Stacy Arthur gained prominence as a model and actress, particularly after being featured as Playboy’s Playmate of the Month for January 1991, also gracing the cover of that issue adorned with a pageant-style sash reading “Miss January 1991”. She furthered her association with Playboy by appearing in various Playboy videos. However, her life took a somber turn when her husband fell victim to a tragic murder-suicide committed by a fan. Later on, she brought a lawsuit against Playboy, alleging that she had been assaulted by some of its employees. Sadly, Stacy Arthur passed away in 2019 at the age of 50, following a brief illness. This narrative encapsulates the sorrowful account of Stacy Arthur’s demise and the sequence of events leading up to it.
The Murder-Suicide of Her Husband
Stacy Arthur was wedded to James Alan Arthur, a 36-year-old entrepreneur and father of three children from a previous marriage. Stacy herself had three children from a former relationship. Their residence was in Bellefontaine, Ohio, where James managed a car dealership. Additionally, Stacy held the title of Mrs. Ohio for the 1990 Mrs. America contest.
On October 29, 1991, tragedy struck when James fell victim to a fatal shooting by a fan named James Lindberg, who subsequently took his own life. Lindberg, a 47-year-old divorced father of two, had been fixated on Stacy for months, engaging in persistent stalking behavior. He had sent her letters, flowers, and gifts, and had even made unwelcome visits to the Playboy Mansion. Lindberg professed his love for Stacy and expressed a desire to marry her.
Following James from his dealership to a nearby street, Lindberg confronted him and fatally shot him twice in the chest with a .38-caliber revolver before turning the gun on himself, ending his own life with a gunshot to the head. A note found in Lindberg’s car addressed to Stacy conveyed his remorse, stating, “I love you, Stacy. I’m sorry I had to do this. Please forgive me.”
This tragic murder-suicide deeply shocked both the local community and the nation at large. The harrowing events surrounding Stacy Arthur and James Lindberg became the focus of the inaugural episode of the debut season of “The Playboy Murders” titled “All That Glitters,” which aired in January 2023 on Investigation Discovery.
The Rape Allegation and Lawsuit Against Playboy
In 1992, Stacy Arthur initiated a $70 million lawsuit against Playboy and others, asserting that she had been drugged, sexually assaulted, and sodomized by three Playboy employees at the Playboy Mansion on October 6, 1991, merely three weeks prior to her husband’s tragic demise. Stacy alleged that two security personnel and a butler had provided her with a beverage spiked with a sedative, after which they proceeded to sexually assault her in a guest room. Furthermore, she accused Playboy of negligence, breach of contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, contending that the magazine had failed to safeguard her and had indirectly contributed to her husband’s death by subjecting her to unwanted public attention.
Playboy vehemently refuted these accusations and severed all connections with Stacy following her appearance on two nationally televised programs, during which she publicly disclosed the alleged assault at the Playboy Mansion. A deputy district attorney remarked that there were numerous discrepancies in Stacy’s statements, while affirming the consistency of statements provided by the three employees, who maintained that the encounters were consensual. The employees involved in the incidents were terminated for violating company policies prohibiting sexual activity during work hours, as reported by United Press International.
The result of the lawsuit remains undisclosed, as it was never covered by the media.
The Death of Stacy Arthur
Stacy Arthur passed away on April 5, 2019, at the age of 50, following a brief illness, according to reports. The Trading Card Database website notes the date of her passing. However, the specific cause and circumstances surrounding her death remain undisclosed, as she chose to maintain her distance from the media and public attention after the distressing events in her life.
Confirmation of Stacy Arthur’s death was also noted on Holly Madison’s program, The Playboy Murders, and her IMDb profile. She leaves behind six children and grandchildren. Remembered as a captivating and talented individual with a promising career, Stacy’s life was marred by tragedy and controversy.
