UNSOLVED: The Rock 'n Roll Murder 2

Summary

Murder: True Crime Stories – Episode: "UNSOLVED: The Rock 'n Roll Murder 2"

Release Date: July 31, 2025

---

Introduction

In the second installment of their deep dive into the mysterious death of Bobby Fuller, the host duo, Carter Roy and Morgan Absher, unravel the complex web surrounding the unsolved case. This episode meticulously examines the circumstances leading up to Fuller's untimely demise, the ensuing investigation, and the myriad of theories that have since emerged.

---

Bobby Fuller's Rise to Fame

[05:34] Carter Roy: Bobby Fuller, at just 23 years old, was the charismatic frontman of the Bobby Fuller Four. Originating from El Paso, Texas, the band soared to fame after securing a record deal with Bob Keane's Deli Records in 1964. Their unique blend of country western sound captivated audiences nationwide, earning them the admiration of even The Beatles.

[05:49] Morgan Absher: "Thanks to Bobby's grit and determination, the band eventually found the success he'd always hoped for."

Despite their rapid ascent, the band grappled with internal challenges. The draft of guitarist Jim Reese for the Vietnam War and drummer Dalton Powell's desire to return to his family left the group at a crossroads, contemplating whether to replace members or for Bobby to pursue a solo career.

---

The Fateful Night

[07:04] Carter Roy: On the night of July 17, 1966, the entire band, along with Bobby and his brother Randy, gathered at their Hollywood apartment for a casual evening. The atmosphere was jovial, with everyone enjoying drinks and watching TV.

[07:35] Morgan Absher: "Bobby especially seemed to cut loose. Rick Stone said he saw Bobby toss back five or six beers, which was a little out of character for him."

As midnight approached, the party began to wind down. Rick Stone fell asleep in the living room, while Lorraine, Bobby's mother, went to bed after a brief chat with Bobby, who appeared in good spirits.

[08:20] Carter Roy: Between 1:00 and 2:30 AM, Bobby left the apartment—a behavior typical of his night owl tendencies. Initially, his absence was not a cause for alarm.

---

Discovery of the Body

[13:18] Morgan Absher: At approximately 5:00 PM on July 18, 1966, Lorraine discovered Bobby slumped over the steering wheel of his blue Oldsmobile. The pungent smell of gasoline filled the air as she tried to rouse him.

[12:44] Morgan Absher: "Bobby wasn't going to respond because he was already dead."

Upon inspection, Bobby was found holding his car keys in one hand and a plastic hose connected to a gas can in the other, indicating possible asphyxiation from gas inhalation.

---

Initial Investigation and Police Response

[14:46] Morgan Absher: The LAPD quickly labeled the scene as a suicide, citing the presence of the gas canister as evidence.

[15:00] Morgan Absher: "The case seemed to be open and shut, which meant the authorities didn't feel the need to secure the crime scene."

Key investigative steps were overlooked: the car wasn't impounded, fingerprints weren't dusted, and witnesses weren't thoroughly interviewed. Notably, there was a lack of a coroner's report to determine the precise time of death.

---

Emergence of Doubts and Conspiracy Theories

[18:01] Carter Roy: The preliminary autopsy, released a week later, contradicted the suicide theory by indicating asphyxiation from gas fumes rather than ingestion. Moreover, discrepancies arose when the blood test showed no alcohol in Bobby's system, despite accounts of him drinking earlier.

[19:14] Morgan Absher: "It made Bobby's family wonder if the coroner had missed that. Or were they covering something up?"

Witnesses reported seeing dried blood on Bobby's clothes and signs of a struggle, which were absent from the autopsy report, fueling suspicions of foul play.

---

Suspicion Falls on Bob Keane

[25:02] Carter Roy: A significant theory points fingers at Bob Keane, Bobby's record executive. Keane had a history of mysterious deaths among his protégés, including Richie Valens and Sam Cooke.

[25:28] Carter Roy: "Bob Keane, the record executive who took a chance on Bobby when no one else would... If Bobby or another member died, all of that money would have gone to Keane through his company."

Despite these suspicions, the life insurance policies Keane held on the band did not yield any payout since Bobby's death was ruled accidental.

---

Alternative Theories and Mob Involvement

[28:10] Carter Roy: Music critic Dan Epstein introduced the possibility of mob involvement, suggesting that Morris Levy, owner of Roulette Records and linked with Delphi Records through an exclusive distribution deal, might have had motives to eliminate Bobby if business disagreements arose.

