Carpenter murdered Bob Crane until someone proves 100% that he didn't. Of all the different sites I've been reading, I'm getting sick & tired of people blasting Bob for having an addiction that consumed him. The man needed help, NOT a blow to the head!!! Bob was a brillant comedic actor and I watch HH regularly and I don't view him any differently then I did when the show originally aired. He is missed!
ReplyDeleteI always said what gave Carpenter the motive? I read they were both trying to get laid that final night and the arguing wasn't even arguing it was a little heat in the conversation,not enough to notice.There's no way Bob would have quit porn.I'm sure John just cold have brought some half-dresses ladies to convince him.There's no way Bob would have quit the ladies and porn.No way.Us men,know how hard that is.
ReplyDeleteI know first-hand that Bob was indeed getting help. He admitted to a counselor shortly before he died that he was an addict. He knew the addiction controlled him, and he wanted to change. He had planned to return home to LA from Scottsdale and seek intensive therapy. He did not enjoy in any way that the addiction controlled him. Would he have been cured? It is quite possible because he was driven to success and was a perfectionist. I believe without question he would have given it his all to try and overcome it. That makes me - and so many others who were close to Bob - so VERY proud of him. As for who killed Bob? There are many theories. Sadly, we will probably never know the truth in this world. But I'd hate to be his murderer and/or accomplice being tried by the Higher Court in the next.
ReplyDeleteUnless someone confesses or a note is found, we will never know who killed Bob.
ReplyDeleteLike George Reeves, there are many theories, but no killer.
Only suspects.
George Vreeland Hill
I watched Hogan's Hero's when I was younger and I look forward to watching it after a long work week now. It's very sad when someones life ends tragically, but HH brings a smile to my face in a time when so much on television doesn't! Blessings to him and to all he left behind!
ReplyDeleteI realize this post is rather old, but I just came upon it now.
ReplyDeleteThe question I have is, what legal right does an x-wife have to move a body to a new grave (As well as what right to be burried there too)? Did she persuade her children to be involved in the exhumation?
And as for the gravestone, I would have preferred the plain name one.
I've loved HH ever since I discovered it as a teenager back in the 1960s. I've always loved Bob Crane's acting style. I still watch HH every chance I get. I feel sorry for him because of his addiction but that doesn't keep me from loving Crane's humor and especially his character, "Hogan".
ReplyDeleteThanks,
zeb
P.S. I just discovered your blog & will try to come back to visit as often as I can.
I have a warm place in my heart for Bob Crane he made me smile and happy for years if i had met him he would still be alive today we would have been really great friends he wouldn't have to be alone and have sex with anyone else if we agreed i perfer the new headstone even if his exwife is on it i want gto help solve his case that would mean alot to me i would never use the 4 letter words that is disrespectful i would like a color picture of him when he was alive i admit i have a crush on him i won't lie about that please help me thank you Martha Lavelle my email is jhqueen@yahoo.com will give address after i hear from you
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Although I didn’t know Crane, this murder has really made me irritated and depressed. I just started watching HH during this quarantine hence I’m not that old to know about the show. I really love the show and I wish that he was still alive. He was genuine good, handsome man. Today I stay up and watch Hogan every night no matter what. I kind of wish I hadn’t found this murder because it has really made me very sad because he was such an amazing person.
ReplyDeleteA huge Hogan Heroes fan
I have a big crush on Crane and I’m very sad about his passing. I really am depressed about it since I found out something happened. I’ve found Hogan’s heroes while on quarantine and I absolutely enjoy it. I randomly researched the casting for the program and found this. So sad about it. His smile always had me smiling as well and he was so smooth and handsome. If I were to have met the man we would have been friends I guarantee. He was a genuine, amazing person, hot too.
ReplyDeleteCan't modern-day forensics help?
ReplyDelete