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| Ann Ragusa, circa 1970 |
If California's Deputy District Attorney Lael Rubin had any insights and shared them with the jury back in June of 1997, those facts weren't reported in the newspaper account that I've read. I did not track down the court transcripts which might have revealed something critical but I did invest in a death certificate so that I'd be able to more fully tell the final chapter of the tale but that's as far as I went with requesting official documents. I don't lack curiosity just the necessary funds and resources.
In researching this crime I have stumbled across some websites with rumors and speculations regarding motive but I prefer to rely on first person accounts or quotable sources and, as far as I know, nobody who was in the loop at the time has made a statement to the public regarding the crimes. So, here's what we know -
Ann Ragusa followed in her older sister Paula's footsteps and sought to make her living as an actress but she didn't want to capitalize on her sister's fame so she chose Ann Gardner as her stage name.
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| Paula Prentiss - 1966 Publicity Still |
The physical resemblance between the two sisters was so striking that I know I've often seen Ann on screen and initially thought it was Paula.
Paula was likewise acting under a new name, given to her by MGM Studios in 1960 when they cast her as one of the female leads in "Where The Boys Are." Paula Ragusa was now Paula Prentiss.
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| Ann as Sgt. Candy Kane in "Captain Nice" |
Fortune didn't immediately smile on Ann Gardner so she found a new agent who quickly told his client that she was crazy not to use Paula's name to at least open a few doors. He was right. She became Ann Prentiss and saw an increase in job offers.
In 1967, Ann landed a steady job on a new sitcom written by Buck Henry called "Captain Nice." It only ran for 15 episodes but Ann's performance as Sgt. Candy Kane is fondly remembered by those who have seen the show.
Ann's acting credits between 1962-1988 total 30 but then she kind of fell off the radar until 1997 when she was arrested for assaulting her 86-year-old father, Thomas Ragusa.
The two were at his Beverly Hills apartment and while struggling with each other, Ann hit Thomas on the head with a flashlight and discharged a weapon, a .38-caliber handgun. She was arrested for battery and assault with a firearm.
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| Thomas Ragusa, 1998 photo by Richard Benjamin |
While being held on those charges (and here comes the confounding part), Ann tried to hire a fellow inmate to kill three people - Thomas Ragusa, Paula's husband Richard Benjamin and Paula's son 23-year-old Ross Benjamin. The District Attorney could now added solicitation to commit murder to the list of complaints which included making terrorist threats.
On June 25, 1997, after two days of deliberations, Ann was found guilty. On July 23, 1997, Ann was sentenced to 19 years in prison of which she served 12.
Ann Elizabeth Ragusa Prentiss died on January 12, 2010 while still an inmate at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California. Cause of death was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema. She was 70-years-old.
Ann Elizabeth Ragusa Prentiss died on January 12, 2010 while still an inmate at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California. Cause of death was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema. She was 70-years-old.
Clearly, key to the whole story would be to know what grievances Ann had with the male members her family at that time. She didn't try to take out a hit on her sister or niece. As far as I can tell, Ann's attorney never pursued a temporary insanity or diminished capacity defense.
Paula Prentiss has herself struggled with mental illness and has openly discussed her own emotional breakdown and a spontaneous suicide attempt in 1965 which was followed by a horrendous 9 month stay at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in New York. This doesn't mean insanity runs in the family.
Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin weathered the storm and their marriage remains one of Hollywood's strongest.
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Country Living Magazine, January 8, 2018
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I've added a sample of Ann's work to the As Close To Crime YouTube channel so you can see her in action. I've chosen an episode from "Mannix" that shows her as an unwelcome and unruly party guest, which seems appropriate. Here's a link - https://youtu.be/EGY42RsTcwY
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