[30:27] Morgan Absher: More extreme theories even connected the case to the infamous Manson Family, though evidence suggests no direct involvement.

---

Family and Fan Reactions

[32:14] Morgan Absher: The Fuller family hired private detectives post the LAPD investigation, but these efforts only deepened the mystery as investigators either quit abruptly or faced threats.

[32:33] Carter Roy: "While we may never know the truth, Bobby's family does wonder what might have happened if he'd lived."

Fans remained divided, with many refusing to accept the suicide narrative, yearning for answers and justice.

---

Conclusion

Six decades later, Bobby Fuller's death remains shrouded in mystery. Whether it was a tragic accident, a calculated murder, or a culmination of unforeseen circumstances, the truth evades closure. The episode underscores the fragility of life behind fame and the enduring quest for truth in the face of uncertainty.

Notable Quotes:

• Morgan Absher [05:49]: "Thanks to Bobby's grit and determination, the band eventually found the success he'd always hoped for."

• Morgan Absher [12:44]: "Bobby wasn't going to respond because he was already dead."

• Morgan Absher [18:01]: "The case seemed to be open and shut, which meant the authorities didn't feel the need to secure the crime scene."

• Morgan Absher [19:14]: "It made Bobby's family wonder if the coroner had missed that. Or were they covering something up?"

• Carter Roy [25:28]: "Bob Keane, the record executive who took a chance on Bobby when no one else would... If Bobby or another member died, all of that money would have gone to Keane through his company."

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of Murder: True Crime Stories masterfully intertwines facts with theories, presenting listeners with a comprehensive examination of one of rock 'n' roll's enduring mysteries. Through detailed narration and poignant quotes, Carter Roy and Morgan Absher invite audiences to reflect on the complexities of fame, trust, and the elusive nature of truth.

---

Connect with Murder: True Crime Stories

Follow Murder: True Crime Stories on Instagram @crimehouse and stay updated with their latest episodes dissecting true crime's darkest corners every Tuesday and Thursday.

Transcript

[Kaylin Moore]

Hi, it's Kaylin Moore. Crime House is home to the most gripping true crime shows. And I would love for you to check out my show that I co host with Morgan Absher. Clues Want to sneak past the crime scene tape to explore the key evidence behind some of the most gripping true crime cases? Well, each week on Clues, we open up a new case file and dig into the key evidence that either solved or left authorities baffled behind the most infamous criminal cases. Join us every Wednesday and listen to Clues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Carter Roy]

This is Crime House. It's easy to look at celebrities and.

[Morgan Absher]

Think their lives must be perfect.

[Carter Roy]

After all, they have fame, fortune, and the kinds of opportunities most of us.

[Morgan Absher]

Can only dream of.

[Carter Roy]

But behind all the glitz and glamour, these public figures are regular people with real problems. And no matter how untouchable they might seem, the truth is they're only human.

[Morgan Absher]

Their lives are fragile.

[Carter Roy]

And no matter how successful they get.

[Morgan Absher]

Safety isn't a guarantee.

[Carter Roy]

When Bobby Fuller was found dead outside.

[Morgan Absher]

His home in 1966, his fans were left reeling.

[Carter Roy]

From the outside looking in, it seemed.

[Morgan Absher]

Like Bobby had everything.

[Carter Roy]

At 23 years old, he was already a household name and his rock and roll career was just getting started. But now, instead of waiting for his next album, the world was waiting to.

[Morgan Absher]

Learn what really happened to the young star. Decades later, his death is still unsolved.

[Carter Roy]

But Bobby's family is certain that someone.

[Morgan Absher]

Out there knows what happened. And they won't stop fighting until they find out. People's lives are like a story.

[Carter Roy]

There's a beginning, a middle and an end.

[Morgan Absher]

But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don't always get to know the real ending.

[Carter Roy]

I'm Carter Roy and this is True Crime Stories, a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios.

[Morgan Absher]

And now we are releasing twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday at Crime House. We want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible.

[Carter Roy]

Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts.

[Morgan Absher]

And to enhance your Murder True Crime.

[Carter Roy]

Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get ad free listening, early access.

[Morgan Absher]

To every two part series and exciting bonus content.

[Carter Roy]

This is the second of two episodes on the murder of Bobby Fuller, the.

[Morgan Absher]

Frontman of the Bobby Fuller Four. In 1966, his promising music career was.

[Carter Roy]

Cut short when Bobby was found dead.

[Morgan Absher]

At just 23 years old.

