The Murder of Dominique Dunne

Rewatching Poltergeist, it's interesting how they really don't know how to use her character in the storytelling. Each of the kids had a fear that was developed. The parents had scary sequences to endure as well. But the teenage girl just comes and goes from the storyline. As my writing teacher once said, use it or lose it. They should have lost her undeveloped character.

Her father lost a ton of money back in the late 60s and the children didn't always have it easy. Actually most of the money was from the mother's side of the family. (And) Dominique' mother became an invalid when she (D) was still a child. Natalie Wood was a family friend and Dominique idolized her. She was a tiny little thing. Very tragic needless murder. Hollywood is a town that runs blood.

"Natalie Wood was a family friend and Dominique idolized her. She was a tiny little thing"

Incidentally, Natalie is buried next to Dominique at a Westwood Cemetery.

She was so pretty too.

I can't be the only gymnastics fan on here whose heart started beating when they thought this thread was about Dominique Dawes!!

Yeah her character in Poltergeist was pretty superfluous. The older brother in E.T. was less useless but still forgettable. Spielberg must have had an older but not especially influential older sibling he didn’t know how to utilize in his scripts (I’m assuming they were inspired by his own childhood.)

She still stood out.She was so pretty and had a great line of "What's happening?!"

Jo Beth Williams was very fond of her .

Tragic story. Didn't the murderer serve less than 5 years?

He served 2 and half years at a minimum security prison. Wolfgang Puck paid for his legal counsel .

Really, R9? When did that come out? I know that, after the killer was released and got another restaurant job, Dominique's family and friends passed out flyers in front of the restaurant saying “the hands that prepared your meal strangled Dominique Dunne to death.”

The restaurant got rid of him soon thereafter.

I read Dominick Dunne's account of her murder and the trial a few years ago. He was utterly scathing about the judge's handling of the trial.

r10, yes. John Sweeny(may his name be cursed) was an assistant chef to the master at Ma Maison on Melrose. Puck owned that establishment. The saddest thing is both Sweeny and Dominique were up and comers in their respective careers .

She had a juicier role as Miss Charlene Tilton's BFF in the classic TV movie [italic]Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker.[/italic]

It was shocking because Poltergeist was such a huge hit and even though she didn't have much to do, the audience was charmed by her.

Only a couple of months prior, Theresa Saldana had almost been killed by an obsessive stalker as well.

Right @r14 And Teresa was also living in West Hollywood or the Hollywood border. Wow!!!!!

Rebecca Schaeffer too...

Domique's murder was a bit different from Shaefer and Saldono . Dom was killed by a former BF who abused her throughout their relatively short relationship (although they moved in together pretty quickly after dating) The final deal breaker was when he strangled her in their bedroom WHILE there were friends spending the night. Her injuries were so visible and shocking , she had pics taken and she played a battered teen on "HILL St Blues " needing no makeup.

Rebecca Schaeffer' was murdered by an obsessed fan/ stalker. He was able to use information from the DMV to find out where Rebecca lived, and that is where he killed her.

Schaeffer's death led to California passing the nation's first anti-stalking laws. The DMV stopped releasing personal information.

LAPD has a special anti-stalking unit.

[quote] She lived in West Hollywood when she was brutally strangled by her ex bf.

As opposed to being [italic]delicately[/italic] strangled by her ex bf???

I would think all stranglings are brutal.

She had a quality, but her career was forgettable...

"She had a quality, but her career was forgettable..."

That's because she never had a chance to live and continue to act. She was playing the character of "Robin" on the V miniseries . Her male co star was with her the night she was murdered and was too afraid to help her.

Didn't her gay BFF hide while she was being strangled?

David Packer is not gay! And they were rehearsing scenes for their show V

sHE WAS good friends with Miguel Fererrer

Krysten Ritter and Katie Holmes resemble her

That movie is Spooked! Theresa Saldana Attacked Dominique Dunne Murdered and no one mentioned Heather O'Rourke's Death. I find this rather strange. Makes me shudder and really look at the movie in an entirely different way. Brrr. That is the only SS movie I have seen. It would be interesting for someone to do a movie around all three deaths. A whodunit of sorts.

