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Body of Fan Found Near Home of Abdul

posted: 233 DAYS 3 HOURS AGO

comments: 422

filed under: Music News, TV News

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LOS ANGELES (Nov. 12) - Authorities have identified the woman found dead outside "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul's house as a fan and one-time show contestant.

The woman, Paula Goodspeed, was found dead outside Abdul's house Tuesday evening, authorities said. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office says relatives identified her body Wednesday morning.

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Goodspeed's 'Idol' Audition

Goodspeed tried out for the fifth season of "American Idol," but the judges rejected her rendition of "Proud Mary."

"I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday," Abdul said in a statement released by her publicist, Jeff Ballard. "My heart and prayers go out to her family.

Police spokeswoman Julianne Sohn says officers responded to a call about 6 p.m. Tuesday and arrived in the Sherman Oaks area to find the body.

"It looks like an apparent suicide," Sohn told Reuters.

The 30-year-old woman was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon by a family member in neighboring Ventura County.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department Capt. Ross Bonfiglio said relatives hadn't seen the woman since about 11 p.m. on Monday and were concerned she might try to hurt herself.

In June, the department checked on the woman at her home in Thousand Oaks after deputies received a tip from Los Angeles police that the woman might be at risk of self-harm, Bonfiglio said.

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Celebrity Stalkers

A woman believed to have stalked 'American Idol' judge Paula Abdul was found dead of an apparent suicide near the pop star's home on Nov. 11. Paula Goodspeed tried out for the fifth season of the show.

Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images

The woman accused of stalking John Cusack had her plea deal pulled after she gave a judge the impression she wasn't entering into it voluntarily.

Getty Images

'America's Next Top Model' winner Adrianna Curry filed a restraining order against Shira Gellis after the woman allegedy came to her house, dedicated her MySpace page to the model and sent her a pair of Jimmy Choos.

Charley Gallay, WireImage

An Ohio man accused of stalking and plotting to hurt Disney's Amanda (AJ), left, and Alyson (Aly) Michalka was arrested and charged on June 26. Police say Rex Mettler, 42, made violent threats via phone calls, e-mails and blog entries to the former "Phil of the Future" actress-singers.

David Livingston, Getty Images

A Nashville man is in hot water after his dogged pursuit of Cher at one of the city's honky-tonks ended in his arrest for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. According to police, Calvin Hutton Houghland snuck up on the singer and grabbed her around the waist.

Tamas Kovacs, MTI / AP

Jamie Lynn Spears and her fiance Casey Aldridge have at least one photographer off of their backs now, as 30-year-old paparazzo Edwin W. Merino -- whose claim to fame is taking one of several underwear-less Britney Spears photos -- is arrested and accused of stalking Britney's younger sister.

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Former mental patent and out-of-work pool cleaner Jack Jordan faces up to a year in prison after a New York jury convicted him of stalking 'Kill Bill' star Uma Thurman over a two-year period.

Louis Lanzano, AP

A man who heads up a Debbie Gibson fan club has gotten too close for comfort for the 'Electric Youth' singer. She received a restraining order against Bassas Jorge Puigdollers, who she claims has attended all her "nationwide performances" and made an unwanted visit to her home.

Peter Kramer, Getty Images

A Boston priest was arrested in November for sending threatening notes to NBC late-night host Conan O'Brien. Rev. David Ajemian, who may have gone to college with O'Brien, referred to himself as "your priest stalker" in letters. Ajemian has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Getty Images / The Stoneham Independent / AP

Brady Green, who is accused of following Tyra Banks from coast to coast, sending her flowers and trying to call her, must stay away from the talk show host or face jail.

Jemal Countess, WireImage.com

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-11-12 12:22:13

Christopher Peterson, BuzzFoto / FilmMagic

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chelseajo777

11:01 AMDec 09 2008

It is really sad to see anyone end their life. I don't see that the world is better off in anyway. She had a family and friends who loved her. The world would be better off if people would show compassion for one another.

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FlMilkman

11:54 AMNov 18 2008

Any one who sang that badly in front of millions of viewers and the star judges should have committed suicide

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Lisaendicott7

11:33 AMNov 16 2008

One of the serious down sides of being famous is that there are some people who will develop unhealthy fixations. All celebrities have been stalked at some point, even the most private ones. This woman was sick, and wasn't given the mental help that she needed.

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Bettysue404

12:12 AMNov 16 2008

What price reality TV. I guess any price. They should just shut down the whole thing. Simon's style has come full circle and this show show should be taken off the air before someone else ends up like this. The shows producers now need become responsible and ensure that this doesn't happen again. This show is past it anyway.

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Joel Schnee

10:50 AMNov 14 2008

WOW this stinks!

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YNobodylikeme

01:38 AMNov 14 2008

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4 1031148&blogID=91775440 I think the media is overexaggarated. I didn't see any picture of Paula Abdul licking her lips. Check out Paula Goodspeed's website.

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YNobodylikeme

01:37 AMNov 14 2008

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=41031148 &blogID=91775440I think the media is overexaggarated.I didn't see any picture of Paula Abdul licking her lips.Check out Paula Goodspeed's website.

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AM0714

08:59 PMNov 14 2008

I enjoy the Idol show......after the first few weeks.....The people who produce this show need a professional (psychologist) on the staff to help them sort out the mentally ill.....I'm sorry, but they have 'used' the mentally ill for a few laughs every year, and now they can see what harm that can do......have some compasion please, and a little common sense. Most people just don't see the illness, they think it's just someone who is 'wierd', and laughable.........Hopefully, this sad death will make the show aware of the problem and they will do something about it..........like not show the mentally ill, as a joke........

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AM0714

08:58 PMNov 14 2008

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Newjeff121

08:55 PMNov 14 2008