It’s been over 40 years since the shocking death of Dominique Dunne in her West Hollywood home. But her ghost seems to have resurrected in unexpected circumstances, sparking renewed public attention. Focus has also turned to her family, who are yet to recover from her unfortunate murder and the resultant fight for justice.
This revived interest in her case is connected to another popular but old murder case of the Menendez brothers. A recent documentary of the Menendez brothers’ brutal murder of their parents in 1989 has featured Dominique Dunne’s father, who plays a role in both stories. But what could have gotten Dominique Dunne’s father involved in another murder case?
What Is Dominique Dunne’s Cause of Death?
Dominique Dunne died on the driveway of her home on October 30, 1982. Police said the lady was strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend, John Sweeney. Dunne, who was a promising and popular actress, had previously broken up with Sweeney. The pair had dated for about a year before Dunne called it quits, accusing Sweeney, who she lived with, of physical abuse.
Dunne and Sweeney had gotten into a fight just a month after she died. It was after the fight that she broke up with him. However, Sweeney showed up in her home on the day of her unfortunate demise. He allegedly asked for her forgiveness and requested a restart of the relationship. In the process, the situation escalated, leading to Sweeney strangling Dunne.
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On arrival at the scene, cops met Sweeney, who readily confessed to taking Dominique Dunne’s life as well as attempting to take his. Sweeney defended himself in the courts for almost a year and got a pretty lenient sentence.
In September 1983, the court ruled that he wasn’t guilty of second-degree murder. But he was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and misdemeanor assault for his fight with Dunne. He bagged six years in prison plus six more months for the assault charge. Sweeney was released after two and a half years, thanks to parole.
How Old Was Dominique Dunne When She Died
Dominique Dunne was 22 when she met her sad death. She was survived by her parents, Dominick and Ellen “Lenny” Dunne, and her brothers, Griffin and Alex Dunne. At the time of her death, she was a fast-rising star in the movie industry. She began her career by starring in the 1979 movie “Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker.”
After playing leading roles in other movie projects such as “Family,” “Lou Grant,” “Hart to Hart,” and “Fame,” she got her biggest break in 1982. Her performance in “Poltergeist” won her more public acclaim and recognition than ever. The movie was also to have a sequel, which she would have starred in before her sad death.
Where Is Dominique Dunne Buried?
Dominique Dunne’s body has rested at Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles County, California, since her burial. Many people are still at a loss about how her murderer got off with only a slight punishment.
Sweeney’s lawyers had argued that he hadn’t planned to take her life. He told the court that he acted in the “heat of passion” after he was devastated by her refusal to get back with him.
Sweeney also expressed great remorse for the death. “I killed my girlfriend, and I tried to kill myself,” he reportedly said in the presence of the police. He added, “I f—– up…I can’t believe I did something that will put me behind bars forever…Man, I blew it. I killed her.”
Dominique Dunne met Sweeney at a party in 1981. At the time, he worked as a sous chef at a restaurant. After a few weeks, they rented an apartment and moved in together. Soon after, Sweeney began to demonstrate aggressive and violent behavior.
During one such violent incident, he dragged Dunne by the locks of her hair that some hair pulled off from the root.
The Menendez Brothers Netflix Controversy
Dominique Dunne’s father, Dominick, a movie producer, put more effort into becoming a crime writer. He wrote down his feelings and opinions during Sweeney’s trial and later published them in a popular magazine. Dominick continued to cover crime trials, such as the O.J. Simpson trial in 1995 and the Menendez brothers’ trial in 1993.
Little did he know that his interest in the Menendez brothers’ trial would lead to something unexpected. He earned a spot as one of the characters in the Netflix movie “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which tells the story of the Menendez brothers. In the movie, Nathan Lane plays Dominick Dunne, a crime journalist who covers the trial.
His portrayal in the movie drew public attention to his daughter’s death after many decades. However, by the time the movie was released in September 2024, Dominick had died. He passed on in August 2009 at the age of 83.
According to Dominique’s elder brother Griffin, his father was pretty passionate about the murder stories he covered. He also stated that his father looked at the story from the perspectives of the victims.
Dominique Dunne’s mother, Ellen, got involved in advocacy after her daughter’s death. She instituted a foundation called Justice for Homicide Victims before she died in 1997, aged 64. She received recognition from former President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
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