[Carter Roy]

Last time I told you about Bobby's.

[Morgan Absher]

Early life in El Paso, Texas, and his search for stardom in Los Angeles.

[Carter Roy]

Thanks to Bobby's grit and determination, the band eventually found the success he'd always hoped for.

[Morgan Absher]

But navigating that newfound fame wasn't easy.

[Carter Roy]

Today I'll detail Bobby's final moments and.

[Morgan Absher]

The strange circumstances surrounding his death.

[Carter Roy]

The investigation that followed left Bobby's family.

[Morgan Absher]

And friends with more questions than answers and opened the door to countless conspiracy theories.

[Carter Roy]

Nearly six decades later, his fans and loved ones are still searching for the truth.

[Morgan Absher]

All that and more coming up.

[Kristen Bell]

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[Dax Shepard]

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[Kristen Bell]

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[Morgan Absher]

After getting their start.

[Carter Roy]

In El Paso, Texas, Bobby Fuller and his band, the Bobby Fuller Four, were riding high. In 1964, they had landed a Hollywood record deal with Bob Keane's Deli Records and and quickly shot to fame, touring.

[Morgan Absher]

The country and selling out shows.

[Carter Roy]

By 1966, even the Beatles were fans of the band's country western sound. But like all big groups, they had their fair share of problems. And recently their issues had come to a head.

[Morgan Absher]

The band was at a crossroads.

[Carter Roy]

Their guitarist Jim Reese had been drafted to fight in the Vietnam War and their drummer, Dalton Powell, wanted to go.

[Morgan Absher]

Back to his wife and newborn baby in El Paso.

[Carter Roy]

That left just 23 year old Bobby and his 22 year old brother Randy.

[Morgan Absher]

The band's bass player. The question was, should they replace Jim.

[Carter Roy]

And Dalton or was it time for Bobby to go solo? It was a lot to Think over. And they didn't want to rush into anything. So the band set a meeting with Keane for the morning of July 18, 1966.

[Morgan Absher]

In the meantime, they took a break from work. After a week or so, their vacation.

[Carter Roy]

Was coming to an end. But before going back to real life.

[Morgan Absher]

They wanted to have one last hurrah. On the night of July 17, everyone.

[Carter Roy]

Gathered at Bobby and Randy's Hollywood apartments. The whole band was there and so was Bobby and Randy's mom, Lorraine, who was visiting from Texas and staying with the boys.

[Morgan Absher]

Their manager, Rick Stone, dropped by as.

[Carter Roy]

Well, along with a few girls the.

[Morgan Absher]

Band was friendly with ahead of their.

[Carter Roy]

Big meeting the next day.

[Morgan Absher]

The vibes were good.

[Carter Roy]

The whole crew was watching tv, drinking.

[Morgan Absher]

Beer, joking around and generally enjoying themselves. Bobby especially seemed to cut loose. Rick Stone said he saw Bobby toss.

[Carter Roy]

Back five or six beers, which was a little out of character for him. Maybe he was just enjoying the last night of his vacation, or maybe he was nervous about the meeting.

[Morgan Absher]

Either way, a little after midnight, the party started to wind down.

[Carter Roy]

Rick fell asleep in the living room in front of the tv. About an hour later, Lorraine headed to bed. On her way, she stopped to briefly chat with Bobby.

[Morgan Absher]

She said he seemed to be in good spirits. It's not clear what time the girls left the apartment or where Dalton and Jim slept. But one thing is certain. Bobby had his own plans.

[Carter Roy]

That evening, at some point between 1.

[Morgan Absher]

And 2 2:30am, Bobby left the apartment. He was a night owl, so no one thought too much of it.

[Carter Roy]

When Lorraine heard him leave, she assumed.

[Morgan Absher]

He was going to grab a bite to eat.

[Carter Roy]

According to Rick, that wasn't the case.

[Morgan Absher]

Later, he said, Bobby went to pick up some lsd.

[Carter Roy]

Again, this would have been pretty unusual. According to Dalton, Bobby didn't really do drugs.

[Morgan Absher]

He only got high on his music. Whatever his exact reasons were for leaving.

[Carter Roy]

The apartment, Bobby was next seen at about 3am that's when he had a few more beers with the building manager.

[Morgan Absher]

Lloyd Essinger, in his downstairs apartment.

[Carter Roy]

Like Lorraine, Lloyd would later report that Bobby was in good spirits. By all accounts, he seemed fine, like nothing was wrong.

[Morgan Absher]

But the next morning, that would be called into question.