Was Saldana in Poltergeist? R26

The reason that Dominique's character seems so out of place in Poltergeist is because the movie is a mess. At the time of its release, it was rumored that Spielberg had taken the riens of directing away from Tobe Hooper. Watch the film carefully... it can't decide if it wants to be a real, graphic horror film (Hooper) or a scary movie set in suburban California (Spielberg).

In the final editing together of two different visions, Dunne's character gets left behind, the focus shifting to Carol Ann and to some extent the mother and older bother.

Dunne was talented and in the early stages of her career. I hope there's a special place in hell for the bf... say, in the afterlife, he'll be violently strangled to death every evening only to wake up the next day with memory of what happened. That way he's always terrified when attacked.

Would not be surprised if Dominique knew something about Heather being abused during the filming. Oh just look it up, what H died of, what H's character's name was in the sitcom HDays. You want to get spooked do your research.

Yes, poor Dominique and poor Heather.

r29, I still question her parents not taking her to hospital . She was sickly looking and couldn't even attend P.E. the Friday before she died.,.

The Fonz gave her a virus?

Sorry I said in #26 that Theresa Saldana was in the movie too. My Mistake. It is still very spooky that two of the stars died. One was murdered that we know of and the other Heather O has always been questioned by many. Yes, look it up. There was a very interesting Blind on CDandN. The answers are very telling.

Link for the lazy R32

They say the use of real skeletons in the pool scene created the poltergeist curse.

Heather O died from cardiac arrest brought on by septic shock caused by an obstruction in her bowel. There is no big conspiracy about her death. I saw the last movie she made and she looked awful.

Yes r35 but there are some crack pots on the internets who say she was raped by studio executives and somehow got an obstruction to her bowel because of it.

Yes, r35, she looked ghastly pale and bloated. The day before she died(a sunday) she was vomiting profusely and so sick that she crawled in bed with her parents(at age 12) Her parents should have taken her to ER KNOWING she had a condition .

Yeah, I know and one of those crackpots hangs out here and connects everything to child sex rings.

Heather adored Henry Winkler. Henry, along with Speilberg, Craig T Nelson among others were pall bearers at her funeral.

r32 Yeah there's nothing fucking spooky about an actress dating a creep, it happens all the time and Heather had been sick, get a load of her white trash Santee parents and you'll have your answer about why they didn't take her to the hospital. Stop it, you are making actual curious people look like kooky tin hats like you.

Heather dressed in rags and her family always lived in seedy areas. I wonder if they spent her money on drugs

She didn’t make much money

Sweeney changed his name to John Patrick Maura. He is in charge of dining services at a retirement community in San Rafael California called Smith Ranch Homes.

Dolph Sweeney?

Can you imagine if someone killed your kid or anyone you loved and the murderer only got 2 1/2 years? The rage I would feel.

We can think of something worse r45

She didn’t make much money

Uh, she made about $ 300,000 (1980's ) with Poltergeist series alone. She did a lot of commercials and Happy Days.

This is Sweeney now allegedly

Awww. I read about Sweet Dominique Dunne. She was reading lines for the mini series V with a co star. Her ex came over wanting to talk. They started on the front porch and he got mad and dragged her to the back driveway area....the friend (a big guy) heard the commotion and went outside....saw the bf strangling her in the back and ran back inside scared. I think he called 911. The bf got almost no time. It was sickening. He changed his name and just went on with his life, a chef... Her guy friend.....why didn't he grab a knife and go stop it? I dunno. Maybe I'm misremembering.

That’s not that much for a family of four to live on for a decade, R47

r49, he violently dragged her by the neck across the entire yard. David Sweeney, her costar and a person in her home when this evil occurred, was not a "big guy" He was essentially a young twink much smaller in stature than Sweeney. Sweeney was so enraged against women in general.

