Kristi Johnson had what it took to make a career in Hollywood. A slender blonde with blue eyes has been trying to appear in the world of film for years. To increase her career opportunities, she moved from Michigan to the Los Angeles area. Although she was only 19 years old, she knew what she wanted and what to do to achieve it. However, her actions lacked caution. She blindly trusted a man claiming to be a talent scout, and a thoughtless decision.
Kristi Johnson wanted to be an actress. She believed that she would finally get her dream role
When Kristi Johnson got a role in the movie “Deadly Countdown”, in which Sandra Bullock was supposed to play the lead role, she was speechless with delight. Her American dream finally had a chance to come true. She was excited and couldn’t wait to get on set. Her determination and stubbornness in pursuing her goals made Warner Brothers quickly interested in her, which took her under their wing.
Unfortunately, attempts to get another role usually ended in fiasco. She unsuccessfully participated in numerous castings, but nevertheless did not lose hope. One day she was noticed by a man who claimed to be a young talent scout. Delighted by her charm, he offered to get her a role in a James Bond movie. Kristi was supposed to play the role of the agent’s girlfriend, which was like a dream come true for the 21-year-old at the time. Unfortunately, as it turned out later, the aspiring actress fell victim to .
Kristi’s phone went unanswered for several days. The girl was reported missing to the police
On February 15, 2003, Kristi Johnson spoke to her mother. While the women usually had slightly longer chats, this time the call lasted only a few minutes. The girl did not hide that she was in a hurry for an important meeting, but did not reveal who she would see. She promised to call back the next day and explain everything.
When Kristi didn’t speak the next day, her mother was concerned. The phone was silent, so she decided to report the matter to the police. Detectives quickly checked phone records and determined that the call the girl made to her mother was the last. She also didn’t show up for work, even though she’d never done that before. Her roommates were also worried about her disappearance. The women told the police that two days earlier, when they last saw their friend, Kristi was getting ready to meet a talent scout. This information shed new light on the case and investigators began to suspect that the girl could have fallen victim to a scammer.
Johnson’s case immediately hit the media. A photo of the girl and the most important information about her appearance and clothes on the day of her disappearance were made public. Investigators also made public suspicions that third parties were involved in her disappearance.
The alleged talent scout promised her the role. There were more victims
Just five days later, the newspaper with information about Kristi’s disappearance ended up in the hands of a certain Susan Murphy. The girl hastily reported to the police, where she gave extensive testimony. She confessed that some time earlier she had been accosted in a shopping center by a man who offered her a similar offer. Although she went to the casting, the audition did not even take place. She appeared at the meeting in a tracksuit, although the dress code was in force – a white shirt, mini skirt, tights and high heels, and she was accompanied by her boyfriend. The talent scout was outraged by the situation and slammed the door in her face. Fortunately, thanks to this, the couple remembered his appearance well and managed to draw up a memory portrait.
Another breakthrough in the investigation came on February 24, when the 21-year-old’s car was found. He was standing in the parking lot of a hotel located near a shopping mall. The police then released a memory portrait of the man, and it did not take long for a response. The probation officer came to the police station, who announced that it was his ward. A 41-year-old restaurateur, Victor Paleologus, with an extensive record, mostly for violence against women.
The perpetrator was caught. Although he denied the allegations, he eventually pleaded guilty
During the search for the man, it was found that he was in custody for attempting to steal a car. In the meantime, four tourists came across a corpse hidden in the bushes. Although the body, bound and wrapped in a sleeping bag, was in a significant state of decomposition, tests showed that it was Kristi Johnson, who had been wanted for several days. The victim was found near a property which, as it later turned out, Paleologus intended to buy. It was to this house that the girl was invited by her tormentor.
In May 2003, Paleologus was charged. It was established that when Kristi arrived at the address, the man approached her from behind and gagged her mouth. He then brutally raped her and then strangled her. He threw the corpse wrapped in a sleeping bag down the escarpment into a ravine nearby. Despite the evidence, the accused pleaded not guilty. Only the testimonies of as many as eight women made him decide to cooperate. In order to avoid the death penalty, he signed a plea bargain, thus admitting to all the charges against him. Victor Paleologus was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
