On the morning of December 16, 1935, Thelma Todd was found slumped over the steering wheel of her Lincoln Phaeton, parked inside her lover’s garage on a hill above Los Angeles. She was just 29 years old, a rising comedic star, and one of the most glamorous women in the industry. Official cause of death? Carbon monoxide poisoning.
But the circumstances were anything but clear.
Todd had spent the previous night at a lavish Hollywood party, reportedly in good spirits. She left around 2 a.m., with her chauffeur dropping her off at the café she owned — the famed “Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Café” — but she never made it back to her apartment. Her body was discovered hours later by her maid, inside a closed garage owned by her on-again-off-again lover and business partner, Roland West.
Though the coroner’s report suggested accidental death, suspicious details piled up. The car door was slightly ajar. There were rumors of a struggle. Todd had bruises on her body. And most chilling: she had previously confided to friends that she feared for her life.
One theory pointed to West himself, who allegedly locked her in the garage after a heated argument. Another theory involved mob connections — specifically, gangster Lucky Luciano, who had reportedly tried to force Todd into allowing an illegal gambling operation above her café.
The investigation was murky at best. The LAPD quickly closed the case. No one was ever charged. And despite public outcry, Hollywood moved on.
Today, Thelma Todd is remembered for her beauty and comedic talent — but the mystery of her death continues to spark speculation and books, even 89 years later.