5 Most Shocking And Updated Cases From 'The Playboy Murders' Season 3 (2025 Premiere)
The world of glamour and celebrity often hides a sinister underbelly, and no true-crime series exposes this contrast quite like The Playboy Murders. Hosted and executive produced by former Playmate Holly Madison, the series delves into the tragic, often-overlooked homicides and mysteries connected to the iconic Playboy brand and its affiliates. As of , the most significant update for enthusiasts is the highly anticipated premiere of Season 3, which is set to air on Investigation Discovery (ID) on Monday, May 5, 2025, bringing six all-new, terrifying cases to light.
This upcoming season promises to continue the show's pattern of examining the dark side of fame, focusing on the lives of models, Playmates, and associates whose promising careers were tragically cut short by violence and mystery. The new episodes will feature shocking stories, including the mysterious death of a Playboy casting assistant and a chilling murder case involving a former Playmate and her boyfriend.
Holly Madison: Host and Executive Producer Profile
The series is anchored by Holly Madison, a figure uniquely positioned to narrate these stories due to her own experience within the Playboy world. Her biography provides context to her authority on the subject:
- Birth Name: Holly Sue Cullen
- Date of Birth: December 23, 1979
- Birth Place: Astoria, Oregon, United States
- Profession: Television Personality, Actress, Producer, Author
- Notable Roles: Starred in the reality TV series The Girls Next Door (2005–2009) and its spin-off Holly's World (2009–2011)
- Playboy Association: Former girlfriend of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and a prominent Playmate
- Current Role: Host and Executive Producer of The Playboy Murders on Investigation Discovery (ID)
The Newest and Most Chilling Cases from Season 3 (2025)
Season 3 of The Playboy Murders is set to deliver fresh, in-depth investigations into cases that have been overshadowed or left with lingering questions. These new narratives highlight the dangers that lurked just outside the gilded cage of the Playboy Mansion and its surrounding culture.
1. The Mysterious Death of Kimberly Fattorini ('Last Dance')
The Season 3 premiere, titled "Last Dance," focuses on the tragic and mysterious death of Kimberly Fattorini. Fattorini was a model and a Playboy casting assistant, a role that put her directly in the orbit of the Playboy brand. Her death has been shrouded in unresolved questions and allegations of foul play.
The episode promises to explore the events surrounding her passing, including the various allegations and the civil lawsuit filed by her family, who maintain that there is more to her story than initially reported. This case is a chilling reminder of the vulnerability faced by young women in the high-stakes world of modeling and Hollywood. Kimberly Fattorini's case, which involves a casting assistant, shows how the dark influence of the Playboy ecosystem extended beyond the Playmates themselves.
2. The Double Murder Tied to Twin Playmate Sandy Bentley
One of the most complex and sensational cases to be featured in the new season involves twin Playmate Sandy Bentley. Sandy and her twin sister, Mandy Bentley, were well-known figures in the late 1990s and were closely associated with Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Mansion.
The episode delves into the brutal 1999 double murder of Sandy Bentley's boyfriend, Michael Tardio, and his business partner, Christopher Monson. The two men were found shot to death in a car in Hollywood. The investigation into this homicide case exposed a tangled web of relationships, money, and danger that ensnared the former Playmate. This story, previously covered in the Season 2 episode "Double Trouble," is being re-examined with new insights, showcasing the long-term ripple effects of crime in the Playboy orbit.
3. The Las Vegas Murder of Dr. Thomas Burchard
Another shocking case is the 2019 murder of psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Burchard in Las Vegas. This case is directly linked to former Playmate Kelsey Turner, whose involvement sent shockwaves through the true-crime community. Burchard was reportedly killed after traveling to Las Vegas to meet Turner, with whom he allegedly had a relationship.
Prosecutors alleged that Turner, along with her boyfriend, Jon Kennison, instructed the murder. The trial and conviction of Kelsey Turner highlight a horrifying example of how the pursuit of a lavish lifestyle, often symbolized by the Playboy image, can intersect with extreme violence and betrayal. The case of Dr. Thomas Burchard and Kelsey Turner is a modern-day example of the series' core theme: the fatal pitfalls of fame and fortune.
Iconic and Tragic Cases from Previous Seasons (Topical Authority)
While Season 3 focuses on new and updated cases, the series built its reputation by revisiting some of the most infamous and tragic stories in Playboy history. These cases provide crucial context for understanding the dark legacy the documentary explores.
4. The Murder of Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten
The 1980 murder of Dorothy Stratten, the 1980 Playmate of the Year, remains one of the most heartbreaking chapters in the Playboy narrative. Stratten was a rising star, with a burgeoning acting career, whose life was brutally cut short in a murder-suicide committed by her estranged husband, Paul Snider.
The episode dedicated to Stratten delves into how her desire to escape a toxic relationship ultimately led to her demise. Her story is a key case study in the series, illustrating the controlling and dangerous relationships that sometimes plagued women associated with the Playboy brand, despite the apparent glamour.
5. The Brutal Homicide of Model Jasmine Fiore
The 2009 murder of model Jasmine Fiore was a sensational case that captured national headlines. Fiore's mutilated body was found stuffed into a suitcase in a dumpster in Buena Park, California. The main suspect was her reality TV star husband, Ryan Jenkins, who fled to Canada before committing suicide.
The episode, titled "Bunny Meets Bachelor," explores the volatile relationship between Fiore and Jenkins, a man whose celebrity status concealed a violent past. The horrific nature of the crime and the ensuing manhunt for Ryan Jenkins made this one of the most shocking homicides linked to the Playboy world. This case, like the others, shows the devastating consequences when the allure of fame intersects with true criminal pathology.
The Enduring Appeal of the 'Playboy Murders' Docuseries
The enduring success of The Playboy Murders, now heading into its third season in 2025, lies in its ability to peel back the layers of Hollywood's golden facade. The series, guided by Holly Madison, successfully shifts the focus from the founder, Hugh Hefner, and the controversial legacy of the Playboy Mansion, to the victims and the devastating crimes committed against them or their associates.
By exploring the intersection of sex, celebrity, and homicide, the documentary series provides a crucial, often forgotten, perspective. It serves as a true-crime cautionary tale about the pitfalls of instant fame and the dark side of the spotlight, ensuring that the stories of Kimberly Fattorini, Dorothy Stratten, Jasmine Fiore, and the victims connected to Sandy Bentley and Kelsey Turner are not lost to history. The new season promises to continue this important, albeit chilling, work.
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