[Carter Roy]

On July 18, Lorraine woke up in a panic.

[Morgan Absher]

Bobby hadn't come home the night before and she had no idea where he was.

[Carter Roy]

Five years earlier, Lorraine's firstborn son, Jack, had gone missing.

[Morgan Absher]

A few days later, he was found brutally murdered. Lorraine had never gotten over the loss. And knowing Bobby was mia. I must have felt like the worst kind of deja vu, especially because his.

[Carter Roy]

Meeting with Bob Keane was in just a couple of hours, Bobby knew how important it was.

[Morgan Absher]

The entire future of the band depended on what Keane had to say. Bobby would never skip it, not intentionally at least. And yet he was nowhere to be found. When Rick and the rest of the band headed over to Delphi to see Keane, they sat down at 9:30 and waited for Bobby to show. After an hour, he still wasn't there. So they decided to reconvene later that afternoon.

[Carter Roy]

But nobody could get a hold of Bobby or figure out where he was.

[Morgan Absher]

So everyone went their separate ways. A few hours later, Bobby finally appeared. Just not in a way anyone expected.

[Carter Roy]

At around 5pm, the doorbell rang at.

[Morgan Absher]

The apartment where Lorraine had been anxiously waiting all day.

[Carter Roy]

It was two of Bobby's friends from.

[Morgan Absher]

The El Paso music scene, Ty Grimes and Mike Ciccarelli. They were in town and decided to come see Bobby.

[Carter Roy]

When they pulled up, they didn't see his blue Oldsmobile parked out front. Still, they went upstairs and rang the doorbell anyway, just in case.

[Morgan Absher]

No one answered. That's because while Ty and Mike were.

[Carter Roy]

On their way upstairs, Lorraine was on her way downstairs to check the mail. We don't know where Randy was, but all day long, Lorraine had been on.

[Morgan Absher]

High alert, hoping Bobby would show up.

[Carter Roy]

Then, while she was getting the mail, she saw Bobby's car parked in the lot. Even though, according to Ty and Mike, it hadn't been there just a few minutes ago. So either they'd missed it somehow, or someone had just parked it. All Lorraine knew was that her son was finally home. She rushed over to the car to see him.

[Morgan Absher]

And that's when she realized something was very wrong. As soon as she flung open the driver's side door, the smell of gasoline hit her.

[Carter Roy]

After fighting off the fumes, Lorraine looked.

[Morgan Absher]

Down to see Bobby slumped over the steering wheel. In one hand, he held his keys.

[Carter Roy]

In the other was a plastic hose.

[Morgan Absher]

Connected to a can of gas in the passenger seat.

[Carter Roy]

At first, Lorraine thought he was asleep.

[Morgan Absher]

She called his name and tried to shake him awake.

[Carter Roy]

But after a few moments, she couldn't.

[Morgan Absher]

Deny it any longer. Bobby wasn't going to respond because he was already dead.

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[Morgan Absher]

At around 5pm on July 18, 1966.

[Carter Roy]

23 year old Bobby Fuller was found.

[Morgan Absher]

Dead in his car outside of his apartment complex. His mother Lorraine was the one who discovered him slumped over the steering wheel. She ran to call the police and.

[Carter Roy]

They arrived just a few minutes later.

[Morgan Absher]

Bobby's friends Ty Grimes and Mike Ciccarelli.

[Carter Roy]

Who were up at the apartment, came.

[Morgan Absher]

Down to see what was going on. It wasn't long before Rick Stone got there too. He was on his way over after Bobby never showed up to the band's meeting at Delphi Records.

[Carter Roy]

Despite all the police around, they all.

[Morgan Absher]

Got a good look at Bobby and what they saw was shocking. Not only did he appear to be.

[Carter Roy]

Dead, but according to Rick, it looked.

[Morgan Absher]

Like someone had beaten Bobby up.

[Carter Roy]

Ty and Mike agreed, adding that they.

[Morgan Absher]

Saw dried blood on him.

[Carter Roy]

Beyond that, the slippers he was wearing looked dirty and worn, like someone had.

[Morgan Absher]

Dragged Bobby around while his feet skimmed the ground.

[Carter Roy]

Even more concerning, he was holding his car keys in one hand and a plastic hose in the other.

[Morgan Absher]

It was connected to a can of gas in the passenger seat and it.

[Carter Roy]

Looked like Bobby had been completely doused in fuel. Even his hair was oily.

[Morgan Absher]

After taking one look at the crime.

