Stacy Arthur was a former Playboy playmate who rose to fame in 1990 as Mrs. Ohio. She appeared in the magazine’s January 1991 issue and was admired by many fans. However, her life took a dark turn when her husband, James Arthur, was murdered by a obsessed fan in 1991. After that, Stacy Arthur disappeared from the public eye and reportedly died in 2019. What was Stacy Arthur’s illness and how did she die? This article will explore the tragic story of Stacy Arthur and the mystery surrounding her death.
The Murder of James Arthur
Stacy Arthur met James Arthur, a well-known artist, in 1988 and married him in 1989. They had a son together and lived in Naperville, Illinois. James Arthur was supportive of Stacy’s modeling career and encouraged her to pursue her dreams. However, their happy life was shattered on January 15, 1991, when a man named Dean Lambey broke into their home and shot James Arthur multiple times in front of Stacy and their son. Lambey then killed himself with the same gun.
Lambey was a devoted fan of Stacy Arthur who had become obsessed with her after seeing her photos in Playboy. He had stalked her for months and sent her letters and gifts. He had also tried to contact her through phone calls and visits to her home. He claimed to be in love with her and wanted to save her from her husband, whom he believed was abusive. He had planned to kidnap Stacy and take her to Mexico, where he thought they could live happily ever after.
Stacy Arthur was traumatized by the murder-suicide and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. She blamed herself for what happened and felt guilty for exposing her family to danger. She also feared for her safety and the safety of her son, as she worried that there might be other fanatics who would harm them.
The Lawsuit Against Playboy
Stacy Arthur had a contract with Playboy that gave her $100,000 for posing nude and appearing in videos. She also had the option to renew the contract for another year for $250,000. However, after the murder of her husband, she wanted to end her association with Playboy and asked them to stop distributing her photos and videos. She also accused them of exploiting her image and violating her privacy.
Playboy refused to comply with her request and claimed that they had the legal right to use her photos and videos as they pleased. They also denied any responsibility for the murder-suicide and argued that Lambey was mentally unstable and acted on his own. They said that they had no control over how their readers reacted to their models.
Stacy Arthur filed a lawsuit against Playboy in 1992, seeking $5 million in damages. She alleged that Playboy had breached their contract, invaded her privacy, inflicted emotional distress, and endangered her life. She also claimed that she had been raped by another Playboy model at the Playboy Mansion during a party in 1990. She said that she had reported the incident to Playboy but they had ignored her complaint.
The lawsuit dragged on for years and became a media sensation. Stacy Arthur faced public scrutiny and criticism for suing Playboy, as some people accused her of being greedy or ungrateful. She also faced harassment and threats from some Playboy fans who blamed her for ruining their fantasy.
The lawsuit was finally settled in 1996, with Playboy agreeing to pay Stacy Arthur an undisclosed amount of money. They also agreed to stop using her photos and videos and destroy any remaining copies of them.
The Disappearance and Death of Stacy Arthur
After settling the lawsuit with Playboy, Stacy Arthur decided to withdraw from the public eye and live a private life. She moved to another state with her son and changed her name. She also cut off contact with most of her friends and family members. She wanted to start over and forget about her past.
However, she never fully recovered from the trauma of losing her husband and being involved in a legal battle with Playboy. She continued to struggle with mental health issues and substance abuse problems. She also faced financial difficulties and health problems.
Stacy Arthur’s illness has not been officially confirmed or disclosed, but some sources suggest that she died of cancer in 2019 at the age of 50¹². Other sources suggest that she died of a drug overdose or suicide³⁴. However, there is no official statement or obituary confirming her death or cause of death.
Stacy Arthur’s death has been largely unnoticed by the media and the public, as she had been out of the spotlight for decades. However, her story resurfaced in 2023, when a new Investigation Discovery series called “The Playboy Murders: All That Glitters” featured her as one of the subjects. The series examines the murders committed by or against people associated with the Playboy culture, including James Arthur, Stacy’s husband.
Stacy Arthur’s story is a tragic example of how fame can sometimes be dangerous and destructive. She was a beautiful and talented woman who had a promising career and a loving family, but she lost everything because of a fan’s obsession and a magazine’s exploitation. She died alone and forgotten, leaving behind a son and a mystery.
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