10 Athletes Who Committed Murder and Shocked the World

10 Athletes Who Turned Out to Be Killers

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most notable individuals in the sporting world who were convicted of homicide or similar crimes, bringing their professional careers to a screeching halt. We’re only considering those who were actually convicted, so people like O. J. Simpson won’t be included.

Sally McNeil

On Valentine’s Day in 1995, professional female bodybuilder Sally McNeil fatally shot her husband Ray and called the police to confess. The couple had met eight years earlier, at a bodybuilding program in the U.S. Marines, but Ray was reportedly violent and unfaithful to McNeil. On the night of the shooting, McNeil claimed she acted in self-defense, stating that Ray tried to strangle her when she confronted him about his infidelity. However, the prosecution successfully argued that the shooting was premeditated, based on the trajectory of the bullets and the blood splatter evidence. Consequently, McNeil was convicted of second-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to 19 years to life. Despite multiple appeals, she remained in prison until 2020, when she was granted parole.

Mark Rogowski

Mark Rogowski was only 14 when he began his professional skateboarding career in 1980, and it quickly took off. He won national championships and secured several endorsement deals, earning thousands of dollars every month. His rapid fall from grace began when he broke up with his long-term girlfriend, Brandi McClain, and turned to alcohol to cope. Angry and jealous of McClain’s new relationship, Rogowski directed his rage towards her best friend, Jessica Bergsten. In March 1991, Rogowski invited Bergsten to his house, where he sexually assaulted and murdered her. He later admitted this crime to his spiritual advisor, who convinced him to confess to the police. Rogowski pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and sexual assault, receiving a sentence of 31 years to life.

Evangelos Goussis

In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Evangelos Goussis made a name for himself as a boxer and kickboxer, winning the world middleweight championships in kickboxing. At the same time, Goussis worked as a nightclub bouncer and became involved in Australia’s criminal underworld. This association led him to become entangled in the Melbourne gangland killings, particularly the murders of Lewis Caine and Lewis Moran. Caine was fatally shot in May 2004, after a meeting with Goussis and another associate. Despite claiming self-defense, Goussis was convicted and sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison. He was later tried and found guilty for the March 2004 murder of Moran, who was ambushed by masked gunmen. This led to him being sentenced to life.

Jovan Belcher

Jovan Belcher was a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs who was beginning to gain traction in his professional football career. Belcher lived with his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, and his mother, who was helping them care for their young daughter. Belcher and Perkins had a rocky relationship, filled with constant fights and arguments. On December 1st 2012, during one of such arguments, Belcher shot and killed Perkins in front of his mother. He then drove to the Chiefs’ practice facility, where he took his own life, despite pleas from the general manager and coaches. After his death, it was discovered that Belcher suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, leading his mother to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Chiefs.

Eric Naposki

In December 1994, millionaire investor Bill McLaughlin was shot and killed in his Newport Beach, California home. At the time, McLaughlin was living with his girlfriend, Nanette Johnston, after divorcing his first wife of 24 years. Unbeknownst to McLaughlin, Johnston was secretly involved with Eric Naposki, a professional football player who had played in the NFL and the World League of American Football. The murder remained unsolved until 2009 when authorities arrested and charged Naposki and Johnston. They claimed that Johnston, who stood to collect $2.5 million from McLaughlin's life insurance and savings, had orchestrated the murder and enlisted Naposki to carry it out. Although they both maintain their innocence, Naposki and Johnston were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Bertil Fox

Bertil Fox was born on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, and moved to London as a toddler. In his teenage years, Fox began bodybuilding and quickly became a powerhouse, winning nearly every possible contest and earning the nickname “Brutal Bertil.” That name took on a darker meaning in September 1997, when he fatally shot two women in St. Kitts and Nevis. The victims were Violet Browne and her daughter Leyoca, who was Fox’s former fiancée. While Fox claimed the shooting was accidental, his best friend testified otherwise. He was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. After serving 25 years, Fox was pardoned by the Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis, and released in 2022.

Chris Benoit

This Canadian wrestler achieved worldwide fame in WWE, winning 30 championships in various international wrestling tournaments. By 2007, Benoit was already a two-time world champion, and was poised to win a third championship on the night of June 24th. However, he failed to show up for the match. When authorities entered his home the next day for a welfare check, they found the bodies of Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their son Daniel. Over the prior three days, Benoit murdered Nancy and Daniel, placed Bibles beside their bodies, and then took his own life. An autopsy later revealed that Benoit suffered from severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy and had misused steroids and alcohol, which could all have contributed to his unimaginable actions.

Hiroshi Ogawa

Financial struggles are common, but they can sometimes push people to take disastrous actions. Take Hiroshi Ogawa, a former professional baseball pitcher for the Lotte Marines in Japan. Ogawa left the sport in 2002 and began working at an industrial waste disposal firm. Not long after, he went bankrupt and decided to seek financial help from his boss. When he visited his boss’ home, he encountered the housekeeper, 67-year-old Kazuko Nishiuchi, whom he reportedly asked for a loan. Nishiuchi denied this request, causing Ogawa to physically attack her, leaving her unconscious. He then stole money from the house and disposed of the housekeeper’s body in a nearby pond. Ogawa was ultimately found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2005.

Oscar Pistorius

In 2012, South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius made history as the first double-leg amputee to compete in the Olympics. Before this momentous achievement, he had already won several Paralympic gold medals, becoming both an inspirational and influential figure in sports. But things took a tragic turn in 2013 when he was charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his home. Pistorius never denied shooting Steenkamp, but he claimed to have mistaken her for an intruder. Initially, he was convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years in prison. However, on appeal, this conviction was upgraded to murder, and his sentence was increased to 13 years and five months. After serving over eight years, Pistorius was granted parole in 2024.

Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez was a fierce NFL tight end who played three seasons with the New England Patriots. He seemed destined for a long, successful career, but that all changed in 2013. In June of that year, the body of Odin Lloyd was discovered at an industrial park near Hernandez’s home. Lloyd had met up with Hernandez the day before his death, and they had driven around together. Hernandez became the prime suspect and was soon arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Less than two hours after his arrest, the Patriots released him from his contract. Hernandez was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. In 2017, while still appealing his conviction, he took his own life in his prison cell.



Did we miss any other killer athletes? Let us know in the comments below.