Shocking & Mysterious Deaths
A Persuasive/Research Investigation into shocking or mysterious murders, suicides or deaths.
Requirements: Must be mostly about the person’s death Some background info. is appropriate Must be 1500 words, typed, double-spaced MLA style (no title page) Works Cited must be on last page.
Format: Introduction (1 paragraph) Body A= Story of Death Body B= Society’s Reaction or Controversy Body C= You persuade audience: What is
the TRUTH? Conclusion (1 paragraph)
PresidentsAssassinated
Controversy
Cover-up
Government
High Profile
Were there two gunmen?
Assassinated
Controversy
Cover-up
Government
High Profile
Who were the real organizers?
John F. Kennedy
Abraham Lincoln
World LeadersAssassinated?
Fever?
Killed by his friend?
Most successful military leader of all time.
Conquered the world for Greece
Assassinated
Controversy
Killed by his friends
Stabbed to death by the Senate
Leader of the Roman Empire
Alexander the Great
Julius Cesar
World LeadersAssassinated?
Cancer?
Was it an impersonator who died??
Military Genius
Controversy
British Dictator
Murdered?
Malaria?
What happened to his head?Napoleon
Bonaparte Oliver Cromwell
Political FiguresLeader of the Teamsters Union
Mafia Connections
Was his body hidden in the New York Giants Stadium?
Running for President
Assassinated
Was in the Strawberry Festival Parade 2 days earlier.
Was the CIA involved?
Jimmy HoffaRobert
Kennedy
Civil Rights LeadersAssassinated
KKK Guilty?
Nation of Islam Guilty?
By any means necessary...
Assassinated
Racists?
Was the gov’t involved?
Malcolm XMartin Luther
King Jr.
Famous PeopleSuicide?
Accidental?
Who gets her money?
Who is her daughters daddy? Tragic Shock
Did he do something wrong?
What are his wife & daughter up to now?
Anna Nicole Smith
Steve Irwin
RappersWho started it?
Who is responsible?
Suge Knight
East/West?
Set up?
Is he really dead?
Sean Combs?
Biggie SmallsTupac
Message to their Music
Racial equality message in his music
Shot by his father
Cancer?
Murder?
Did Marijuana keep him alive longer?
Marvin Gaye
Bob Marley
Dead too Young!Nirvana Singer
Suicide?
Murder?
Courtney?
He was 24.
60s Singer
Overdose
Recording her last album.
She was 27.
Kurt CobainJanis Joplin
Dead too Young!The Crow
Son of Bruce Lee
Murder?
Chinese Mafia?
Bullets were supposed to be blanks!
He was 28.
A Knight’s Tale
The Joker
Suicide?
Accident?
He was 29.
Brandon Lee Heath Ledger
Dead too Young!La Bamba
Plane Crash with Buddy Holly.
Should the plane have taken off?
He was 17.
Murdered
Fan club president
Trusted friend
She was 23.Richie Valens
Selena
IconsActor
Car Crash
Was his movie cursed?
He was 24.
Murdered?
Suicide?
Did the gov’t kill her?
Was it the Kennedy family?
She was 35.James Dean Marilyn Monroe
MusiciansSinger
Plane Crash
Should the plane have taken off?
Song “Peggy Sue”
He was 23.
Heart Attack?
Overdose?
How many prescription drugs was he taking?
National Enquirer
He was 42.Buddy Holly
Elvis Presley
ComediansActor
Suicide?
Faking?
Goodbye Phonecalls
Drugs?
He was 22.
Accident?
Overdose?
Who gave him the speedball?
Murder?
He was 33.Freddie Prinze John Belushi
Sports & Super HeroesNASCAR
Crash
Changes to NASCAR Rules.
Going 150 mph into the wall.
He was 50.
Dale Earnhardt George
Reeves
Superman
Suicide?
Psycho Ex?
Mafia hit?
Why didn’t the guests at the party call the cops ‘til 30 min after the shot?
Early Teen HearthrobsBeatles
Killed by a fan
What is with the number 9?
What book is connected?
John Lennon Dennis Wilson
Beach Boys
Alcoholism
Suicide?
Accident?
Drowning
People said he wouldn’t die an old man.
MusiciansThe Doors
Suicide?
Heroin overdose?
Asthma?
Not really dead?
Jim Morrison
Jimi Hendrix
Sleeping Pill over dose?
Was he alive in the ambulance?
Suicide?
Accident?
RoyaltyCar Crash
Paparazzi?
Drunk Driver?
Conspiracy?
Would Seat Belt have saved her?
Why did the ambulance stop for 1 hr?
John F. Kennedy Jr.
Princess Diana
Pilot Error?
Weather?
Auto-Pilot Malfunction?
Kennedy Curse?
Rolling Stones
Suicide?
Accident?
Overdose?
Drowning?
Murdered by a builder?
Brian Jones Bruce Lee
Martial Artist
Aspirin?
Gangsters?
Fight?
Brain Swelling?
Marijuana?
Mama Cass Elliot
The Mamas & the Papas
Death by Ham Sandwich?
FBI?
Heart Attack?
Actress
Accident?
Murder?
Why so many bruises on her body?
Others on boat not talking
Natalie Wood Phil Hartman
Comedian
Murder/Suicide
Killed by wife
Kids in the house
Why?
Pat Tillman
NFL Player/Soldier
Friendly fire?
Cover up?
Headlines8 months Pregnant
Did her husband do it?
How did her body get into the ocean?
Laci Peterson
JonBenet Ramsey
Was it her parents?
How did they not hear anything?
Did the police ruin the investigation?
Headlines8 ½ months Pregnant
Why did the Manson Family want her dead?
Why did they write “Pig” on the front door in Sharon’s blood?
Sharon Tate Sid & Nancy
The Sex Pistols
Did he kill Nancy?
Did he want her to do it?
Murder/Suicide gone wrong?
Was it a drug deal gone wrong?