Investigation Discovery-Hollywood

Drugged in Life, Snubbed in Death

Last Sunday’s Oscar telecast left several people in Hollywood with a bad taste in their mouth. It wasn’t because of that lame Seth Rogan/Judi Dench sketch or the typically horrid musical numbers, but rather the seemingly intentional snub of one of Hollywood’s acting family. Former child actor Brad Renfro, who died on January 15 from a heroin overdose, was noticeably omitted from the annual "In Memoriam" segment which focuses on entertainment industry figures who passed away during the preceding twelve months.

The spotlight person of the retrospective was, of course, actor Heath Ledger. Apparently, his overdose death was more acceptable than Brad Renfro’s because he died from an overdose of prescription drugs. Of course, it did not help Renfro’s cause that he had become somewhat of an enfant terrible after showing so much promise as a young actor.

Renfro’s big break in the movie business came when he was discovered playing a drug dealer in a school play in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. The young boy was cast for the role of Mark Sway in The Client (1994), based on the bestselling novel by author John Grisham. Co-starring alongside such heavyweights as Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones, the first-time actor held his own and somehow managed to even draw attention away from his more seasoned mentors.

The following year, Renfro was named by The Hollywood Reporter, a trade industry magazine, as the "Young Star" of 1995. That same year, he was named as one of the "30 Under 30" top stars by People Magazine. Renfro followed up the success of The Client with roles in such films as Sleepers (1996) and Apt Pupil (1998), based on a Stephen King short story.

Unfortunately, his success in Hollywood did not help provide him with much common sense – especially, away from the City of Angels. In June 1998, Renfro was pulled over by police in Knoxville. Upon searching the young star, police allegedly discovered cocaine and marijuana shoved inside one of his socks. He was arrested and struck a plea bargain that allowed him to avoid jail time. He was also required to undergo random drug-testing as part of the deal...

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Drifter Who Decapitated Screenwriter Cops Plea

One of the most disturbing Hollywood homicides is finally reaching a conclusion with the plea bargain yesterday of Keven Lee Graff, 31, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Graff had been charged with the brutal murders of former Hollywood screenwriter Robert Lees, 91, and his backdoor neighbor, Dr. Morley Engelson, 69, on June 13, 2004.

Graff agreed to a deal which would sentence him to two consecutive life terms for charges of murder, torture, and numerous additional felonies. He will not be eligible for parole.

Graff claimed he had gone into a drug-fueled rage that day which led to his murderous rampage. Indeed, the murders of Lees and Engelson shocked a city that doesn't usually even flinch.

According to Graff’s attorney, his client had "a severe mental illness consistent with bipolar disorder with psychotic features or schizoaffective disorder." The young man’s mental state allegedly was the reason he decided to step inside the home of Robert Lees during the early morning of June 13, 2004...

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The Killing Fields of L.A.: The Murder of Haing S. Ngor

Today marks the twelfth anniversary of the murder of Haing S. Ngor, best known for his 1985 Oscar-winning Best Supporting Actor role in The Killing Fields. He portrayed journalist Dith Pran, who wrote about the horrors of the Khmer Rouge army and the merciless slaughter the rogue dictatorship perpetrated on over one million people.

Haing Ngor was a doctor in Cambodia who had experienced these horrors firsthand. When the Khmer Rouge began its slaughter, they targeted educated persons such as lawyers, bankers, and doctors. As a result, Ngor posed as a taxicab driver to escape detection.

Nonetheless, Ngor’s parents were murdered. Also, his pregnant wife was forced to give birth in front of several soldiers as he watched. Complications arose as she began to deliver the baby. Ngor feared he would be singled out as a doctor and killed if he tried to save his child. He helplessly stood back and watched as the baby died. Soon thereafter, the Khmer Rouge murdered his wife.

Ngor was forced to shut down his practice and flee the bloody rampage. He was captured by the army, beaten mercilessly, and had his pinkie finger severed.

Ngor somehow managed to escape Cambodia and make his way to Los Angeles. His intimate knowledge of the perils in Cambodia led to his role as Dith Pran in The Killing Fields. He would also land many other film roles and even work with such Hollywood luminaries as Oliver Stone and Nicole Kidman.

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