10 Killers with High-Profile Targets

10 Killers with Notorious Targets

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at confirmed murderers who made an attempt on or claimed the life of a high-profile individual.

Michael Gargiulo

Ashley Ellerin (2001)

After allegedly killing Tricia Pacaccio in Illinois, Michael Gargiulo fled to Southern California in 1993. There, the so-called “Hollywood Ripper” was implicated in the deaths of many more women. Among them was 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin. She had just started dating actor Ashton Kutcher in 2001, and was planning to go into fashion before her slaying drew media attention. It would be another seven years before Gargiulo was apprehended with help from a survivor. Kutcher’s testimony helped secure Gargiulo’s conviction for the murders of Ellerin and Maria Bruno. Ellerin may have never gotten to make a name for herself, but she and others have received justice. Gargiulo is still awaiting extradition to Illinois to stand trial for Pacaccio’s murder.

Arthur Richard Jackson

Theresa Saldana (1982)

Actress Theresa Saldana built a prolific career going into the 1980s. Her rise was suddenly derailed by the darkest side of notoriety. Obsessed fan Arthur Richard Jackson used a private investigator to track down Saldana’s Hollywood home and stalked her in 1982. He ultimately stabbed her with a hunting knife 10 times in broad daylight. Only one bystander stepped in to save Saldana’s life. Following Jackson's extradition to the UK 14 years later, a trial revealed that he murdered someone during a robbery in 1966. He died in a psychiatric hospital in 2004, around the time Saldana retired from acting. The traumatic incident seriously affected her career, though she was a prominent victims advocate for the rest of her life.

Nathan Gale

Dimebag Darrell (2004)

The world of metal was shaken by the death of guitar virtuoso Darrell Abbott, better known as Dimebag Darrell. He was performing with Damageplan in Columbus, Ohio, when he was fatally shot on-stage by Nathan Gale. The shooter then killed the head of security and two other people, before he was himself shot dead by police. Gale’s motivations for targeting Abbott would never be formally confirmed. Some believe that he was disgruntled by Pantera’s breakup, while others report him claiming that the band plagiarized him. Gale had supposedly been discharged from the Marines for exhibiting serious mental illness. In any case, his combat training and instability resulted in five tragic deaths, and the loss of a celebrated musician.

Donald Neilson

Lesley Whittle (1975)

Over four years and across England, “The Black Panther” committed a string of burglaries that cost three lives. Donald Neilson’s biggest job took three of those years to plan. In January of 1975, he abducted Lesley Whittle, 17-year-old heiress to the transportation empire Whittle Coaches. Neilson bound her with a wire noose in a drainage shaft and demanded £50,000 over the next week. He also fatally shot security guard Gerald Smith while dropping off instructions. Neilson never received his money, and Whittle was later discovered hanged to death. The grisly, highly publicized scene would become one of the most infamous accounts in modern British true crime. The Black Panther was finally caught within a year, and died in prison in 2011.

Yolanda Saldívar

Selena (1995)

Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez had legions of fans by the 1990s. One of the biggest was Yolanda Saldívar, who was president of the official Selena fan club and manager of her line of boutiques, until she was fired for embezzlement. When the singer confronted her friend in a motel on March 31, 1995, Saldívar shot her in the back. Selena was able to identify her killer before succumbing to her injuries. This tragedy and the subsequent police standoff sparked a media frenzy that posthumously expanded Selena’s status. Her brief life and death are now considered key events in the history of Latin music. As for her one-time biggest fan, she is serving a life sentence in a Texas prison.

Joseph Paul Franklin

Larry Flynt (1978) and Vernon Jordan (1980)

Hustler publisher Larry Flynt obviously didn't have the same reputation as prominent civil rights attorney Vernon Jordan. But both men had Joseph Paul Franklin in common. The bluntly dubbed “Racist Killer” murdered more than 20 people with the vision of inciting a race war. He was ultimately arrested three months after shooting Jordan outside of a hotel in 1980. The victim recovered from his injuries. Two years earlier, Flynt was less lucky when Franklin shot him and his lawyer outside of a courthouse. Both men survived, but Flynt would never walk again. Franklin claimed to be motivated by Hustler’s depiction of interracial relations. For all Flynt’s controversies, none compared to the moral depravity that led to Franklin's execution in 2013.

Rodney Alcala

Ellen Jane Hover (1977)

The public first met photographer Rodney Alcala as a contestant on “The Dating Game” in 1978. By then, he was already a seasoned felon and suspected serial killer, who is now believed to have claimed up to 130 victims. Among them was Ellen Jane Hover, an aspiring orchestra conductor whose father was a major entertainment entrepreneur. She was even the goddaughter of Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. Alcala was on his second parole when he traveled from California to New York around the time Hover disappeared. She had an appointment with a photographer, with Alcala later admitting to knowing her. But the “Dating Game Killer” would not plead guilty to her murder until 2012, 32 years into his life sentence.

Mark David Chapman

John Lennon (1980)

As one of the world’s most celebrated musicians and peace activists, John Lennon surely had his opponents. Disturbed fan Mark David Chapman supposedly became disillusioned with the star’s wealth and religious views as he began frequenting New York City. Finally, on December 8, 1980, Chapman shot Lennon four times in the back outside of his home. The killer has since been vocal about regretting one of the most shocking murders in music history. However, it was later discovered that he considered killing such other celebrities as Ronald Reagan, Johnny Carson and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. Chapman’s desire for fame may not have been as subconscious as he's claimed. More than a dozen parole hearings have ruled that he's still a menace to society.

Tex Watson

Sharon Tate, etc. (1969)

History emphasizes cult leader Charles Manson for orchestrating several murders to spark a race war. But his right-hand man Tex Watson took over those orders. On August 9, 1969, he and three other followers broke into the home of actress Sharon Tate and absent filmmaker Roman Polanski. The intruders killed the pregnant Tate and her guests, including coffee heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring. The next night, Watson led a larger party to kill grocery magnate Leno LaBianca and his wife. The masterminds behind these high-profile murders were soon brought to justice, with Watson being singled out as Manson’s chief enforcer. He has since expressed remorse for his terrible crimes and become an ordained minister in prison.

Andrew Cunanan

Lee Miglin & Gianni Versace (1997)

The tragic story of Andrew Cunanan ended with a killing spree between April and July of 1997. He trekked the US to murder five people, including two friends and a man he carjacked. The biggest and most bewildering targets were Chicago tycoon Lee Miglin and fashion designer Gianni Versace. Most believe Miglin was killed for his car, while some rumors suggest he had an affair with the gigolo Cunanan. The spree ended with Cunanan gunning down Versace outside of his Miami mansion, possibly in pursuit of fame. With the killer taking his own life later that day, his motivations would never be made clear. All that is certain is that one disturbed individual took five lives, their status aside.



What are some other major crimes with notorious victims? Provide some information in the comments.