The Playboy Murders Review: Shadows Remain
Holly Madison, one of Hugh Hefner’s former ex-girlfriends, now steps into the role of an executive producer and speaker on a new series that focuses on murders that feature women once involved with Playboy. There are six episodes and many people I am certain are wondering, why did she not do an episode on the most famous Playboy murder of them all; the death of 1980’s Playmate of the Year, Dorothy Stratten? Dorothy’s murder has already been covered in numerous documentaries and was also mentioned in the tenth episode of Secrets of Playboy, which I reviewed earlier. There are rumors of a possible second season so maybe it will be done then but for now Holly focuses on the stories of women many may not know about.
The first episode is the story of Jasmine Fiore, a former Playboy model and Playboy event hostess who was brutally murdered in 2009 by a former contestant on ‘Megan Wants a Millionaire’ and ‘I Love Money’. Although Holly did not know Jasmine, one of Hefner’s former girlfriends named Stacy did and Jasmine seemed to enjoy the Playboy lifestyle. However, one of her bosses did warn her to be wary of people especially outside of Playboy and the one she had to fear the most was the one she married in what can best be described as a rebound courtship.
Ryan Jenkins was hoping he would’ve been selected to marry the star of ‘Megan Wants a Millionaire’ but the producers had someone else in mind and he took this rejection hard, marrying Jasmine instead but neither was happy. The show also didn’t know Jenkins had a criminal history because they did not check his background in Canada, where he already had a criminal record for domestic violence. Once police were certain Jenkins was the killer they pursued him all the way back to Canada only to find that he had taken his own life, leaving behind a note basically blaming Jasmine for her own death. Even if it was an unhappy marriage you don’t chop your wife’s fingers off, pull her teeth out, stuff her in a suitcase and throw her in a dumpster.
The second episode focuses on former Mrs. Ohio and January 1991 Playmate of the Month Stacy Arthur. Stacy starts out as a young wife and mother who goes into modeling with encouragement from her husband Jim and eventually her success leads her to Playboy. This is where things start to go horribly wrong. She is selected as a Playmate of the Month and Playboy launches a 1–900 number where fans can call in and talk to the Playmates. This line was supposed to be for Playmates to promote themselves to fans to win the coveted Playmate of the Year spot. Unfortunately it also lured in a man who became obsessed with Stacy, this obsession resulting in her husband Jim’s murder and the stalker’s own suicide. Stacy went to the media laying the responsibility for Jim’s death directly at Playboy’s feet by not terminating the number after his death. She also claimed she was raped by three staff members at the Playboy Mansion. Those claims were dismissed due to a lack of evidence and the staff members’ assertions the sex was consensual. However, the act involved in the rape allegation matches allegations made by other women and now the possibility that a cover-up was done cannot be ruled out especially when Playboy cut ties with Arthur after she came forward.
In the third story Christina Carlin-Kraft, a former Playboy cyber model wanted to become a Playmate but as Holly points out she was 26 and at that age the models were being phased out. She also points out there is a sort of stigma that comes with posing for Playboy, making other modeling jobs more difficult to attain and Christina did have difficulties after Playboy.
Christina also was the victim of two crimes committed close together, the first a burglary of her apartment and during her interview with police over this, she relays her fears that she did not feel safe. The original theory was that the man who burglarized her apartment was the one who killed her but camera footage showed it was another man who claimed he killed her because she refused to buy drugs from him but police proved this was false. Both men were sent to prison.
Next up is former Playboy Bunny Carole Gold whose husband Chuck was shot multiple times. Carole started out as a switchboard operator then became a Bunny in the Playboy Club who later organized a party for Frank Sinatra and got a taste of the grand lifestyle. Her Bunny years were over but she still had connections and got herself and her second husband a job at a Playboy Resort but after they finally left the resort and moved to Arizona things took a dark turn.
Carole and her husband Chuck’s marriage was deteriorating and Chuck had affairs and Carole possibly had affairs of her own. There were also rumors of conflicts between Chuck and Carole about her grandson Ronnie. He was originally a suspect until police rule him out. Then Carole’s son Ashton became a suspect after police learned he had his own conflicts with Chuck over his drug use. Carole then comes into their crosshairs when they learn about a hefty insurance payout she would receive if her husband’s death was an accident and multiple stories she gave the police.
Finally the true story comes out. Chuck was murdered by a drug dealer Ashton knew. They already had the payoff money because it was seized in an unrelated case and Carole Gold ordered the hit. Her motive: money. A divorce would cripple her financially and she didn’t want to lose the good life being married to Chuck provided for her. She is released but they find out Chuck couldn’t get insurance due to health issues and the policy was forged. The killers’ trial ended in a mistrial. Carole and Ashton were tried in 1997, he pleads guilty and Carole was found guilty, given 25 to life.
The fifth story features Star Stowe, Playboy Playmate and former girlfriend of KISS singer Gene Simmons. Star was a model who caught Simmons attention in the 70s and referred her to Playboy. Again, this is where things start to go wrong. According to mansion staff members she was supposed to sleep with Hefner twice a week and she also became addicted to cocaine. Eventually being part of the Playboy world caused conflicts between her and Simmons that ended their relationship and Star’s own relationship with Playboy was terminated after an argument with Hefner. Star’s descent is quick and heartbreaking. She feels she has no other option but to use her body to make a living and she has been working the streets for years until she is brutally murdered. Star’s killer remains at large to this day and she leaves behind a son who wants answers.
The final case is of a former Playboy Italia model turned killer Kelsey Turner. After Playboy Kelsey had been supported by a California psychiatrist for three years. It looked like the doctor was about to yank the rug out from under her when she and her ex-boyfriend killed him and put his body in the trunk of his car. Both are in prison for their crimes.
Of the six women featured, the ones you feel the most sympathy for are Jasmine, Christina, Stacy and Star. Jasmine, Christina and Star were brutally murdered and Stacy lost the love of her life while Carole and Kelsey resorted to murder to try to continue living the good life their Playboy fame introduced them to. They got exactly what they deserved, a nice long prison term. Star and Stacy had no justice. The killer of Stacy’s husband took the coward’s way out while Star’s could still be out there killing more women.
These are interesting and lesser known stories from Playboy history that Holly has brought to light but I liked hearing from people who knew the stories well, including detectives on the cases. I am hoping we will get to see more of them.
