Dominique Dunne
Dominique Dunne was the daughter of Dominick Dunne, the writer (and friend of everybody). He's probably most famous for his true crime reports (O.J., The Menendie) in Vanity Fair, and his "rent a gob" reports on any show that will give him a second of airtime. I like him. A lot. Although he lives in New York now, he epitomizes LA to me.
Anyway, back to Dominique. Most people remember her as the older sister in the first Poltergeist film. She was living in a home on Rangely Avenue, in West Hollywood, not as I originally reported, at 523 N. Crescent Drive, in the low end of Beverly Hills. (Thank you Steve Goldstein for the photograph, and Leigh, for additional info.) In 1982, she was dating an abusive dick-brained psychopath named John Thomas Sweeney. He was a chef at Ma Maison. Apparently, he and Dominique had an abusive relationship. She had enough of his shit, and broke up with him. On October 30th, of 1982 - he shows up at her house to attempt reconciliation.
Dominique was running
lines for the show V, with an actor named David Packer. Sweeney comes
knock knock knockin'. Dominique opens the door, tells Packer to stay
inside, and she heads out to talk the lunatic down. While outside - a
heated argument ensues. Packer is often blamed for not going to
Dominique's rescue, but how was he to know? Wasn't his issue, and none of
his business. Jobeth Williams really threw him under a bus in one of those
E! shows. Ultimately, how was he to know? He eventually did open the
door, and found Sweeney kneeling over Dominiques limp body. After 4.5
minutes of strangling her in her driveway, he looked at Packer and said,
"I killed my girlfriend." 911 was called.
Dominique was rushed to Emergency
Room of Cedars
Sinai Medical Center. She remained in a coma for 6
days, and at 11am on November 4, they pulled the plug. God, she was only 22
years old. Strangulation is listed as the official cause of death. Her
organs were donated to the hospital, per her mother's request.
According to Findadeath.com friend Kira, the night before Dominique's funeral, two television programs were aired (that were previously scheduled). The funeral was held at Westwood Catholic Church. So many people attended, one person commented, "What did they do, call Universal Casting?" to which Dominique's pal Gloria Gifford commented, "No, many people loved Dominique." Miguel Ferrer was one of the pallbearers.
Back to dick-brained Sweeney. So they arrest him, and he confessed. Open and shut? No way. He was charged with murder and assault. He attempted suicide with a disposable razor. After a year of trial etc, he was convicted of assault and unintentional manslaughter. RIIIIIIGHT. He was given a six-year prison sentence. SIX YEARS! I guess being around a dick-brain rubbed off. The poor Dunne family. Again, thanks to Findadeath.com friend Kieran Smith for this info: Sweeney was sentenced to 6, but was let out in 2 1/2 years. Upon his release he became a top chef again, in LA.
Dominique's mother set up a grievance support group called, "Justice for Victims of Homicide." On the nights that Sweeney worked, Dominique's brother Griffin and other friends and group members would hand out papers in front of the restaurant that stated, "The hands that will prepare your meal tonight also murdered Dominique Dunne." Sweeney was instantly fired, and moved to the Northwest. He changed his name to John Maura.
To learn more about Dominique and her life, go to this excellent website.
Special thanks goes out to my buddy Terri Rios and her friend Justin Mercer, for supplying the photographs of this house, and of Cedars. Thanks as usual, Terri.
