1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 43

 
     Researching for A Madman Turns 40, I come across some very interesting stories. The one for today is a true crime that's never been solved- or has it? So my loyal readers, put on your deerstalker caps, grab a magnifying glass, and let's go over the aspects of this case...

     On this date in 1977, aspiring actress Christa Helm was found stabbed to death under an automobile in front of her agent's Los Angeles home. Prior to her death, Helm had starred in a couple of b-movie horror flicks and had guest stints on TV's Starsky & Hutch and Wonder Woman. The actress was known to have had numerous liaisons in her attempt to reach the pinnacle of stardom and the LAPD speculate that her use of video tape to record the affairs were the motivation behind her death.

To this day, Helm's journals and sex tapes have never been recovered.

    Now, it's 40 years later and the murder of starlet Christa Helm has never been solved. 

    WELLLLL...

     Here's where things get weird. Exactly 1 year prior to the day of Helm's death, actor Sal Mineo was stabbed to death in nearly the exact same spot. The Rebel Without A Cause star was killed by a pizza delivery man named Lionel Ray Williams. It wasn't until 1979 that Williams was caught. Prior and after Mineo's death, Williams had robbed others in the same area. So did he also commit a second murder- that of Christa Helm, as well?

Sal Mineo, 1973.

       Lionel Ray Williams has both confessed and denied killing Mineo. Sentenced to 57-years in prison, Williams was temporarily released on a but soon brought back in 1990 to carry out more of his sentence for parole violations . His has since been denied parole regularly despite his continued claim of innocence. (Lionel Ray Williams has never denied his role in the 10 robberies he was also imprisoned for.)

     Some speculate that Williams was falsely imprisoned and did not carry out Mineo's murder. Could the former delivery boy have killed Christa Helm instead and got falsely blamed for a stabbing he didn't commit? Or is both Mineo and Helm's murderer still on the streets, thanking a man who taking the wrap for him? This is an strange mystery that while mostly lost to time could make a very interesting mini-series on Netflix or Hulu.
     

Helm in a scene from Wonder Woman.
Lynda Carter is in the background.

      That's all the time I have for today. my fellow armchair Sherlocks, I trust that if I've inspired anyone to reopen these cases, that this Madman is given due credit. Until tomorrow- the game is afoot!