R51 david packer was her wimpy co star. Sweeney was her murderer ex

r52, that was my point.. I do believe Packer was terrified of Sweeney based on the sounds he heard, but he should have done something.

Should have brought a pistol

Have any other women accused Sweeney of violence since he has been out of jail?

Strange that she got involved with that rotten creep John Sweeney. Maybe she felt sorry for him. She had a thing for the underdog, literally; she had several crippled pets.

Sweeney had a history of violence against women. He had roughed up previous girlfriends. But no testimony like that was allowed in court. His sleazy lawyer came up with this defense: it was all HER fault. This spoiled rich girl toyed with the affections of the poor working class Sweeney and then dumped him. Who wouldn't get angry over a thing like that? Of course, he got a little out of control (he strangled her to death) but it was a crime of passion and SHE provoked it. So show a little mercy to the poor guy, why don't you? The jury did. They found him guilty of manslaughter and he got a tap on the wrist. Where is Sweeney today? Probably making delicious meals in some tony restaurant and whacking around women who have no better sense than to get involved with the crazy clod.

I never got why they even put her character in the original film. She is always just leaving to go be with friends.

Plus the really odd part is that they say she is 16 and Jobeth Williams is 32. So the mother was a teenage mother? It just seemed to go against the whole typical suburban family they were trying to present.

In the sequel made after she died they just completely eliminated her character from the script, no mention of her whatsoever.

Plus the really odd part is that they say she is 16 and Jobeth Williams is 32. So the mother was a teenage mother? It just seemed to go against the whole typical suburban family they were trying to present.

Uh the pot smoking bed scene with mom and dad?

we think alike r58!!!!

r56 is the personification of a brit nancy boy. I hope he is being facetious . Dominique "met" Sweeney at a party at Ma Maison. He was the assistant 2 the master chef and made a bee line towards her. He shared with her a love of languages, travel and cooking and he probably lied also love for animals . She was so far from a snob. She was a good soul, who was naive and felt compassion for this narcissist who hates women and manipulates the hell out of them.

and in the sequel it would have been so easy to throw in a line about how Dana called from college or something like that.

A rich girl like her from a prominent family and she dated a cook? Poor mixed up troubled girl. The class system is there for our protection. We advice all young women to use it.

r59, Kisses

R57 Jobeth williams and Craig T Nelson were supposed to be the hip young weed smoking couple. High school sweethearts who got knocked up young. Jobeths character tried to act like "cool mom" or friend to Dominique instead of strict old square mother.

r64, I also got the impression that Diane(Jo Beth) was more into her younger kids than her teen. But that is not un common lol

" I hope he is being facetious . "

Oh, for crap's sake I was just relating what Sweeney's lawyer wanted the jury to believe, that she was a spoiled rich girl who fucked over the poor working class slob (although he was a chef in an upscale restaurant he came from humble beginnings). What the lawyer said was bullshit, but it obviously worked as a defense because Sweeney got away with murder.

R58 They were ex hippies who got knocked up as teenagers. They didn't have the rest of their kids until they were in their 20s.

In Poltergeist 2, originally there were references to her being away at college, but those scenes ended up on the cutting room floor along with another 20 minutes of footage.

She would have been at the least a relatively successful actress. The world was robbed and she lost her life so young!!! He took all that life from her.

John Sweeney / Maura moved to Seattle after he was released and worked for years as a chef at Palamino, one of Restaurant Unlimited’s brands.

Sweeney was so ugly . Dominique ‘s talent was incredible. She had such range in the few projects I saw her in. She was sublime. I also thought she pinged. She had great chemistry with Charlene Tilton in “ Diary of teen hitchhiker “. They became good friends in real life as well.

Dominique played Valerie Harper’s daughter in a TV movie with Ally Sheedy and Dennis Weaver. She and Valerie had great chemistry. Dominique stood out in every role.

