They had intercourse without the deceased knowing she was underage, and the child actor later changed his mind, which offended the then-teenager, and led to her lie. After the sentencing, the Deputy District Attorney, Greg Dohi said: "This case was tragic all around Merlin Santana was a very gifted actor, and his murder was utterly senseless." Brandon Quintin Adams (above left) and Merlin Santana (pictured on the right; known for his roles in Moesha, The Steve Harvey and Cosby Show sitcoms) had met a female named Monique Mercedes King and her friend at a Chinese restaurant one night in 2002. Al Adamson was a master of kitschy, low-budget horror movies, only to find himself a victim in a story that could have come straight from one of his own films. Kelly's battle with addiction didn't end well. Gates, who was also hit by the gunfire, survived the attack and was able to identify the shooters. Merlin Santana, was killed by a gunshot wound while sitting in the passenger seat of a car in 2002. Published by at February 16, 2022. [But] I've done pretty good.". Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler, trying the case without a jury, found King guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder. _taboola.push({ -ILoveOldSchoolMusic, old school news with a new point of view. Our condolences go out to Merlin Santanas family. Merlin Santana was a famous actor and model and performed his best in numerous films. John Ritter was a staple of American television for decades. The 15-year-old teenager, who lied about her age to convince Merlin she was an adult got sentenced to ten years in a juvenile home. Trial and Allegations against Santana In 2003, Gates was convicted of the first-degree murder of Santana and the attempted murder of Adams and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison. Fidler, trying the case without a jury, found King guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder. He was sitting in the passenger seat shortly after 2:30 a.m. when at least one person approached the car and . One of the shooters, Gates, received three consecutive life sentences, plus 70 years in prison; the other shooter, Bynes, received 23 years for assault with a deadly weapon and voluntary manslaughter.. . Behind the scenes, Strickland suffered from mental health and substance abuse issues. This case was tragic all around, said Deputy Dist. The bullet penetrated the right-front passenger headrest and entered Santana's head, killing him. The cause of death was a bullet to the head. ", Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Phylicia Rashad, Tempestt Bledsoe, Bill Cosby, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Lisa Bonet on "The Cosby Show" | Photo: Getty Images, Born on March 10th, 1976, in New York City, Santana began his acting career at the age of ten. He opened his eyes on March 14, 1976, and began his acting and modeling career in the 1990s. He was very depressed about his stagnant acting career as he attempted to re-adjust back into regular society. NEWS SPORT WEATHER WORLD SERVICE A-Z INDEX SEARCH : You . The Cosby Show's child star and a six-year cast member of The Steve Harvey Show, Merlin Santana, was gunned down while sitting in a car on a Los Angeles street corner. It returned, and Wright succumbed to the disease in 2019 at the age of 75. An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works Burial. That same night, Mercedes and Santana had a consensual one night stand. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', The crime took place around 2:30 a.m. when at least one person approached the car and fired at Santana, who was in the passenger seat. Illicit Deeds is your source for real-life murder cases and riveting mysteries. 25-year-old Brandon Douglas Bynes pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon in the case. Police arrested a teenage girl Monday and were seeking two men in connection with the fatal shooting two days earlier of actor Merlin Santana. Salary in 2021. Bentley reportedly lost control of his vehicle while heading toward a freeway off-ramp. Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler sentenced Monique King, who was 15 when Santana was killed in November 2002, to a California Youth Authority prison until she turns 25. Brandon doesnt speak publicly too much about that horrific night, but he revealed this to Jet Magazine: It was devastating. He acquitted King on two lesser charges. Santana, 26, who recently appeared in the Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro movie Showtime, was shot to death early Saturday while sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked in south Los Angeles. Categories . He played the Joker inBatman: Dead End, in which the titular Dark Knight finds himself facing the xenomorphs from theAlienfilms, as well as the ruthless hunters from thePredatorfranchise. King, who was 15 at the time, falsely accused the deceased of sexually abusing her. The friend drove off and flagged down a police car. Example video title will go here for this video. She was also arrested twice in 2012 for more allegedly violent crimes. When Merlin and his friend left the party, they sat in Brandons car for a second or so. For the pilot episode of Alice,Alfred Lutter who played the titular widow's son in the film reprised the role of Tommy Hyatt. is for general information purposes only. Beginning his career in the early 1990s, Santana was best known for his roles as Rudy Huxtable's boyfriend Stanley on The Cosby Show, Marcus Dixon on Getting By, Marcus Henry in Under One Roof and Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show (1996 2002). Santana was in Los Angeles at the time of his death and was sitting in a car with a friend, Damien Andre Gates, when they were approached by three men. Lisa Robin Kelly is best known for her recurring role as Laurie Forman onThat '70s Show. Shelley Morrison enjoyed a long, fruitful acting career, including regular appearances as Sister Sixto on SallyField's late '60s sitcomThe Flying Nun. that benefits the victims. