Latest news with #RobertWagner
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Snowtown killer could be free next month
A notorious Snowtown killer who murdered members of his own family could win his bid for freedom as early as next month. The South Australian Parole Board is scheduled to consider a parole application from James Vlassakis, who pleaded guilty on August 5 to four murders for his part in the gruesome 'bodies in the barrels' killing rampage across Adelaide in the 1990s. Vlassakis, John Justin Bunting and Robert Joe Wagner slaughtered 11 people between 1992 and 1999. Police found some of the victims decomposing in barrels hidden in the vault of a disused bank in the town of Snowtown, north of Adelaide. Vlassakis testified against Bunting and Wagner, helping the prosecution to secure convictions against the killers. Two of Vlassakis's victims included his half-brother Troy Youde and stepbrother David Johnson. In 2002, Vlassakis was punished with a life sentence and a non-parole period of 26 years, backdated to his arrest. In May this year, he lodged an application for parole. Parole Board chair Frances Nelson, speaking with the Adelaide Advertiser, confirmed the board would likely decide on his application at its August 5 meeting. She said the board had also asked the Department for Correctional Services to provide a 'through-care' plan, which considers how a prisoner might be resocialised in the community following release from jail. Snowtown accomplice Mark Ray Haydon, who helped cover up seven of the killings, was released on parole in May this year after 25 years in prison. Under the terms of his release, Haydon must be of good behaviour and not commit any offences. He is supervised by a Community Corrections officer and now resides at an approved address. Haydon is barred from knowingly contacting or associating with, either directly or indirectly, the victims of his offending, including any members of their immediate family, and is banned from leaving or attempting to leave South Australia. The Snowtown killings gained national and international attention due to the heinous nature of the murders, which involved torture. The 2011 film Snowtown, directed by Justin Kurzel, attempted to capture the viciousness of the crimes. Actor Lucas Pittaway played the role of Vlassakis, with the film anchored in his perspective. Daniel Henshall played the part of Bunting and won Best Actor at the 2012 AACTA Awards for his portrayal of the manipulative predator. The movie proved to be controversial, with some critics praising its realistic depiction of the killings, while others deplored the violence. A suppression order is in place for Vlassakis's image. The Parole Board has been contacted for comment.
Buzz Feed
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
10 Positively Chilling Stories About Old Hollywood Stars
In 1981, West Side Story star Natalie Wood drowned after (officially) falling off the yacht owned by her and her husband, actor Robert Wagner. But despite her death being ruled accidental, many have speculated for decades that she was, in fact, murdered. Aboard the boat were her husband, Robert Wagner, as well as actor Christopher Walken, who has remained quite mum about the situation. In a rare 1997 statement, Walken maintained that "What happened that night only she knows, because she was alone.' In 2011, the case was reopened, and in 2018, Robert Wagner was named a person of interest in the case. At the time, Lieutenant John Corina of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said that he thinks Wagner has, "constantly changed his story a little bit. And his version of events just don't add up.' But as of 2025, the case still hasn't been closed. Actress Lana Turner, ever-scandalous, was married no less than seven times; but her most famous relationship was with a boyfriend, Johnny Stomponato, who was murdered on the night of the Oscars in 1958 by none other than Turner's own daughter. Johnny Stomponato had a history of mental and physical abuse. That night, Turner attempted to end the relationship, and things terrified 14-year-old daughter, Cheryl Crane, was listening to the entire fight. She ran to retrieve a knife from the kitchen. In her later memoir, Crane wrote that Stomponato "was coming at her from behind, his arm raised to strike. I took a step forward and lifted the weapon. He ran on the blade. It went in. In! For three ghastly heartbeats, our bodies fused. He looked straight at me, unblinking. 'My God, Cheryl, what have you done?'" Stomponato's death was ruled a justifiable homicide. The mysterious death of celebrated director William Desmond Taylor is referred to by some crime fans as "Hollywood's first murder mystery." In 1922, Taylor was discovered dead in his apartment with a bullet in his back. The case remains unsolved. The scandalous story dominated Hollywood, but a suspect could never be nailed down. As the New York Times put it 70 years later, "Was the murderer a seduced virgin, her jealous mother, the gay butler, the drug-addicted actress, the blackmailing secretary, or someone from William Desmond Taylor's mysterious past?" A little over 100 years after the murder, it seems that Taylor's case will forever remain cold — but that doesn't mean that modern imagination isn't still infatuated by it. In fact, just a few years ago the case was the subject of a popular BuzzFeed Unsolved video!
