Hey, everyone. It’s time for another Mystery Monday post. You may not recognize the name Bobby Fuller but many will remember the mid-1960s hit single, “I Fought the Law (And the Law Won).”
(Fair use photo)
The Bobby Fuller Four was a popular rock and roll band in the 1960s, originally from El Paso, Texas. The lead singer’s idols were Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and fellow Texan Buddy Holly. Bobby first recorded “I Fought the Law” in 1964 where it became a regional hit in New Mexico and West Texas.
The hit version was re-recorded in 1965 with Del-Fi Records. It charted at number nine in the United States and at number thirty-four in Great Britain. By mid-1966, the group was headlining at hot spots across the country. It seemed fame was within their grasp.
But on July 18, 1966, the body of Bobby Fuller was found in the front seat of his car in Hollywood.
Bob Keene, owner and president of Del-Fi said, “Bobby was one of the most on-purpose musicians I’ve ever met in my life. He was gonna be it. He was gonna do it.”
Fuller’s younger brother Randy stated, “They said he’d have been like Elvis Presley. Everybody that knew him would describe him as a musical genius.”
Police suggested Bobby committed suicide but those close to him denied the possibility. Radio host Casey Kasem said, “When I heard Bobby was dead and that somebody had said he had committed suicide, I said, ‘That’s not the Bobby I know.’ I mean, here was a man who had everything to live for.”
The suicide theory doesn’t seem plausible. When his body was discovered, he was in full rigor mortis, suggesting he had been dead for several hours. However, his mother said Bobby’s car had been gone all day. It wasn’t until 5:00 p.m. when she checked the mail that she discovered the car.
As pop music critic Edna Gunderson said, “The problem here is that dead men don’t drive cars, and that car got into that lot and Bobby did not drive it. So the question is, who did? Where did it come from? Why did they bring it back? Where did they go?”
There was blood on Bobby’s face and chest as well as the front seat of the car. His body and clothes were soaked in gasoline. A partially filled gas can with a rubber hose attached was on the floorboard.
Bob Keene arrived while police were still investigating. “At about the same time I got there, the plain-clothes detective threw the can of gas in the dumpster. He said, ‘It’s just another rock and roll punk. He committed suicide or something like that.’ The police department didn’t do anything. They didn’t take prints. They didn’t ask any questions of anybody. It was just like he was a bum off the street.”
At first, it was believed Bobby died due to drinking gasoline, but the autopsy revealed no gasoline in his stomach. His death was then attributed to inhaling gasoline fumes.
According to Edna Gunderson, the coroner’s report had discrepancies. “On one page, it’s marked an accident. On another page, there’s a question mark next to the word ‘accident,’ and a question mark next to the word ‘suicide.’ There was nothing conclusive to suggest that Bobby had committed suicide. The other unusual aspect of this case was that Bobby looked as if he had been beaten up. Now, some of this could’ve been the result of the early decomposition of the body, or it could’ve been earlier injuries, bruises, what have you. But two or three people said that he had a broken finger and that there was blood on his shirt.”
Some believed Bobby was murdered. He had been seeing a mysterious young woman named Melody who was thought to have a boyfriend with ties to the mob. Bobby planned to attend a party with Melody the night before his death.
This led to rumors of a drug overdose but there was no evidence of drugs in his body. No one could explain why he was doused with gasoline or how the car got back to his apartment.
Randy Fuller said, “My mother went to her grave with a broken heart. And I hurt every day over this. Somebody out there knows something, and I just wish I could know.”
Bobby’s death was later changed from suicide to accident. But what really happened is still a mystery. Did police botch the investigation? What do you think?
35 Responses
I never knew this! Such a sad story. Cheers, Jon.
I happened upon this story a few months back and was intrigued by it. It is a sad story. Thanks for stopping by today.
Oh wow, I wonder what really happened. I also wonder if today’s forensics would have been able to solve the case. Maybe the police back then didn’t know what to do. Not necessarily that they botched it, just that their techniques weren’t as advanced.