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Salary in 2022. The next day when Mercedes washanging with Merlin he didnt show her the same attention he did the day before and this fueled something in her. Therefore the owner of this account does not promote or condone any person/entity to use or distribute this material for commercial purposes without permission from the owner of this material. For those actors who remain in our memories and in the shows that brought us so much laughter, here are some sitcom actors you may not know have sadly passed away. Here's what happened according to reports: Two men, Brandon Douglas Bynes and Damien Andre Gates (no relation to Merlin Santanas friend with the same name) were later arrested and charged with Santanas murder. For better or worse, that can change the way we watch those programs. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? Harvey said during a KCBS-TV interview Monday. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Gates was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison for the murder of Santana and attempted murder of Brandon Quintin Adams, who was in the car with Santana. Saint Raymond's New Cemetery and Mausoleum. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. myers park country club lawsuit; turkey hill frozen yogurt discontinued. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', The police later arrested Monique, (who was really 15 and not of age as she had Merlin believe), and her accomplices. It's a different experience seeing a sitcom star delivering their famous catch phrase when you know they'll never say it, or anything else, again. 2022-06-30; Police did not release the woman's identity in announcing her arrest. At the same time, she'd already been struggling with kidney disease, having endured kidney transplant surgery and dialysis treatments. }); Copyright 2015 . He was with his friend and former child actor Brandon Quintin Adams. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Merlin Santana (March 14, 1976 - November 9, 2002) was an American actor and rapper. usually uttered whenever Willis said something his younger brother wasn't happy about. She was 33. "Why is it that young people today feel they have no alternative but to murder somebody?" The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Tuesday that Rivera's cause of death was drowning, following the completion of an autopsy report. Two men, Damien Andre Gates and Brandon Douglas Bynes, were identified as the suspects who shot and killed Merlin Santana in Los Angeles, California, on November 9, 2002. Koenig's acting work after Growing Pains wasn't extensive, though he had some other memorable claims to fame. Simply because Monique was offended that Merlin treated her like a Ms.-hit-it-and-quit-it after she willingly had sex with him on the first night, she thought the man deserved to die over it?!! Co-star Anne Schedeen who played Willie's wife, Kate toldPeoplethat on the last day of filming, Wright "walked off the set, went to his dressing room, got his bags, went to his car, and disappeared.". freiberg disease radiology; french past tense conjugation. Mantra: Only YOU can be YOU. A 15-year-old girl is charged with the murder of television and film actor Merlin Santana. The third shooter was never identified or apprehended. Merlin Santana of "The Cosby Show" fame led a life that held a lot of promise, but it got cut short at the age of 26, when a bullet from a 12 gauge shotgun hit him in the head, killing him on the spot. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. Sadly, four years after the end of Home Improvement, the man who brought us Wilson had to give another goodbye. For the first five seasons, Kelly played the mean older sister to Eric (Topher Grace)and the "other girl" to Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), but in the sixth season, Kelly was replaced in the role by Christina Moore. Prosecutors said that Santana and a friend had been at a nearby home with King the night of the murder. $14 million dollar house maine; His characters of Rudy Huxtable's boyfriend Stanley in 'The Cosby Show . The girl told Merlin that her name was Mercedes. Monique King has had a miserable childhood and this verdict punishes her fairly and gives her a chance to turn her life around.. He was the voice of the villain Shredder in the originalTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesanimated series and of James Rhodes, aka War Machine, in the '90sIron Mancartoon. So Im assuming Mercedes is already out of prisonwhat the??? His death was caused by a gunshot wound to the head. She will be 25 years old when exiting from Juvenile Hall. Woman with dementia missing in Sumter, police say, Sumter Police search for missing woman with dementia, County officials holding town hall over possible rezoning of three northeast Richland properties, Elderly woman injured when tree falls through bedroom in Newberry. The pair reportedly bounced from strip club to strip club, partying hard, and on March 22, Strickland was found in his motel room where he'd hanged himself with a bed sheet. Advertisement THE AFTERMATH However, the shooters were not as lucky. Hopefully Monique King and her accomplices have been rehabilitated, and we can only pray that Merlin Santanas loved ones have found a way to manage their grief. Santana was best known for his role as Romeo Santana on The Steve Harvey Show. He earned nominations for the NAACP Image Awards and ALMA Awards, which honor Hispanic performers, for his recurring role as Romeo Santana on The Steve Harvey Show on the WB Network. A teenage girl was found guilty Tuesday of helping two men kill popular young actor Merlin Santana, making a clean sweep for prosecutors, who earlier won convictions against her two. BeforeHome Improvement, he was best known as Detective Lieutenant Bob Reid on the soap operaRyan's Hope. The L.A. County Coroner deemed her death was due to accidental "multiple drug intoxication." Teenager convicted in actor's death Wikipedia: Merlin Santana It's Been 15 Years Since The Death Of 'Steve Harvey Show' Star Merlin Santana Movies/Documentaries Final Cut: Cost of Fame Defendants Damien Andre Gates - convicted, sentenced to 3 consecutive life sentences plus 70 years In the late '80s, he helped coin the term "dramedy" withHooperman. TV creates a kind of immortality for its actors that can seem surreal, especially when the screen goes black, and we remember how much time has passed since the program aired. Santana was in Los Angeles at the time of his death and was sitting in a car with a friend, Damien Andre Gates, when they were approached by three men. He'd suffered a number of seizures in the preceding months, and it's believed that may have been what caused the fall. He continued to tryto find new avenues to creatively express himself, so he channeled his energy into recording a rap album, which didnt really take off. He was with his friend and former child actor Brandon Quintin Adams. Merlin Santana was an actor and rapper who was shot dead in a parked car on November 9th, 2002. