Poltergeist Star Dominique Dunne's Killer Walks Free After 2.5 Years

Over 40 years after the tragic death of actress Dominique Dunne, her family continues to grapple with the loss. In 1982, the 22-year-old's rising career was cut short when her ex-boyfriend, John Sweeney, killed her on the driveway of her West Hollywood home.

Dunne had gained fame for her role in the supernatural hit Poltergeist that same year. However, her Hollywood career was tragically cut short after Sweeney, whom she had dated for a year, strangled her to unconsciousness during a violent altercation. Sweeney was initially charged with first-degree murder but was ultimately convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to just 6.5 years in prison.

Shockingly, Sweeney served only 2.5 years of that sentence before being released on parole. Dunne's family, including her parents Dominick and Ellen and brothers Griffin and Alex, have continued to keep her memory alive in the decades since her death. Her brother Griffin recently wrote about her in his 2024 memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir.

Dominick Dunne, a renowned crime writer, also covered high-profile cases like the O.J. Simpson trial in the years following his daughter's murder. Dominique's mother, Ellen, dedicated herself to advocacy work, founding the Justice for Homicide Victims foundation. The Dunne family's fight for justice continues to this day, as Dominique's case has recently been thrust back into the spotlight.