[Carter Roy]

Scene, the responding officers believed it was a suicide.

[Morgan Absher]

Based on the gas canister, they believed.

[Carter Roy]

Bobby had either died from drinking the liquid or inhaling the fumes.

[Morgan Absher]

The case seemed to be open and.

[Carter Roy]

Shut, which meant the authorities didn't feel.

[Morgan Absher]

The need to secure the crime scene.

[Carter Roy]

They didn't impound the car, dust for fingerprints, or interview the many witnesses surrounding the vehicle. Who could have told them the car had only appeared a few minutes before Lorraine found it? Most shocking of all, they didn't even call a coroner to estimate how long.

[Morgan Absher]

Bobby had been dead. Bobby's friends and family were livid. Despite the police's working theory, they weren't so sure Bobby had taken his own life.

[Carter Roy]

But the police weren't interested in digging any deeper because they had their hands full with something else entirely.

[Morgan Absher]

Two days earlier, on Saturday, July 16.

[Carter Roy]

LAPD Police Chief William H. Parker had unexpectedly passed away.

[Morgan Absher]

In the wake of his death, the department was reeling and distracted. Parker's funeral was coming up on July 20, and it seemed like the responding officers were more focused on that than on the crime scene at hand. Bobby's service ended up being that same day.

[Carter Roy]

He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial park in the Hollywood Hills.

[Morgan Absher]

And while his body was laid to rest, the questions surrounding his death weren't. Without a real investigation or an official.

[Carter Roy]

Cause of death, the media was free.

[Morgan Absher]

To jump to their own conclusions. Around the time of Bobby's funeral, local papers like the Los Angeles Herald and the LA Times published obituaries.

[Carter Roy]

They leaned on the details that were available, including how Bobby had been found.

[Morgan Absher]

With the hose in his hand connected to the gas can. They didn't say outright that Bobby had killed himself, but they certainly implied it.

[Carter Roy]

They also included a statement from Lorraine.

[Morgan Absher]

That was taken out of context.

[Carter Roy]

They quoted her saying that Bobby had.

[Morgan Absher]

Been despondent in his final days.

[Carter Roy]

When speaking to police, Lorraine explained that Bobby had been worried about the future of the band.

[Morgan Absher]

Still, that didn't mean he'd been depressed.

[Carter Roy]

Especially since it seemed like he was in a good mood the night before the meeting.

[Morgan Absher]

And Bobby's friends and family weren't the only ones who disagreed with the police and the papers. After learning about Bobby's death, his fans were equally as shocked.

[Carter Roy]

They couldn't understand why someone who was so young, with so much talent and such a promising career ahead of him.

[Morgan Absher]

Would take his own life. Of course, we never really know what demons someone is facing.

[Carter Roy]

Even so, many fans didn't believe he'd died by suicide.

[Morgan Absher]

And some even suspected foul play.

[Carter Roy]

It was a line of thinking that Bobby's loved ones were already considering. And they only became more convinced when the preliminary autopsy report was released on.

[Morgan Absher]

July 25, a week after he died. The one thing that was clear was was Bobby's cause of death.

[Carter Roy]

According to the LA county coroner, he died of asphyxiation from inhaling the gas.

[Morgan Absher]

Fumes, not from drinking it. But that didn't mean he did it on purpose.

[Carter Roy]

Beyond that, there were several other inconsistencies.

[Morgan Absher]

That called the LAPD's assumptions into question.

[Carter Roy]

While the department insisted Bobby had intentionally killed himself, the coroner wasn't so sure. Later in the report, there were question marks next to the words accident and suicide. It seemed like even the coroner was.

[Morgan Absher]

Uncertain about what actually happened.

[Carter Roy]

Even more confusing, the document included a blood test that showed Bobby didn't have any traces of alcohol in his body. Considering Bobby had been drinking until 3am that was didn't seem possible.

[Morgan Absher]

It made Bobby's family wonder if the.

[Carter Roy]

Coroner had missed that.

[Morgan Absher]

What else had they gotten wrong? Or were they covering something up?

[Carter Roy]

Based on the other omissions, it definitely seemed possible. The report stated Bobby had no bruises, cuts or broken bones. But Multiple witnesses remembered seeing dried blood on Bobby's clothes and scrapes on his face and elbows.

[Morgan Absher]

Looking at Bobby that day, it was obvious that someone had beaten him up.

[Carter Roy]

So why weren't those details included in the autopsy?