Dominique also had a guest appearance on Fame. She is heartbreaking in this clip as her character doesn't have the chops to make into the school but she tries anyway. The quality of the clip is not very good but Dominque's performance is.

Was West Hollywood predominantly gay back in early 80’s? Dominique’s house was right off Melrose. I am curious if it was a gay orhood back then.

R72, that was a great performance. The actress who played Doris was heartbroken when Dominique died. They were friends from acting class. Dominique was very kind and beloved. So far from a snob. Very down to earth.

Her friend called the police and the officer said they werent in his jurisdiction or something along those lines. He escaped out a back window fearing for his life.

Sweeney made up a bunch of crap about trying to kill himself then and there but there was no evidence he did. The police think he strangled her for a full 5 minutes. So nice to think he’s looking after the elderly.

That “friend “ was actor David Packer who was too much of a wuss to help her. Sweeney truly got away with murder. He is a ticking time bomb

I agree R76, not much of a ‘friend’ but I think he was right to feel his life could also be in danger. My instinct would be to grab something heavy and attack Sweeney but not everyone is that brave. Anyway this is a case where every detail is infuriating and her family were right to be so angry. It makes my blood boil to this day.

Wolfgang Puck never owned Ma Maison, that was Patrick Terrail. He was the chef.

And yes, WeHo was predominantly gay back in the 80s, but lots of what would now be called hipsters because it was a good location near everything.

Dominique was gay friendly. She always had great chemistry with her female costars then male ones. Her scenes with Charlene Tilton in “ hitchhiker “ were so homoerotic

She was in the prime of her life. Embarking on a promising acting career with her whole life ahead of her. DD was so passionate about her craft. Sweeney would show up on set which made her nervous. He followed her around always with a suspicious mind. I believe he was not only physically abusive, but psychologically and emotionally harmful. Her poor last year of her life.😭

She was so cute.

Dominique would have been a star! Rumors are that either George Clooney or Dominique’s dad ruined David Packer’s career. Dominique was good friends with Miguel Ferrer. They grew up together in Beverly Hills. Carrie fisher was Griffin ‘s bff and former roommate. Carrie was at Dominique funeral.

Dominique was a slight tomboy with a lot of guy friends.

She was a remarkable young lady. What a tragedy.

When IMDB still had its message boards, every thread about David Packer was about him not doing enough to help Dominique. In a way, it's sad because Packer was really an innocent bystander. But yes, he could have and should have done more.

r82 I cannot recall if it was a thread about Packer on IMDB or an interview with Ferrer himself, but he really resented Packer and when the topic of him came up, Ferrer was quite hostile.

I agree with Miguel

Packer was a pussy! He knew Dominique was terrified of Sweeney. I believe Dom invited him over to rehearse lines as an added protection from Sweeney who worked down the street from her home. I still don’t understand why Dominique went outside to talk to Sweeney. Did she feel safe because Packer was there ? Sweeney chocked her so violently for 5 minutes. That’s serious rage. He dragged her across the yard.

I’m not risking my life for a co-worker from a murderous psycho. I’ll call the police, but you don’t know if someone has a gun or a knife. Some of you arm chair heroes would not go in like John Wayne like you are claiming you would.

^^^Right! I was JUST typing this! Were Packer and her really close friends like that? It doesn't sound like it. If I was over an actress' house that I just started working with, running lines, and her psycho boyfriend (that has a history of abusing her and she stays with him) showed up I wouldn't have even stayed while they went outside. I would have said, "this looks like a personal matter. I'll just leave you two lovebirds alone." and be out! ✌ I'm not getting involved in your ike and tina bullshit. fuck outta here.

Getting into the middle of a straight couple fight involving a psycho wifebeater is always a good idea!

There are times when you help people, and there are times *if* you help people, you might get killed, so you *don’t* help people.

Yeah I feel kinda bad for this Packer dude. He has the scorn of a lot of people but what was he supposed to do??? Sounds like he was terrified and most people have a sense of self preservation . All you Marky Marks on here saying you would’ve saved the day. Right.

