Rebecca Schaeffer: The Hollywood Murder That Changed Stalking Laws

Rebecca Schaeffer: The Hollywood Murder That Changed Stalking Laws

Author: Always True Crime September 2, 2026 Duration: 59:15

In July 1989, 21-year-old actress Rebecca Schaeffer was on the brink of a major Hollywood career. Best known for the hit sitcom My Sister Sam, she was preparing to audition for a role in The Godfather Part III when there was a knock at the door of her Los Angeles home.


On the other side was Robert John Bardo — an obsessed fan who had been stalking Rebecca for years.


What happened next would send shockwaves through Hollywood, expose frightening gaps in America's privacy laws and ultimately change the way stalking was understood and prosecuted.


For the Season 15 finale of Seeing Red, we're doing something a little different. This is a Seeing Red x Dead Famous crossover: true crime meets celebrity as we explore not only Rebecca's murder and the disturbing obsession that led to it, but the young woman behind the famous face, her rapidly rising career, the final hours of her life, the investigation that followed and the extraordinary legacy of a case that helped change American law.


🎙️ Dead Famous, Mark's critically acclaimed podcast exploring the extraordinary lives, deaths and legacies of some of the world's most famous people, releases new episodes every Monday. Search Dead Famous wherever you get your podcasts.



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Theme music by Dead Dog in Black Bag⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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Every week, Mark Randell and Bethan Trueman pull up a chair to dissect the cases that leave them, and likely you, utterly confounded. Their Seeing Red podcast isn't just a recounting of facts; it's a deep, conversational dive into the true crime stories that are as intriguing as they are terrifying. What you'll hear are the details that get under your skin-the bizarre twists, the unsettling motives, and the procedural mysteries that make you question how such things happen. Mark and Bethan approach each narrative with a balanced perspective, ensuring the human elements are never lost amidst the shock. Tuning in means joining a discussion that respects the gravity of the subject while fully engaging with its complexities. For those who find themselves returning to these stories, looking for a new angle or a shared sense of disbelief, this show provides that space. The chemistry between the hosts makes even the darkest topics accessible, turning each episode into a compelling audio experience. If the standard episodes leave you wanting more, there is additional bonus content available directly through their Patreon page. At its core, this is for anyone who has ever been left speechless by a headline and wanted to understand the deeper, often red-faced-inducing story behind it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Seeing Red A True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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