Chip Chick
Virginia had all kinds of chances to become a Hollywood icon, but her life was cut short after meeting the famous Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, one of the most successful silent film actors of the 1910s, and attending his Labor Day party in 1921.
On the day of the party, Roscoe secured a suite of three rooms at the Saint Francis hotel in San Francisco. There were a ton of guests at the party, including Virginia.
At one point, it was reported that Virginia and Roscoe were seen entering a bedroom together. Later that day, Virginia was found seriously ill in one of the hotel rooms.
She was reportedly bleeding and in a tremendous amount of pain. When the hotel doctor examined her, he blamed her painful symptoms on intoxication. However, one of Virginia’s friends believed that Roscoe assaulted and harmed her.
When Virginia was finally taken to the hospital two days later, it turned out that she had peritonitis caused by a ruptured bladder. Virginia’s friend told the police about Roscoe, leading to a massive scandal for all involved.
After press conferences made by Virginia and Roscoe’s representation, the press released all kinds of stories containing rumors about what may have happened, many of them suggesting that Roscoe murdered Virginia.
Sadly, no one knows exactly what happened in that hotel room to this day. Virginia died from her illness on September 9th, 1921. She was only 30-years-old. After three murder trials, Roscoe Arbuckle was eventually acquitted and continued with his career.
All rumors of what exactly caused Virginia’s death aside, there is no doubt that she was a young woman with tons of potential. It is a shame her bright future was cut short.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
