Hollywood Stars Who Escaped Murder Charges or Convictions

Several celebrities have managed to avoid prison in cases involving homicidal, accidental, and manslaughter deaths.Photo byEtienne Méndez/Canva

Many celebrities are often arrested for non-violent crimes such as drug abuse and fraud. However, some celebrities have been accused of committing homicide or manslaughter. Read about several cases involving stars who beat criminal charges and others who were never charged.

1. Snoop Dogg

In 1993, Calvin Broadus, famously known as rapper Snoop Dog, and his then-bodyguard McKinley Lee were accused of killing Philip Woldermariam, a rival gang member, in Los Angeles. Both men were charged with first-degree murder and went to trial but were acquitted in 1996.

While the incident left a lasting effect on Snoop’s career and lifestyle, it also occurred after the release of his soundtrack LP, Murder Was the Case, which reached the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart and certified Gold in 1994 while still a suspect in Woldermariam’s murder.

2. Mary-Kate Olsen

In 2008, actress Mary-Kate Olsen became a topic of controversy during an investigation into the death of actor Heath Ledger due to a fatal drug overdose in New York City. Olsen was questioned after officials discovered she was in contact with a masseuse who found Ledger lifeless in his apartment.

Evidence confirming Olsen’s involvement in Ledger’s death has yet to surface although rumors have circulated that she was casually dating him. The case intensified when Olsen’s lawyer defended her publicly before she was questioned by federal investigators. However, 15 years after Ledger’s tragic death, Olsen has never been arrested nor charged in connection to the incident.

3. Brandy Norwood

On December 30, 2006, singer and actress Brandy Norwood tailgated and then hit the rear bumper of another car on a Los Angeles freeway. Norwood’s negligence resulted in the death of Awatef Aboudihaj upon impact. Despite Norwood having caused the accident, she did not face criminal charges.

Norwood also managed to avoid a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge because prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to prove she was responsible for the incident. However, she has faced numerous wrongful death lawsuits, but the status of each case remains unknown.

4. Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle

Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was loved and adored by many fans as a major Hollywood silent film actor. However, the star’s reputation took a downturn after he was named a suspect in the death of Virginia Rappe in 1921. The actress suffered from a ruptured bladder and died a few days after she attended a party in Arbuckle’s hotel room in San Francisco. Arbuckle was charged with murder and assault but was acquitted after three trials.

5. Matthew Broderick

In 1987, actor Matthew Broderick and his then-girlfriend actress Jennifer Grey were cruising on a highway in Ireland when Broderick’s rental car collided with another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of Anna Gallagher and her mother Margaret Doherty. While Broderick suffered major injuries such as broken bones and multiple lacerations, Grey was also injured and transported to a nearby hospital with Broderick. Despite Broderick’s condition, he was charged with reckless driving.

Murder and manslaughter are violent crimes that are committed daily under various circumstances. However, when celebrities are accused of taking the life of another individual, they don’t always suffer consequences or may even find themselves framed unfairly.