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beloved Hollywood Couple, 95 and 84, Marks Milestone Wedding Anniversary With Rare Photo Montage
A beloved Hollywood couple celebrated 35 years of marriage on Monday, May 26, with a video montage full of rare photos. Actor Robert Wagner, 95, and wife Jill St. John, 84, celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary on May 26 with a photo montage posted to Wagner's Instagram. "35 years of love, laughter, and partnership with my beautiful Jill. Every day by your side has been a blessing. Happy Anniversary, my love. 💕🍾," wrote Wagner on the and St. John actually met in the 1950s when they were contract players for FOX studios. They later co-starred in How I Spent My Summer Vacation, but they would not get married for almost 25 years after that film. Both were married many times before they began dating in 1982; Wagner was famously married twice to the late actress Natalie Woods, who died in a tragic drowning accident in 1981. Wagner and Wood share a daughter, Courtney, and after Wood's death, he became the legal guardian of Natasha Gregson Wagner, his stepdaughter, whose biological father was producer Richard Gregson. Wagner is also father of Katie Wagner from his marriage to Marion Marshall. When Wagner and St. John crossed paths in 1982, they began dating, and "that was it," Jayne Smith, a friend of St. John's told People at the time. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 "R.J. just started calling. They started dating and have been ever since. She's really in love," said Smith. Wagner and St. John married in 1990 and are still going strong 35 years later. In 2007, they left the Los Angeles area and relocated full-time to Aspen, Colorado. Wagner wrote in his autobiography Pieces of My Heart that he and St. John are settled in Aspen, and he intends to live there until his time up (via the Denver Post). "When my time comes, I will be buried in Aspen, in an old cemetery that was originally laid out in the nineteenth century. A lot of children are buried there, and it's in the middle of a glade of aspen and birch trees — very wild and overgrown. As soon as someone is laid to rest, the land is allowed to return to its natural state…It's absolutely pure and totally peaceful," writes Wagner in the book. Beloved Hollywood Couple, 95 and 84, Marks Milestone Wedding Anniversary With Rare Photo Montage first appeared on Parade on May 26, 2025
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Dakota softball advances to Summit League semifinals with 8-6 defeat of Kansas City, head coach Robert Wagner earns 200th win with ‘Yotes
BROOKINGS, S.D. (KCAU) – #3 South Dakota earned its fifth consecutive win, defeating #6 Kansas City 8-6 to open up Summit League Tournament play. USD exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third inning, but Kansas City would come back with a five-run sixth inning. The 'Yotes put together a pair of base hits in the bottom of the sixth to keep the game out of reach. The victory gives South Dakota head coach Robert Wagner his 200th win at USD. Up next, the 'Yotes will face South Dakota will face #2 South Dakota State in the Summit League semifinals on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Scottsdale icon just announced an $18 million renovation and we got a sneak peek
I made the short trip from the airport to downtown Scottsdale's Hotel Valley Ho in a Toyota Sequoia, courtesy of Uber. When we arrived I realized my mistake. I should have donned chic oversized sunglasses, wrapped a billowy scarf around my hair, and held out for a convertible instead of a pickup truck. Hotel Valley Ho is that kind of place. It oozes with old Hollywood glamour. Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood were married here (the first time), Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis were long-term guests while she filmed Psycho, and Jimmy Durante often played piano in the swanky bar. Now I was here with my cousin for a swanky holiday of our own. Hotel Valley Ho opened in 1956 and is considered one of the finest mid-century modern hotels in the country. Edward L. Varney, who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright, designed the property which brims with the eye-catching colors, geometric shapes, neon, and three-dimensional artworks that defined the era. Furnishings are sleek and low profile, allowing the architecture and art to claim the spotlight. Despite being the only hotel in Scottsdale registered with the Historic Hotels of America, the atmosphere at Hotel Valley Ho is anything but stuffy. In fact, the energy is downright cool. The retro vibes are fun and playful. There's no need to speak in hushed tones - this is the kind of place where you're comfortable laughing out loud while chatting with your companions. Hotel Valley Ho's recently announced $18 million renovation celebrates the mid-century modern aesthetic in a way that feels current and fresh. In the recently redesigned rooms, sleek, low headboards feature fabric accents and outlets with USB plugs to charge devices. Imagined by Mendil + Meyer Design Studio, terracotta, sage, and powder blue accents contrast with cream walls, conjuring the beauty of the Arizona landscape. Ceramic planters and artwork by Scottsdale-based artist Djamila Fierek create the illusion you're not in a hotel but in a beautifully-decorated home (abiet one where someone is nice enough to come in to make the bed and clean your bathroom every day). Custom terrazzo countertops, deep soaking tubs, lighted pill-shaped mirrors, and luxurious Red Flower amenities turn the bathroom into a private oasis. If the pool wasn't calling, it might be tempting to spend the entire day in your room. Every guest room features floor-to-ceiling windows and a private furnished patio or balcony overlooking the lush grounds and pools or fiery red mountains in the distance. More reimagined rooms and all-new executive suites are anticipated later this year. There are two swimming pools at Hotel Valley Ho. Ohasis Pool is for laps and quiet relaxation. It's the perfect place to catch some rays, read a book, or sip a cocktail. Oh Pool is livelier, with a hottub, plush daybeds, bar, and DJs spinning tunes on weekends from March - September. We reserved a cabana with private misters, a refrigerator, sofa, and loungers so we could cool down and enjoy poolside lunch service in the shade. It was a gamechanger. The VH Spa is a tranquil and relaxing enhancement to your stay with an array of facials. wraps, and massages. All treatments of 60 minutes or more include access to the chromotherapy saunas, pools, fitness center, and valet parking, even if you're not a guest of the hotel. ZuZu, the on-site restaurant, is frequented by both locals and hotel guests, making it feel like a social club. Dining options include an inviting outdoor patio or mid-century modern-inspired indoor seating featuring tall booths and a swanky bar with swiveling stools. The food is outstanding, with creative takes on familiar favorites in dishes like burrata with pistachio pesto, Devesa Argentinian ribeye, or Hokkaido scallops with black truffle and lobster butter. Don't miss happy hour for killer deals on drinks and appetizers. Hotel Valley Ho is tucked away at the west end of Old Town Scottsdale. It's an ideal location within walking distance to bars, restaurants, galleries, and nightlife. Spend your time wandering through art galleries and museums, picking out the perfect souvenir, or dining at award-winning restaurants like Citizen Public House (home to an instagram-famous tableside chopped salad with smoked salmon, couscous, arugula, trail mix with pepitas, Asiago cheese & currants, dried super sweet corn, marinated tomatoes, and buttermilk herb dressing). When you're through exploring, Hotel Valley Ho will be waiting to welcome you back.
