Dorothy Stratten first found fame when she was named Playboy's Miss August in 1979 before eventually becoming Playmate of the Year in 1980. In addition to her modeling success, she also had a few guest-starring roles in TV shows like Buck Rogers and Fantasy Island. But her early career was soured by her controlling husband, Vancouver-area club promoter and pimp Paul Snider, whom she had met when she was a teen and he was 26. Friends, including Hugh Hefner, warned her about his obsessive behavior, and Dorothy began an affair with Peter Bogdanovich, the director on her first major film, They All Laughed. After Paul hired a private investigator to follow Dorothy, she ended things and moved in with Peter.
On Aug. 14, 1980, Dorothy met Paul at the house they once shared as a couple to discuss an amicable divorce. Dr. Stephen Cushner, who was staying at the home at the time, broke into Paul's room after Paul's private investigator said he was unable to reach him for several hours. He then discovered the naked bodies of Dorothy and Paul. Police believe that Paul shot Dorothy, abused and raped her corpse, and then turned the shotgun on himself. Dorothy was 20 years old.
