22 Comments
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Ralph Strangis's avatar

I’ve followed this story over the years. He didn’t have any money did he? Inheriting the “estate” couldn’t have been much in those days in that business. Look at the apartment photo. Not much motive for the new wife. Most likely Carpenter.

Donna Patton's avatar

I agree. I'm not sure he was worth much money at the time of his death. He was paying alimony, child support and he had just found out his accountant had mishandled his money.

Sherrie Phillips's avatar

Maybe it was the accountant!

ClarkKent's avatar

His friend did it.

The Cold File's avatar

A television icon. A double life. An unsolved murder. The cases where the victim's private world complicates the investigation are always the ones that never fully close.

Donna Patton's avatar

That's true. He was well known but the murderer could have been a dozen different people.

Emma Sheehan's avatar

I had heard of this grisly case before and I do think Carpenter is the guy. I am interested to have read of the Graysmith book. I haven't heard of Auto Focus, but the cast is great, so will have a look to find it.

jeri yoshizu's avatar

I wish this case would be solved. Bob deserves it to be laid to rest.

Men's Media Network's avatar

“Auto Focus,” is a fascinating peek at the life of a beloved celeb and his secret addiction, but the evil portrayed in the film can be disturbing, detracting from it as entertainment.

Tom Storer's avatar

"Before his rise to prominence as a television personality, Robert Edward Crane was born...” This is known in French as a "lapalissade,” after a comic poem, "Monsieur de la Palisse,” that includes lines such as "24 heures avant sa mort, il était toujours en vie" (24 hours before his death, he was still alive).

Gayle B. Williams's avatar

I vaguely remember this case, so you really filled in the blanks for me. This was an interesting read. I didn't know all the details of his personal life.

Donna Patton's avatar

Hi Gayle. Glad you enjoyed the story. Like you I knew of him but not many details of hid life.

Macwiz's avatar

Back in 1962 when I was living in Los Angeles, Bob Crane was an institution for us listening to him on KNX radio. I recall one time that Bob Crane was very pumped up on his radio show about a young new singer. Nobody had ever heard of that he introduced on the air that day and her career took off like a rocket. After that the singer was Barbara Streisand.

Bob, the Free Radical's avatar

add that to the list of crimes that include the murder of Seth Rich . . . and others . . .

Steve's avatar

As soon as I heard about this, I thought, the killer was his gay lover or ex lover. Jealousy, something like that, played a role.

RJ Sykes's avatar

Very interesting read! All signs point to Carpenter.

Theodore's avatar

Ahh CBS.

Jules's avatar

Thanks for a really interesting read. I had never heard of Bob Crane, although I have probably seen him in some of the programmes mentioned. I would be interested to see "Auto Focus": Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe are good actors.

CS Hansen's avatar

Auto Focus is really good.

Jules's avatar

Thanks- I'll watch that if I get the chance.

HorseLaugher's avatar

Great performance by Greg kinear