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Actor Merlin Santana Was Murdered In California Because Of A Lie, New York Woman Charged In War Vets Murder Gets Time Served After Plea Deal. Bynes was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. From 1976 to 1985, audiences enjoyed the antics happening in Mel's Diner onAlice, a sitcom based on the 1974 Martin Scorsese filmAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. What I didn't know was the details surrounding his case. It's been almost 20 years. Between 1996 and 1999, he played the role of Ohagi on Moesha. He was in the regular casts of Getting By and Under One Roof. The driver escaped injury, drove off and flagged down police. When the teenage characters ofMoeshaneeded a place to hang out, they went to The Den owned by Andell Wilkerson, played by Wilson. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. Merlin Santana on IMDb: Movies, Tv, Celebrities, and more. All Rights Reserved. Have something to tell us about this article? Atty. Merlin Santana was an Afro-Latino-American television actor, well known for his role as the teenager Romeo on 'The Steve Harvey Show'. Phylicia Rashad, Bill Cosby, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe on "The Cosby Show" | Photo: Getty Images. but would've been nice to see that. She died shortly after checking in to rehab in August 2013. The officers observed that a male passenger was seated in the passenger Continue reading "Robbery Homicide Detectives Solve Actors Murder" One person wrote: Today would have been Merlin Santanas 45th birthday. Most of his live-action roles were of the smaller variety, and in a 2007 interview with the New York Film Academy (via CNN), he was candid about missing the spotlight, saying, "You can either be a movie star or an actor. Years before Will Smith was punching out aliens, he was better known as half of the hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, who became household names with their 1988 single "Parents Just Don't Understand." In 2008, Koenig was arrested for interrupting Pasadena's Rose Parade by blocking a float advertising the Beijing Olympics and holding up a sign that said "China: Free Burma.". }); Copyright 2015 . Kelly was replaced in the role by Christina Moore. In December 2003, Hindman died of lung cancer at the age of 61. Rising star. Merlin Santana on set of the Steve Harvey show. Monique King, reportedly Gatess girlfriend at the time, falsely claimed that Merlin made some sort of physical advance on her, according to Deputy District Attorney Greg Dohi. $1 Million - $5 Million. In the early '90s, he played the recurring role of Stanley boyfriend of the Huxtables' youngest daughter,. Murder b/c of a Lie, SMDH!! After they were shot, Adams managed to speed off and park in a safe place, thats when he noticed Santana was slumped over in his seat, so he called 911 and they were rushed to the hospital where Santana unfortunately succumbed to his fatal gunshot wounds at 26 years old. news.AmoMama.com speaks out against the above mentioned and news.AmoMama.com advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. All four of them had dinner and went to a club later that night and hung out. At the time of the late actor's death, the comedy, "The Blues," which he starred in, was in post-production and got released in 2003. Merlin Santana, Who Played Stanley on 'The Cosby Show', Was 26 When False Claims against Him Led to His Death By Oyin Balogun Nov 04, 2019 01:00 P.M. Merlin Santana's life held a lot of promise, but it got cut-off at the age of 26 in the most tragic way possible. Many people paid tributes to the actor and rapper who would have turned 45 years old on March 14th, 2021. "Justice will be served," the judge said. While still searching foracting gigs, Merlin would sometimes hang out with his boys and meet women, until that one night when he met the female who would ultimately cause him to meet his death date on November 9, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA. This tragedy struck Adams and his friendin 2002 and it over something so senseless and stupid. advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. This weekend, a lot of Merlin Santanas fans have paid their respects on social media, who would have been 45 years this year. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. A teenage girl was found guilty Tuesday of helping two men kill popular young actor Merlin Santana, making a clean sweep for prosecutors, who earlier won convictions against her two codefendants. It happened on the night of November 9th, 2002; Santana and his friend, Brando Quintin Adams, were leaving the latter's apartment at Crenshaw District, Los Angeles. Unfortunately he and his best friend were shot, resulting in the death of his friend. Yvette Wilson began her career as a stand-up comic, and she also made audiences laugh on the big screen in 1994's House Party 3 and 1995's Friday,among others. A 17-year-old girl whose lies prompted two men to kill actor Merlin Santana was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in juvenile prison. McKeon started his career as a child model and scored the spot onAlicewhen the show'slead, Linda Lavin, saw him in a Broadway performance ofMedea and Jasonand recommended him for the role. Wishing a Happy Heavenly 45th Birthday to Merlin Santana! pic.twitter.com/mLUmzdsX3k. Award winning actor and hip-hop hopeful, Merlin Santana, known for his macho portrayal of Romeo on the The Steve Harvey Show, may have been set up and was a target for a robbery, police said..