[Morgan Absher]

It was suspicious, and just one of the details that wasn't adding up. Since several days had passed between the discovery of Bobby's body and the autopsy, the coroner couldn't determine an exact time of death.

[Carter Roy]

However, they found that Bobby had been.

[Morgan Absher]

Unconscious for a while before he died, which is important.

[Carter Roy]

Remember when Ty Grimes and Mike Ciccarelli pulled into the parking lot, they didn't see Bobby's car.

[Morgan Absher]

They went upstairs to check if he was home.

[Carter Roy]

Anyway, at that very same moment, Lorraine was checking the mail in the lobby. And when she looked out the window, she did see Bobby's car. It was about a three minute walk.

[Morgan Absher]

From the parking lot to Bobby's unit.

[Carter Roy]

That meant Lorraine must have just missed Ty and Mike.

[Morgan Absher]

It also meant there was an extremely.

[Carter Roy]

Tight window of time during which Bobby's friends entered the building and the car.

[Morgan Absher]

Appeared in the lot.

[Carter Roy]

But the coroner estimated that Bobby had been unconscious for a long time before succumbing to the fumes.

[Morgan Absher]

It didn't seem possible that he'd driven.

[Carter Roy]

To the lot, inhaled enough gas to asphyxiate, then lay there unconscious until Lorraine found him, all in three minutes time. The only way the timeline added up.

[Morgan Absher]

Was if Bobby was already dead when he got there. And if that was the case, there's no way he was the one driving the car. Which means that someone else had driven the Oldsmobile there, then posed Bobby in the driver's seat. But who? And why?

[Carter Roy]

In the wake of Bobby's death, his friends realized there were some people who'd.

[Morgan Absher]

Wanted to hurt Bobby.

[Carter Roy]

According to Bobby's manager, Rick Stone, a few days before Bobby died, he was.

[Morgan Absher]

Threatened by two strangers.

[Carter Roy]

Rick said they were driving together when two men pulled up beside them and.

[Morgan Absher]

Gestured for Bobby to come out and talk to them. He did, and when he came back.

[Carter Roy]

Rick said he looked, quote, ashen and shaken up. When Rick asked what they wanted, Bobby wouldn't say. Separately, band members Dalton Powell and Jim Reese said two men with guns tried to break into their apartment at some point.

[Morgan Absher]

It's not clear if these were the same people who approached Bobby, but afterward.

[Carter Roy]

Dalton and Jim called Randy for backup.

[Morgan Absher]

The three of them tried to track the men down, but they couldn't find them. Then, the day after Bobby's death, Rick.

[Carter Roy]

Claimed he was almost run off the.

[Morgan Absher]

Road by a car that was following him. We don't know if Bobby's friends went to the police with any of the same information. Based on how the investigation was proceeding, it wouldn't be surprising if they didn't bother. But that didn't mean they were giving up on Bobby. And it turned out there was one person who may have wanted Bobby dead. Someone Bobby had trusted implicitly, who may have committed the ultimate act of betrayal.

[Peyton Moreland]

Are you ready to dive into the unknown? Join me, Peyton Moreland on Into the Dark, the true crime podcast from Ono Media with a hint of horror and mystery. Each week I dive into a different case, breaking down the facts and pondering the age old, old question, why do people do what they do now? Sometimes the answer isn't so clear, and that's why I'll also explore conspiracy theories, hauntings, and all things spooky. From the Green River Killer to the Mothman incident. We will unravel all of the questions that keep us up at night. So don't miss out. Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. New episodes drop every Wednesday into the Dark, where true crime meets the eerie.

[Morgan Absher]

Unknown the sudden death of 23 year old Bobby Fuller on July 18, 1966, left his family, friends and fans heartbroken and baffled. Initially, the LAPD believed Bobby had died by suicide.

[Carter Roy]

However, a week later, the preliminary autopsy.

[Morgan Absher]

Report cast doubt on that theory. Months later, in October 1966, the full report came in.

[Carter Roy]

But instead of providing closure for Bobby's.

[Morgan Absher]

Loved ones, it only raised more questions.

[Carter Roy]

According to the coroner, Bobby's death was.

[Morgan Absher]

Officially an accident as far as the LAPD was concerned, and that was enough to move on to their next case. But that didn't explain how Bobby showed up at his building, possibly already dead.

[Carter Roy]

With cuts and bruises on his body. And even though the authorities refused to.

[Morgan Absher]

Consider the possibility of foul play, the public hasn't. In the nearly six decades since Bobby's death, countless conspiracy theories have sprung up to explain why what really happened that night. And one of the most popular centers around the very same person who made Bobby into a rock icon.

