Robert John Bardo (born January 12, 1970) is an American convicted murderer, best known for the 1989 killing of 12‑year‑old actress Rebecca Schaeffer. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Early life
Robert John Bardo was born in Sacramento, California. He grew up in a lower‑middle‑class family and attended middle school in the Sacramento area. Reports indicate that he exhibited socially withdrawn behavior and developed an obsessive fixation on the television series My Little Ventura and its star, Rebecca Schaeffer, after seeing her on the program at age 15. Details of his family background and education are limited in publicly available sources.
Obsession with Rebecca Schaeffer
After Schaeffer’s role on My Little Ventura ended, Bardo continued to monitor her career, collecting photographs and memorabilia. He attempted to contact her by sending unsolicited letters and later by trying to locate her home address. In 1988, following the passage of California’s “anti‑stalking” law, Bardo obtained Schaeffer’s personal address from a California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) database, an action later deemed illegal.
Murder
On July 21, 1989, Bardo traveled to the apartment building where Schaeffer lived in West Hollywood, California. After gaining entry by pretending to be a delivery person, he approached Schaeffer in the hallway, she turned away, and Bardo shot her twice with a .22 caliber pistol. Schaeffer died at the scene. She was the first American actress killed by an admirer, and the case garnered extensive media coverage.
Arrest and legal proceedings
Bardo fled the scene but was arrested the following day in Wisconsin after a tip from a passerby who recognized his description from news reports. He was extradited to California and charged with first‑degree murder, burglary, and the illegal acquisition of Schaeffer’s personal information.
At trial, the prosecution presented evidence of Bardo’s premeditation, including the illegally obtained address, a stolen photograph, and recorded statements indicating his intent to kill. Bardo’s defense argued diminished capacity, citing his mental health issues, but the jury found him guilty on all counts. On March 9, 1990, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus additional terms for the ancillary charges.
Incarceration
Bardo has been incarcerated at the California State Prison, Corcoran. He has been denied multiple parole hearings, with the California Board of Parole consistently citing the “particularly heinous nature” of the crime and the lack of rehabilitation evidence. As of the latest publicly available records (2023), Bardo remains in custody.
Impact and legacy
The murder of Rebecca Schaeffer led to significant legislative changes in the United States concerning privacy and stalking. The incident directly inspired the passage of the federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which included provisions restricting access to personal information in state motor‑vehicle records. Additionally, several states enacted or strengthened anti‑stalking statutes, and the case is frequently cited in discussions of celebrity safety and victim protection law.
See also
- Stalking in the United States
- List of murder convictions without parole
- Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
References
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, inmate profile: Robert John Bardo.
- Los Angeles Times, “Robert Bardo Sentenced to Life for Murder of Actress Rebecca Schaeffer,” March 9, 1990.
- United States Congress, Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Public Law 103‑322.
This article presents verified information from widely recognized news outlets, court records, and government publications.