Only a gay man would defend Packer.

Okay, which one of you bitches did this?

Dominique Dunne was memorable in that little bit of a role in Poltergeist, and in her bit part on Fame.

The essay Dunne wrote for Vanity Fair about the trial for his daughter's murder is a harrowing read even after all these years.

The Dunnes had to endure the brutal murder of their young daughter, a trial where key evidence against the murderer was deliberately withheld and ultimately see justice denied them. The murderer was and is unremorseful, if he were truly repentant he would have accepted the punishment whatever it was rather than wiggle out of the sentence and categorize his crime as a crime of passion and the victim as someone who "made him do it".

And the Judge?

A miserable fuckup.

Dominique’s scene from the original V miniseries where she finds her father after the base camp attack used to be on YouTube. Her take on the Robin character wouldn’t have been a vapid valley girl.

I worked with her when she did the "Breaking Away" series in Athens when I was in school (with Shaun Cassidy, no less) and remember her sitting in a diner booth singing "Turning Japanese" over and over between set-ups. Very cute, nice raspy voice too. Years later when I moved to LA, I was surprised to look up at my TV with no sound up and see her face on the news (it took a couple of days for her to die, I think).

That court case was also famous for the prosecution setting a timer and letting the room sit in silence for the entire three to five minutes that Dominique was strangled so they could see it went on for an eternity. Still didn't work.

R96 - I was thinking that too.

I dislike Trial by Twitter, but if this happened today, Sweeney would have been crucified (understandably).

Sweeney's life should be ruined, but it isn't. I would love to see protests at the old folks home. Why do those geezers tolerate his employment there?

R97, I heard Dominique was funny. She was super cute. I saw a couple of episodes of Breaking Away on YouTube. Sean Cassidey seemed enchanted by her in scenes together. Any other memories of her on set?

R96, Dominique got deep into her roles. I believe V would have been her real launch to stardom considering how big of a hit it was. The defense and Sweeney on the witness stand tried to ruin Dominique’s reputation, make her look like a stuck up rich girl who broke the heart of her working class boyfriend. Nothing could be further from the truth. She was down to Earth, kind and very vulnerable as Sweeney was her first boyfriend at age 21. Poor thing.

There's a John Maura on Twitter whose feed is exclusively retweeted fundie-Christian stuff. If it's him, I wouldn't be surprised if he's all "Jesus forgave me, so it's cool."

r100 They don't know is the short answer. When I called the front desk to verify that was indeed the place where he worked, they were very short with me. I got two answers: They were indeed aware of who he was, and due to privacy/legal issues, the "residents" are not informed beforehand. They have to ask directly if a particular worker has a criminal history, apparently, and not many are going to know to ask that specific question about a specific staff member.

This thread is heating me up to make that visit I've been wanting to do for years.

R104 Can I have your stuff after he kills you?

Sure r105 It would be an honor. Obviously, I have had concerns for my safety which is why I haven't manned up yet, but I swear I will someday.

I'm not the only one out for this fucker. I wonder how many of "us" chimed in on this review board:

I liked this one in particular:

"I wanted to report this comment for abuse, but then realized it wasn't even a fraction of the abuse committed by John Maura"

R106, Dominique is smiling at you from the next world. I would take the tour and specifically ask about dining services, so you will be introduced to Sweeney who is head honcho. Just get a glimpse of how his demeanor is etc. then report back. I hope Dominique haunts him .

R,106 read the comments made me smile. Why is this bastard still employed there making way over $100,000 annually?!!

Dominique was so well liked that the church in Beverly Hills was packed and standing room only for her funeral. These were people who knew her and loved her.

Can you post fliers R104? Do the residents have letter boxes? Do it!

I like this. Leave it to the ghost of Dominick to sick DL on his ass decades later. He's not gong to know what hit him.

This would be great material for a future season of ACS.

