It was the late 1950s, a time when Hollywood was at the height of its glamour and scandal. And in the midst of it all was Lana Turner, a stunning actress who had caught the eye of many leading men in the industry. But it was the attention of small-time mobster Johnny Stompanato that she couldn’t shake off.
The year was 1958, and the world was still reeling from the tragic death of James Dean a just a few years before. However, another scandal was brewing, one that would shock Hollywood and the world beyond. It was the story of Lana Turner’s daughter, Cheryl Crane, and her involvement in the death of her mother’s lover, Johnny Stompanato.
Lana Turner was a Hollywood icon, a beautiful actress who had been dubbed “The Sweater Girl” due to her iconic appearance in the film “They Won’t Forget.” She had been married seven times and had numerous affairs throughout her life, but her most notorious relationship was with Johnny Stompanato.
Stompanato, an associate of Los Angeles boss Mickey Cohen, had been pursuing Turner relentlessly. Despite his reputation, Turner fell for him, and the two began a tumultuous and passionate affair. However after her initial attraction, Turner eventually began to see him for what he was – a violent and abusive man who wanted to control her every move. But Stompanato wouldn’t give up that easily. He refused to let Turner go, even after she had broken things off.
Enter Cheryl Crane, Turner’s daughter from her third marriage. At the time of the scandal, Cheryl was just 14 years old and living with her mother in their Beverly Hills mansion. Cheryl had always been close to her mother, but she despised Stompanato. She saw him as a dangerous and abusive man who was taking advantage of her mother’s vulnerability.
On the night of April 4, 1958, Turner and Stompanato got into a heated argument in Turner’s home as she had she declined to take him to the 1958 Academy Awards, he became enraged, pleading and threatening her.
Meanwhile, Turner’s daughter Cheryl Crane was upstairs doing a book report. When Turner told her that she was going to ask Stompanato to leave, Crane didn’t think much of it. But as the argument downstairs escalated, Crane heard Stompanato threaten to harm her mother.
In a burst of fury, Crane grabbed a knife from the kitchen and ran to her mother’s bedroom. Mistaking a clothes hanger in Stompanato’s hand for a gun, she plunged the knife into his stomach. Stompanato collapsed, his last words echoing in the room – “My God, Cheryl, what have you done?”
The police were called, and Cheryl was taken into custody. The incident was initially reported as an attempted suicide, but it soon became clear that it was a case of justifiable homicide.
The scandal that followed was explosive. The media frenzy surrounding the case was unprecedented, with reporters from all over the world descending on Beverly Hills to cover the story. The public was captivated by the sordid details of Turner and Stompanato’s relationship, and the shocking revelation that a teenage girl had killed her mother’s lover.
Despite the circumstances, and at only 14 years of age, Cheryl was charged with murder and put on trial. The case was a media sensation, with every detail of the crime and the subsequent trial splashed across the headlines.
The prosecution argued that Cheryl had murdered Stompanato in a fit of jealousy, while the defense claimed that she had acted in self-defense. The trial was a battle of wills, with both sides fighting tooth and nail to win.
In the end, the jury found Cheryl not guilty of murder by reason of justifiable homicide. The verdict was a relief for the Crane and Turner families, who had endured months of public scrutiny and criticism.
The public was beguiled by the scandal, with every detail of the crime and trial splashed across the headlines. Turner’s reputation was tarnished, and she was forever associated with the murder of her lover. Crane struggled to move on from the trauma of the experience and the public attention it brought.
However, the scandal had lasting repercussions for all involved. Turner’s career never recovered from the scandal, and she was forever associated with the murder of her lover. Cheryl, meanwhile, struggled to move on from the trauma of the experience and the public attention it brought.
The case also raised important questions about domestic violence and self-defense. Cheryl’s actions were controversial at the time, with many arguing that she should have found a way to escape the situation rather than resorting to violence. However, her case was a turning point in the public perception of self-defense, helping to pave the way for future cases where victims of abuse defended themselves against their attackers.
The scandal surrounding Lana Turner’s daughter Cheryl Crane and her involvement in the death of Johnny Stompanato was a shocking and tragic event that rocked Hollywood and enthralled the world.
Photo Credit: The Hollywood Archive