We have made lots of progress. Even then, if someone had taken the investigation more seriously, the outcome might have been different. Thanks for visiting today, Priscilla.
Sounds fishy to me. Shame the cop tossed the gas can. It would be nice if modern crime techs could process it.
The law certainly wasn’t on Bobby’s side in this one. It is a strange thing. We’ve made a lot of progress with investigations. I’m sure his remaining family still wants to know the truth.
It seems certain to me that the investigation … if it can be called that … was botched. Such a sad tale 🙂
I agree. Sounds like they had their mind made up from the start.
I never knew this story, but have that song on one of my playlists. That’s quite the mystery.
It’s a great song. I happened upon this story a few months ago and found it intriguing.
How sad! Botched or an intended mislead, this case needs to be reopened. Thanks for sharing this, Joan. I never knew.
It’s sad that his family didn’t get answers, Gwen.
That’s such a sad story, especially since the family had no closure. Thanks for sharing, Joan. I always liked that song.
I agree, Jill. Knowing what happened wouldn’t lessen the pain of his loss, but at least they would have answers.
What a sad tale. I do remember the song, but not the man. I would say there is absolutely NO way that was a suicide. Someone killed him. The mob isn’t usually that sloppy unless they used Bobby to send a message to someone else. This is definitely a mystery. Thank you for sharing!
Good point about the mob, Jan. I definitely agree that someone killed him. Who and why is the big mystery.
Like most past a certain age, I remember that song very clearly. In fact, I really liked it. But I didn’t know anything about the singer or his group, and I sure never heard a word about a story like this.
Why on earth wasn’t this pursued? From the either the point of the very, very sloppy (or very corrupt police work) to the fact that a well known entertainer was dead under mysterious circumstances … it should have been investigated properly! And it’s awful to know that it wasn’t. Even without the use of today’s modern technology, murders WERE solved in those days.
it sounds like they didn’t even question anyone. Were they afraid of the possibility of the mob being involved, or were they complicit from the the start? SO many questions, here. Someone should write a book! (Hmmm … Joan? Sounds like it or a fictional story based on this would be right up your alley. Just sayin’ …. )
I totally agree with you, Marcia. It was a total screw up.
Story? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Oh, yes! You could do something wonderful with a tale like this! 👍😊👍
I’m working on a short story with a rock star as a lead character. He isn’t killed, but now the wheels are turning for another story. Thanks, Marcia!
I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Write on!! 😃
It is hard to believe that police can be so incompetent. It leaves us all wondering. Thanks for another fine mystery, Joan
Totally agree, John. There’s a lot more to this story than meets the eye.
Yes indeed.
It doesn’t sound like there WAS an investigation. It doesn’t sound like the police cared very much. This is just sad.
It is sad, Judi. I get that a lot of young people did drugs in the sixties, but that doesn’t justify the police reaction.
It’s sad they never tried to figure out what happened. Or maybe that was intentional, someone paid them off. I feel for his family who never had the closure.
Good point, Denise. Someone didn’t want the truth revealed.
Must be the worst investigation ever. I had never heard this story. I wonder no enterprising journalist didn’t go with the story. The first policeman on the scene couldn’t have had time to be silenced. Must be someone alive who knew what happened. We actually have someone at writers’ group who claimed her pop star husband was a victim of a huge murder cover up – we did find it hard to believe and went home and checked on the internet and for sure there was a death…. she is writing a book about how she had to go on the run. Perhaps everything she has told us is credible!
I agree, Janet. This has to rank high among botched investigations. That’s something about the person in your writer’s group. I’ll be her book would be an interesting read.
I remember that song, Joan, even though I was really young at the time. It’s hard to solve crimes like this, but it seems that the police didn’t even try in this case. It’s a shame. An interesting mystery.
It is a shame that his family didn’t get answers, Diana. Seems like the police didn’t even try.
Seems that way, doesn’t it?
I know that song, but I’ve never heard about this. Sounds like the investigation was definitely botched. How sad for his family.
I happened upon this story and found it interesting. It is sad for his family.