This is the year of Karma for the evil people who have gotten away with evil shit for decades.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. Unfortunately fliers and the like are a no go. With my luck I'd get thrown in the clink for longer than he did. I have to be really careful because there are SO many laws I could be breaking. They could get me on being on private property, or for stalking. I can't post flyers because a: cameras are everywhere and I stick out (tall, not fat, bitches) and b: it's illegal to post flyers out here (I know, so lame). Sending things through the mail could nail me on god knows what charges. (Thanks to Jussie, I have learned a lot about "mail don'ts".) I don't have any living parents, so if they check that to see if my tour is legit, I would not pass. I am an eldergay, but not quite that elderly so I don't know if I could pass for "checking out this joint, SPECIFICALLY THE DINING SITUATION, for me in my later years". But that might be the only way in.

I can't possibly be the first person to try and get in this fucker's face. My guess is they keep him pretty undercover. The sick part is they probably protect this vile cunt more from people like me than they protect the residents from people like him.

r115, I think Sweeney is a master manipulator . He certainly manipulated Dominique and his previous GF. I can only imagine what he tells the staff at the old folks community. I understand your concerns. I want to know if Sweeney ever married or has a woman in his life. This man has a hair trigger temper and will hurt someone again. I hope he gets jumped .

Maybe safety in numbers? A DL meetup location for the ages!

I picture a sea of caftons and ear bobs.

Caftans, of course. Then we can all meet at the grave of Jani Layne later. "Sisters of the Moon".

That actually is a great idea r117 . In the era of #METOO this would be a positive thing. I want Dominique to be remembered for who she was as a human being , not just the girl who was murdered by her ex BF. She was so robbed and so was her family.

Griffin is still with us too. Sure he'd join in on his dad's behalf.

Dominque's two brothers and her dad seriously talked about revenge on Sweeney. Their Catholic upbringing prevented them from carrying it out. But Nick Dunne hired a P.I. to track Sweeney down and keep tabs on him. When Sweeney became engaged to a woman(doctor's daughter, see a pattern ?) Griffin called her and let he know who he really was. She broke off the engagement .

I wonder why Griffin never arranged a hit on him? One would think he would have the resources.

When Sweeney was in the back seat of the cop car after killing Dominque (she essentially died that night) He said "I fucked up again....." What did he mean by "again" Did he kill before? He had a history of violence towards people and objects. He ripped a payphone out of its socket in a rage in France .

r122 thanks for the info. I didn't see your post. Catholics believe in absolution. Couldn't they just confess the sin?

Dominique's family was destroyed by her murder. Her mom already crippled with MS died in her 60's needing round the clock care and was unable to speak or move.. Her brother Alex(2 yrs older) was so broken by her death that he suffered serious mental health issues after. She and Alex were very close, best friends even. Her dad said he did not know what the word DEVASTATION was until her murder. All so heartbreaking .. AND the killer got away with it ..

Here are the Yelp reviews. 3 displayed reviews all about Maura. Good.

What is funny is one of the non displayed reviews complains about the food!

This is the worst place where you can have a family member. Worst food service. This place allows employees to have an affair and never do anything, just because they do not have staff. They fired the good employees and they stay with those who only want to kiss the bosses' buttocks. Busser harass cooks, dishwashers, etc., and talk about sexuality during work hours and although human resources and supervisors know what happens there, they do not do anything

No wonder Sweeney fits in there r127.

I found where he lives. Total dump, and that is fairly hard to do in the neighborhood he is in. Actually where he lived before this was in a very posh area of Marin, about a half of a mile from where my boss lives (!) Maybe he snagged a rich woman and it "didn't work out" *cough*

You are loved Dominique.

From another thread:

Her dad would tear up when he talked about Dominique. He also showed total justifiable rage at the killer as well as the judge and defense attorneys. Her last words to Mr Dunne the night before she was strangled “ I love you daddy”. 😭

"I like this. Leave it to the ghost of Dominick to sick DL on his ass decades later. He's not gong to know what hit him."