[Carter Roy]

Bob Keane, the record executive who took.

[Morgan Absher]

A chance on Bobby when no one else would.

[Carter Roy]

The man who turned the Bobby Fuller Four into a worldwide sensation, and the man who Bobby wasn't afraid to stand up to.

[Morgan Absher]

Financially, Keane would have had a lot.

[Carter Roy]

To gain if Bobby or anyone else.

[Morgan Absher]

In the band turned up dead.

[Carter Roy]

According to Randy, at some point before Bobby died, Keane took out a couple.

[Morgan Absher]

Of life insurance policies on the band.

[Carter Roy]

One was for the group as a whole, worth $100,000 the other one was.

[Morgan Absher]

For Bobby individually, and it was worth A whopping $800,000.

[Carter Roy]

If Bobby or another member died, all.

[Morgan Absher]

Of that money would have gone to.

[Carter Roy]

Keane through his company.

[Morgan Absher]

Given the timing, it's possible Keane knew that one or all the members were in danger. And some people think that's because Keane had put them in the line of fire. Still, there is one major detail that casts doubt on this theory.

[Carter Roy]

The only way Keane could have cashed out was if there was a wrongful death, meaning Bobby or the others were.

[Morgan Absher]

Either killed or died through negligence or misconduct. Because Bobby's death was ruled accidental, Keane never saw a penny of the insurance money. Instead, it reportedly went to the label's financier, Larry Nunes. Even then, there are some very strange coincidences that are impossible to ignore.

[Carter Roy]

Before Bobby, two of Keene's proteges died.

[Morgan Absher]

Young and under mysterious circumstances. First, there was Richie Valens, who went.

[Carter Roy]

On to music stardom after Keen turned.

[Morgan Absher]

Him into a solo act. On February 3, 1959, Valens died in a plane crash. He was only 17 years old. In a twist of fate, Bobby's idol, Buddy Holly passed away in the same crash on what became known as the the Day the Music Died. The official cause of the crash was said to be pilot error and bad weather.

[Carter Roy]

And there was another notable musician with.

[Morgan Absher]

Ties to Keane who lost his life.

[Carter Roy]

Back in 1957, Keane had signed Sam.

[Morgan Absher]

Cook to a three year contract.

[Carter Roy]

Several years later, in December 1964, Cooke was gunned down by the manager of.

[Morgan Absher]

A seedy Los Angeles motel.

[Carter Roy]

That happened less than two years before Bobby died.

[Morgan Absher]

And like him, Cook's death was shrouded in mystery.

[Carter Roy]

Although the LAPD called it a justifiable.

[Morgan Absher]

Homicide, there were discrepancies in the crime scene and autopsy report that pointed to a potential setup. Of course, it's entirely possible that Keane's.

[Carter Roy]

Connection was pure coincidence.

[Morgan Absher]

But it's also possible there was something more sinister at play. One theory put forward by music critic Dan Epstein was that the mob was involved.

[Carter Roy]

Decades after Bobby's death, Epstein suggested that a mobster who was in business with.

[Morgan Absher]

Delphi Records put a hit out on Bobby Fuller. Several names have been floated, but the.

[Carter Roy]

Most likely candidate would have been Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.

[Morgan Absher]

He was described as the godfather of the American music business.

[Carter Roy]

And just before Bobby's death, Keene's record label signed an exclusive distribution deal with Levy's company. That meant all of Keen's artists would.

[Morgan Absher]

Release their music through Roulette Records and that Levy was heavily invested in Delphi's success, especially in the success of the.

[Carter Roy]

Bobby Fuller Four, who was Delphi's most.

[Morgan Absher]

Popular group at the time. So it's possible that Keane and Levy were at odds about the best way to keep them relevant.

[Carter Roy]

Although Keane thought Bobby should go solo, he stood to make money either way.

[Morgan Absher]

With the group intact or with Bobby on his own.

[Carter Roy]

But maybe Levy thought that keeping the.

[Morgan Absher]

Band together was the best way to keep the cash flowing.

[Carter Roy]

Epstein thinks that perhaps Levy sent some.

[Morgan Absher]

Guys to motivate Bobby to stay with the group. That could have been what happened during.

[Carter Roy]

The incident that Rick described, when two.

[Morgan Absher]

Men appeared to threaten Bobby. If Bobby had resisted, maybe Levy would have had him killed in retaliation.

