’Colonel Hogan’ battered to death

Press, 1 July 1978, Page 1

’Colonel Hogan’ battered to death

NZPA Scottsdale (Arizona)

The actor, Bob Crane, who used liis boyish looks and sheepish grin as the wise-cracking “Colonel Hogan.” of the long-run-ning television hit series, “Hogan’s Heroes,” was found beaten to death yesterday in a flat near a theatre where he was performing. Authorities said Crane, aged 49, died of at least three blows to the head from a heavy instrument and apparently had been killed in his sleep. There also was an electrical cord around his neck. The actor’s body was found on a bed in a flat near the Windmill Dinner Theatre, where he had been starring, tn “Beginner’s Luck”' for nearly a month. "We heard nothing at all,” said Ms Jean Reed, the manager of the flats. “Our first indication of any problem was w’hen one of our workmen saw the police.” Ms Reed said Victoria Ann Berry, an actress, entered the flat and found the body after Crane had failed to appear at a scheduled luncheon address to the Phoenix chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. There was no indication of forced entry to the apartment and nothing was taken. The police said a sheet had bgen pulled over Crane’s body and he was clad onlv in underwear.

“At this point it’s a riddle,” said Lieutenant Ron Dean, of the Scottsdale police.