1974 #2 Paige Young suicide LAPD report.
*Trigger warning for discussion of suicide*
I obtained a copy of the LAPD report on Paige Young’s suicide, transcribed below.
The report was difficult to read; it looks like a copy of a copy of a copy, several words are faded almost beyond recognition.
Someone familiar with police codes and reports may understand it better than I do.
In my interview for the 2022 docu-series Secrets of Playboy; I was filmed opening the envelope containing this report.
The interviewer asked me to read the report on camera and I absolutely struggled.
Understandably so, as the next day it took me an entire afternoon with a magnifying glass to transcribe what you will read below.
Anyway, no footage or mention of this police report made it into Secrets of Playboy.
I have placed ??? for words and codes I was unable to decipher.
EDI (PDI?) is witness 1 (and neighbor) Melanie. I/D is the Investigating Detective.
Page 1:
I/D responded to a D/5 call at the above location. Upon arrival at 1500 hrs. I/D was met by 8A53 Ofcc’s Sullivan FI5452 and Peckins #15665. Death was pronounced by CA#92 at 1431. 8A53 upon arrival at the scene were met by EDI, who stated that the deceased was upstairs with a gun and was going to shoot herself. 8A53 at this time phoned for a backup unit. 8L/??and 8L10 responded. Ofccs at this time spent approx. 2 hours attempting to contact the deceased via the telephone and by calling ?? HEC? Offcs during this period were informed that a “SWAT” team was enroute and to stand by for their arrival. While Ofccs. were waiting for “SWAT” EDI suddenly ran into deceased’s apt. Ofccs fearing for EDI safety also entered the apt. Offcs. at time obs. the deceased lying on the bed with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head. Ofccs at this time phoned for an ambulance.
Page 2
EDI stated that she last saw the Dec. alive on 4–7–74 at approx. 10:30. Deceased stated at this time that she was going to end her life. Dec. at this time placed the barrel of her gun in her mouth. EDI attempted to talk Dec. out of taking her life. Dec. asked EDI to phone the police because she wanted to kill herself in front of the police. EDI at this time left and returned to her apartment and started to call friends of the Dec. Approx. one hr. later (1130) EDI contacted the PD. EDI further stated that deceased had been in a constant state of deep depression for the last two years.
Wit-2 stated that on 4–7–74 at approx. 0930, he rec a phone call from Dec. who requested that he come to her and pick up her (Dec) dogs. Dec. also stated she would leave a note explaining about the dogs. Wit. went to the above location and obs. the dogs in their pen. Wit also obs what appeared to be a note which had been torn up ?? the dogs. Wit took the dogs and the note to his home. Once there Wit pieced the note together. The note instructed Wit. what to do with the dogs. At the bottom it read, “don’t come up call the police.” Wit at this time contacted the LAPD and then returned to the above location.
I/D obs. the deceased lying on her back in bed with her her feet resting on the ?? Dec. head was pointed in a S/E direction. I/D obs. no evid of foul play. An inspection of weapon showed it to be A 2? .38 caliber S/W B/S bed 5 shot chief. The weapon was fully loaded with one spent gund(?) directly under the hammer. This weapon was BKD? at ???? and rigor mortis were obs. I/D obs. no evid of an exit wound.
Page 3
2H22 of SID was at the scene and took photos.
It is the opinion of the I/D that the Dec. committed suicide by firing a single shot from the above described weapon. This opinion is based of the statement of the EDI, and lack of evid to indicate otherwise. This death will be ???? as a suicide pending the final result of the cor. invest. The shot was fired into Dec. mouth and did not exit.
Since there was noone to ??/Dec. Prod, ???sealed the location.
END.
Suicide note not mentioned in LAPD report. “Possible Note at Scene” on report above.
Melanie said to the Daily Mail in 2014 and Secrets of Playboy that she was read part of Paige’s suicide note by the police and the note mentioned Hollywood powerful men who used and abused her, including John Huston and Hugh Hefner.
(Paige is listed as “artist” on her death certificate.)
Officers called to Paige’s suicide scene: Sullivan and Perkins or Peckins.
Investigating Detective I/D : Reddish, probably Richard M. Reddish who handled at least 2 other suicides in his LAPD career per newspapers.com.
Police photographer on scene: Unknown
Coroner: Dr. Mall
Coroner’s office, removed Paige’s body from her home: Tim Gee.
2nd Witness: D DeWitt. Called by Paige on the 7th to take care of her dogs. According to this police report, this witness went to Paige’s house, retrieved the dogs and took the torn up note with with instructions for the dogs(?) Went to his house, pieced the note together. Note said “don’t come up call police.” Witness then returned to Paige’s house.
From there, nothing is said about witness DeWitt.
UPDATE: 7/8/23 I exchanged emails with Paige’s friend Veronica who suggested that DeWitt may be the breeder who supplied Paige with Akita dogs that she was had hoped to breed for income. She was arranging for him to take the dogs because of her plan to kill herself.
We can see what is not described in the report by Reddish: the suicide note and mural created by Paige Young about hatred towards Hugh Hefner — what Melanie described to the Daily Mail Dec. 2014 and dramatized in Secrets of Playboy.
And there was a photographer on the scene.
Both witnesses, Melanie and DeWitt, in the 1974 report, corroborate what Melanie said in 2014: Paige wanted to make a statement about these men who abused her.
The fact that a police photographer took photos of Paige’s suicide scene is easy to read in the report. But where are those photos now?
During my interview with the Secrets of Playboy directors, they asked me what I thought about this reference to photographs taken at the scene, about 3 times. I responded each time with “I’d really like to know the answer to that.”
This exchange was not included in the finished documentary. But the answer is that photographed evidence in this case was likely destroyed (the LAPD would say “lost” I’m sure) and I should have said that.
As it turned out there is no mention of this police report at all in Secrets of Playboy.
I found a blog that linked the 2014 Daily Mail Paige Young article with a personal comment:
oped: I totally believe the accusations…being that I worked for LAPD Van Nuys Division 1971–1974.
I remember one of my Sgts discussing this case…it was hushed up at the higher levels of management… speculation being a cover up on pressure from the entertainment moguls! And I can honestly say after dealing with the bookings of numerous celebrities during this period of time from DUI,Drugs,perversion,disturbing the peace on and on…oh the stories I could tell…maybe another time I will!
From Sharla’s Labyrinth
I can’t confirm independently that this person wrote the truth, but I don’t know why the writer would make it up. When I asked on the website what exactly what s/he remembers about what was said by the sergeant, h/she responded “they (police) just said it was very sad.”
Keep in mind, there was absolutely no interest shown in 2014 and 2015 when the long-forgotten/never-known Paige Young suicide article and her connection to celebrities Bill Cosby, Hugh Hefner and John Huston, was published in the Daily Mail online.
Part of the reason for this is the source: the problematic Daily Mail.
During late 2014 and throughout 2015, dozens of women were coming forward in the media, some with lawsuits, with allegations of being raped and drugged by Bill Cosby.
Two of the women coming forward said their assault by Cosby happened at the LA Playboy Mansion: Judy Huth in 1975 and Chloe Goins in 2008.
Hefner and Cosby were close friends for decades.
