Prior to developing an obsession with Schaeffer , Bardo had stalked child peace activist Samantha Smith before her death in a 1985 plane crash . After writing numerous letters to Schaeffer , Bardo attempted to gain access to the set of the CBS television series '' My Sister Sam '' , in which Schaeffer played a starring role . Ultimately , he obtained her home address via a detective agency , which in turn tracked it via California Department of Motor Vehicles records . On July 18 , 1989 , Bardo confronted Schaeffer at her home , angry that she had appeared in a sex scene in the film '' Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills '' ; in his eyes , she had " lost her innocence " and became " another Hollywood whore . " He visited her at her apartment and told her he was a big fan . After having been turned away by Schaeffer , Bardo stopped at a diner for breakfast , only to return to the apartment about an hour later , again ringing the doorbell . When Schaeffer opened the door , Bardo fired a bullet through her chest . Bardo was arrested in Tucson , Arizona , where he was observed walking aimlessly in traffic
1985 plane crash
Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808
Robert John Bardo