[Carter Roy]

Randy seems to believe a version of.

[Morgan Absher]

This theory that Bobby died because of a business deal gone wrong.

[Carter Roy]

Whether that meant Bobby wanted out of his record deal or something else, we're not sure. But there are some people out there.

[Morgan Absher]

With even more extreme theories about what went down.

[Carter Roy]

One of the more unbelievable possibilities involves the infamous Manson Family.

[Morgan Absher]

Now, this theory is pretty convoluted, but.

[Carter Roy]

According to Randy, Jim Reese's wife said that Charles Manson had come by their apartment once. Apparently, he wanted Bobby to give him guitar lessons. Now, Manson did spend some time in Los Angeles trying to start a music career, but that came several years after Bobby's death. In fact, Manson was in prison for.

[Morgan Absher]

A different crime when Bobby was killed, so there's no way he could have been involved in Bobby's death.

[Carter Roy]

And this was also before he formed his murderous Manson Family cult, who would.

[Morgan Absher]

Later commit brutal murders on his behalf. Beyond all the outlandish theories and speculation, there is a less dramatic but equally tragic possibility that the coroner was correct and Bobby's death was an accident.

[Carter Roy]

Whether Keane or Levy were involved may be somewhat.

[Morgan Absher]

Someone was sent to give Bobby a message, and things spiraled out of control, leaving Bobby dead.

[Carter Roy]

Or perhaps Rick Stone was right and Bobby did go out and get LSD that evening.

[Morgan Absher]

If he was high on acid, maybe he somehow injured himself, causing his death.

[Carter Roy]

If that's the case, he probably wasn't partying alone. It's possible that that someone drove Bobby back to the apartment, then staged the scene with a gas can to make.

[Morgan Absher]

It look like a suicide to avoid more questions. And if that's true, they got their wish.

[Carter Roy]

While the LAPD never finished their official investigation, the Fuller family later hired two.

[Morgan Absher]

Private detectives to look into Bobby's death.

[Carter Roy]

Ultimately, neither one was able to cut.

[Morgan Absher]

Through the mystery surrounding the case. In fact, they only added to it.

[Carter Roy]

According to Rick Stone.

[Morgan Absher]

One investigator abruptly quits without saying why.

[Carter Roy]

The other one claimed to have been threatened, then quickly left town. Maybe one or both of the private eyes got too close to the truth.

[Morgan Absher]

And were silenced by the same person who ended Bobby's life.

[Carter Roy]

While we may never know the truth, Bobby's family does wonder what might have happened if he'd lived. Randy believes that Bobby might have returned to El Paso, opened up a new teen club, and continued his experiments in the studio. He probably would have stepped away from the spotlight, at least temporarily. That way, he would have been free from the pressures of being a commercial.

[Morgan Absher]

Success, and his music could have soared.

[Carter Roy]

To even greater heights.

[Morgan Absher]

There's a good chance that if Bobby.

[Carter Roy]

Were able to keep growing and learning.

[Morgan Absher]

His name would be up there alongside.

[Carter Roy]

Performers like Elvis and Buddy Holly.

[Morgan Absher]

Instead, his life and career were cut short, like a haunting melody that trails off without a resolution. Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Carter Roy and this is True Crime Stories. Come back next time for the story of another murder and all the people it affected.

[Carter Roy]

Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime.

[Morgan Absher]

House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to.

[Carter Roy]

Thank each and every one of you for your support.

[Morgan Absher]

If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media, Rimehouse on TikTok and Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review and follow Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. And to enhance your Murder True Crime.

[Carter Roy]

Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House.

[Morgan Absher]

Plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Carter Roy]

You'll get every episode ad free and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two part series, you'll.

[Morgan Absher]

Get access to both at once, plus exciting bonus content.

[Carter Roy]

We'll be back on Tuesday. True Crime Stories is hosted by me.

[Morgan Absher]

Carter Roy and is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios.

[Carter Roy]

This episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories team.

[Morgan Absher]

Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benidon, Natalie Pertzofsky, Sarah Camp, Nani Okologu, Beth Johnson and Russell Nash. Thank you for listening.

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[Kaylin Moore]

Crime House is home to the most gripping true crime shows. And I would love for you to check out my show that I co host with Morgan Clues. Want to sneak past the crime scene tape to explore the key evidence behind some of the most gripping true crime cases? Well, each week on Clues, we open up a new case file and dig into the key evidence that either solved or left authorities baffled behind the most, most infamous criminal cases. Join us every Wednesday and listen to Clues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.