The mysterious death of Hollywood star Thelma Todd

Frequently cast as a bombshell, earning her the additional nickname “Hot Toddy,” she appeared in films by Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, and the Marx Brothers, most notably as the female lead in his favorite from 1931 Monkey business. The sky was the limit for Todd until she was found dead on December 16, 1935 at the age of 29.

Her body was found slumped in the front seat of her car, a convertible parked in a Los Angeles garage. Todd was dressed to the nines in an evening gown and mink coat and decked out in expensive jewelry. The official cause of death was determined after investigation to be carbon monoxide poisoning, but suspicions of murder soon arose.

One theory claimed that she simply took refuge in her car after losing her keys and being unable to enter her house, and that turning on the ignition to stay warm claimed her life after she fell asleep. Her friends were convinced there was no chance it was a suicide, but there was always an additional line of inquiry that suggested something more sinister was going on.

At the time of her death, West was in a relationship with director Roland West, with Todd’s residence also being close to the house occupied by West’s estranged wife, actor Jewel Carmen. Complicating matters further, the three were also business partners who had jointly opened a resident and private nightclub in a building where Todd and West lived in adjoining flats above Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Café.

According to official documents, Todd had visited a nightclub for a party is hosted by Ida Lupino in her honor the night before she died. While there, reports claimed she got into an argument with her ex-husband Pat DiCiccio, and her driver dropped her off right in front of the stairs that would have led her home.

The findings revealed that once Todd discovered she had been locked out, she took refuge in the car and accidentally died from carbon monoxide poisoning, but an obituary revealed that she was the alleged target of a $10,000 extortion scheme involving the perpetrators had threatened to kill. her if she couldn’t make ends meet with the money.

The fact that more than a hundred Christmas presents were wrapped under the tree in her home indicated that suicide was not a viable explanation. her part in not fulfilling those professional duties.

There was no tangible evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Todd had been murdered and that it had been staged to appear like an accidental death, but there were enough gaps in the logic to ensure that the theory was never completely forgotten. has disappeared.

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