He would love this! That was his darling daughter. His only surviving daughter. Dominque had a older sister who died a few weeks after birth, also called Dominque(I don't think that was right) and a sister who died in early infancy when DD was three years old :( So she was treasured by her family.

Well, while a DL Meetup would be highly satisfying and fun, it isn't likely practical. But we can do some things from our chaise lounges. Mangle the facility on Yelp and that other place linked above. Call the front desk and ask them if it is true that "John Maura" still works there, and then respond as desired. (Extra points for throwing "grease fire" into the convo) That's what I am going to do for now, while I figure out a way to...shake his hand.

I can't even imagine how their family still copes. I know it's going on 40 years but knowing how she died and that her killer basically walked free, living a life basically incognito - it's unfathomable. I don't think I would ever be able to let go of that anger and rage or comprehend the injustice.

Griffin said in an interview back in the 80’s that the lite sentence and the malicious lies attacking Dominique’s reputation left him with a bitterness that lingers.

MA Maison went under shortly after her trial. Hollywood started boycotting because the owner paid for defense. What’s so infuriating is how Dominique, who was without question a kind, sweet lady and her memory was crapped on.

he was entitled to counsel and a fair trial but he received far more than that!

the judge disallowed crucial testimony from another victim, why?

R136, that’s the $64,000 question. If the jury had heard the testimony they would have found Sweeney guilty of at least second degree murder. Check this out while Sweeney ex gf testified to his horrid abuse that put her in the hospital a couple of times , Sweeney flew into a rage and lunged toward her until bailiffs caught him. The judge was consoling him.

Horrifying r137 I don't get it. Wouldn't the Dunne's have had a fuck ton more pull than this Sweeny cunt? How did he catch such a break to the point of getting motherfucking huggies from the judge?

Boys club

Poor thing had one of the world's biggest gasbags for a dad.

I liked her dad. He had quite a life and was a strong man. Dominique adored him

I have a feeling that her killer has his Google Alerts going off.

I am still waiting for karma to get him

"We're DL and we helped!"

A truly terrible crime worsened by the sentence the murderer side- stepped

She had bedroom eyes and had such a good soul. She was very pretty too.

Her soul is eternal. Her dad said Dominique was his guardian angel. I believe it

I remember Dunne saying how, as the verdict was being read, he kept imagining his daughter screaming her famous line, "What's happening?!" A little dramatic but effective and made sense.

Everyone loved her.

I wish I could find The E True Hollywood Story about her life and murder on YouTube. It was very well done.

More about the mother, Dominatrix Dunne, please.

R150, me too.

I got caught up in reading about this case earlier tonight.

Does anyone know anything about John Sweeny's background? It was mentioned above that his lawyer portrayed him as working class, but it seems odd to me (as a person who grew up working class) that a person with that background would become a fancy pants chef. So, was he really working class?

R153, yes, from small town in Pennsylvania. He was oldest of six kids with a violent drunk father, who beat him and his mother regularly. Sweeney envied the elite and wanted a piece of the pie . He had a serious knack for cooking and became quite talented. He was and is a violent, jealous asshole however . Dominique, by all accounts was a lovable, kind and also very talented. He wouldn’t let her go .

The world was better with her in it .

[quote]So, was he really working class?

A chef / cook is typically a ghetto profession.

Dominique was so beautiful . She had a glow to her .

Anyone work with her or know her.? She was living in West Hollywood near Melrose .

Dominique Dunn was on a late episode of FAMILY. She propositions Willy.

She loved working with Kristy McNicol And considered her her favorite actress of her generation. They had great chemistry onscreen . I wonder if Kristy crushed on Dom ?

Did you know that Dominique was close to Miguel Ferer ? He considered her his little sister . He was devastated by her death .

Everyone loved Dominique. - Jo Beth Williams

She was lovely . She was a visually captivating actress .

