Robert John Bardo
Encyclopedia
Robert John Bardo is an American
man serving life imprisonment
without parole after being convicted in October 1991 for the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer
on July 18, 1989, whom he had stalked
for several years beforehand.
, the youngest of seven children and the son of a former Air Force
non-commissioned officer and a Japanese
national.
Prior to locking his sights onto Schaeffer, Bardo was fixated with pop stars Tiffany
and Debbie Gibson.
before her death in a 1985 plane crash, Bardo turned his attention to Schaeffer in 1986. He attempted to gain access to the set of the CBS
TV series My Sister Sam
, in which Schaeffer was then starring. Ultimately, he obtained her home address via a detective agency, which in turn had obtained it from the California
Department of Motor Vehicles
. He confronted her at her home, angry at her for having starred in a sex scene in the film Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
and thus having "lost her innocence". He visited her at her apartment and told her he was a big fan. She asked him to leave. When he came back, he fatally shot her.
The prosecutor for the state was Marcia Clark
, who later became famous as a lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial, though she made her name in the legal profession with her prosecution of Bardo. Bardo was housed in a Sensitive Needs Unit (SNY) for inmates with "sensitive needs", including former gang members, notorious prisoners and those convicted of sex crimes.
Bardo also carried around a copy of The Catcher in the Rye
with him when he murdered Schaeffer. He later learned that Mark David Chapman
had also carried a copy with him when he shot and killed John Lennon
on December 8, 1980.
which prohibits state Departments of Motor Vehicles
from releasing the home addresses of state residents.
On July 27, 2007, Bardo was stabbed 11 times on his way to breakfast in the maximum-security unit at Mule Creek State Prison
in Amador County
, California
. Two inmate-made weapons were found at the scene. He was treated at the UC Davis Medical Center
and returned to prison, officials said. The suspect in the attack was another convict, serving 82-years-to-life for second-degree murder.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
man serving life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
without parole after being convicted in October 1991 for the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer
Rebecca Schaeffer
Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer was an American actress best known for her role in the sitcom My Sister Sam...
on July 18, 1989, whom he had stalked
Stalking
Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual or group to another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person and/or monitoring them via the internet...
for several years beforehand.
Early life
Bardo grew up in Tucson, ArizonaTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, the youngest of seven children and the son of a former Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
non-commissioned officer and a Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
national.
Prior to locking his sights onto Schaeffer, Bardo was fixated with pop stars Tiffany
Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
and Debbie Gibson.
Murder
Having previously stalked child peace activist Samantha SmithSamantha Smith
Samantha Reed Smith was an American schoolgirl and child actress from Manchester, Maine, who became famous in the Cold War-era United States and Soviet Union...
before her death in a 1985 plane crash, Bardo turned his attention to Schaeffer in 1986. He attempted to gain access to the set of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
TV series My Sister Sam
My Sister Sam
My Sister Sam is an American situation comedy series that aired on CBS from 1986 to 1988. It was created by Stephen Fischer and executive produced by Diane English.-Synopsis:...
, in which Schaeffer was then starring. Ultimately, he obtained her home address via a detective agency, which in turn had obtained it from the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist in Canada...
. He confronted her at her home, angry at her for having starred in a sex scene in the film Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills is an American black comedy film released in 1989. Co-written and directed by Paul Bartel, Scenes re-unites Bartel with his Eating Raoul co-stars Mary Woronov and Robert Beltran...
and thus having "lost her innocence". He visited her at her apartment and told her he was a big fan. She asked him to leave. When he came back, he fatally shot her.
The prosecutor for the state was Marcia Clark
Marcia Clark
Marcia Rachel Clark is an American prosecutor, author, and television correspondent who gained fame as the head prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case.-Early life:...
, who later became famous as a lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial, though she made her name in the legal profession with her prosecution of Bardo. Bardo was housed in a Sensitive Needs Unit (SNY) for inmates with "sensitive needs", including former gang members, notorious prisoners and those convicted of sex crimes.
Bardo also carried around a copy of The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye is a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger. Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage confusion, angst, alienation, language, and rebellion. It has been translated into almost all of the world's major...
with him when he murdered Schaeffer. He later learned that Mark David Chapman
Mark David Chapman
Mark David Chapman is an American prison inmate who murdered former Beatles member John Lennon on December 8, 1980. He committed the crime as Lennon and Yoko Ono were outside of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Chapman aimed five shots at Lennon, hitting him four times in his back...
had also carried a copy with him when he shot and killed John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
on December 8, 1980.
Aftermath
Partly as a result of Bardo's actions and his means of obtaining Schaeffer's address, the US federal government passed the Driver's Privacy Protection ActDriver's Privacy Protection Act
The Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 is a United States federal statute governing the privacy and disclosure of personal information gathered by state Departments of Motor Vehicles. The law was passed in 1994; it was introduced by Rep...
which prohibits state Departments of Motor Vehicles
Department of Motor Vehicles
In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist in Canada...
from releasing the home addresses of state residents.
On July 27, 2007, Bardo was stabbed 11 times on his way to breakfast in the maximum-security unit at Mule Creek State Prison
Mule Creek State Prison
Mule Creek State Prison is a California State Prison. It was opened in June 1987 and covers located in Ione, California. The current population is 3,769 although it was designed for a capacity of 1,700. The prison has a staff of 1,242 and an annual operating budget of $157 million...
in Amador County
Amador County, California
Amador County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,091. The county seat is Jackson.Amador County bills itself as "The Heart of the Mother Lode" and lies within the Gold Country...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Two inmate-made weapons were found at the scene. He was treated at the UC Davis Medical Center
UC Davis Medical Center
UC Davis Medical Center is a private, major academic health center located in Sacramento, California.The 645-bed hospital serves as key referral center for a area that includes 33 counties and 6 million residents...
and returned to prison, officials said. The suspect in the attack was another convict, serving 82-years-to-life for second-degree murder.