[quote]When IMDB still had its message boards, every thread about David Packer was about him not doing enough to help Dominique. In a way, it's sad because Packer was really an innocent bystander. But yes, he could have and should have done more.

I'd be willing to bet no one has been harder on Packer all these years than he's likely been on himself. I can't imagine this hasn't haunted him every single day since it happened, wishing he had done something more to help her. Like others, I feel bad for him.

John "Maura" is still working at the retirement village. His email address is jmaura@smithranchhomes.org. Maybe drop him a line, let him know you're thinking of him.

In regard to Packer: a hero dies once a coward dies 1000 times.

R166, yes! I do feel Packer feels tremendous shame and probably guilt. He was a wuss though.

What Packer should have ended up dead too?

John Patrick Maura is a total psychopath and should be hounded till the rest of his days and so should this business for allowing him to work there. Sex offenders are marked for life shouldn't murderers be as well?

Packer could have saved her. Dominique had a knife set in kitchen. There was a baseball bat . Packer wimped out.

I would not let a friend or any other human being die without trying to help them. I feel worried about anyone around you.

R170 I'm glad you are so happy to point the finger at Packer while Maura has been getting a big fat salary in San Rafael CA. for years and nobody in that community gives a flying fuck. Do you think he gives a flying fuck for killing Dominique? And Packer should live with guilt?

Seek therapy.

R171, is a contrarian troll .

Sweeney is not a happy man.

R172 andR173 live in Smith Ranch Homes and are very happy in the community. They have Maura over for barbecues whenever they have the chance.

Lol R175 is an evil troll .

That's right R176 Mr. Hero to the rescue.

I remember the Fame episode she was in . She played a teen hooker that Doris took under her wing. Doris shows her where she's going to school and the young hooker is dazzled by the High School of the Performing Arts. Who wouldn't be? The student body is always singing and dancing in the halls, the school lunch room, etc. It's so exciting! She auditions by singing a song with Bruno doing his best to accompany her on the piano, The scene is excruciating because she has no talent at all and Debbie Allen's character, who is the teacher assigned to judge the audition, has to watch it in its entirety, her face kept carefully impassive in order to conceal her horror. The young hooker decides to go back to hooking but Doris manages to talk her out of it, telling her there are other possibilities out there for her besides the High School of the Performing Arts. I remember thinking Dominique Dunne's performance was very affecting. I think if she had lived she would have had a good career.

Dominique was preternaturally talented . She really became her characters. So much depth in that young lady . She was also so visually alluring.

Dominique could have modeled hair during gigs . Her hair was enviable, long, thick and silky . Her eyes were hypnotic.

Between gigs lol

Dunne claims he destroyed the career of the judge at Maura's trial but he never said what he did.

Bump

Check out Dominique in this TV movie . She plays the adult daughter of Valerie Harper and Dennis Weaver . Ally Sheedy plays her sister . Exceptional acting on Dominique part .

R48, that is Sweeney. What an ugly fuck . I hope that baby is not one of his kids or grandkids

Bump

She had the most soulful eyes and great laugh .

Such a sad case

Dominique was very talented and bright .

David Packer was a fucking wuss coward !!

Bump

The Menéndez series brought me here. The red tagged troll was obsessed.

She was convincing in Poltergeist. Dominique had the IT factor and I guess her miserable, mutha fucker, ex-boyfriend thought so, too. I wonder what roles she would have gone on to play?

It takes 100 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, does it really take five minutes to strangle someone? Wouldn't one minute do it? That guy should fry!

It is shocking how little she was used in Poltergeist. Her character had spunk and she had the very memorable “fuck you” arm gesture to the workmen.

She would have been great in V. I don’t blame David Packer. He was a kid, too. He called the police.

She would have gone on to leading roles. It was intense, watching her character react to the paranormal events in the film. You could feel her psyche breaking down. That's real acting chops. Ending was great when they went to the Holiday Inn and rolled the TV cart out, into the rain.