Abdul Fan Found Dead Near Star's L.A. Home

Police: Fan Infatuated With "American Idol" Judge Apparently Committed Suicide

(AP)  A fan of Paula Abdul whose failed audition for "American Idol" aired in season five was found dead in a car near the home of the pop star and judge she admired, authorities said Wednesday.

Police indicated that Paula Goodspeed, whose rendition of "Proud Mary" was roundly criticized by Simon Cowell and rejected by Abdul and Randy Jackson, had possibly committed suicide, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. An official cause of death had not been determined.

Authorities found Goodspeed's body Tuesday evening in a car that photos show bearing the vanity license plate "ABL LV" in a Los Angeles Lakers frame. Her parents had reported her missing hours earlier and expressed concern that she might hurt herself.

Los Angeles police spokeswoman Julianne Sohn says officers responded to a call about 6 p.m. Tuesday and arrived in the Sherman Oaks area to find the body.

"I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday," Abdul said in a statement released by her publicist, Jeff Ballard. "My heart and prayers go out to her family."

Goodspeed's audition was aired during the season that began in January 2006. She told the show's host, Ryan Seacrest, how she was a huge fan of Abdul and created life-size paintings of the singer and former Laker Girl; she also called Abdul "beautiful" after Cowell said he noticed a resemblance between Goodspeed and Abdul.

But Cowell also made light of Goodspeed's braces and bloggers trashed her appearance, which she noted in a MySpace posting months after the show aired.

"American Idol" producer Fremantle Media North America declined comment.

Ventura County Sheriff's Capt. Ross Bonfiglio said relatives hadn't seen the woman since about 11 p.m. on Monday and were concerned she might try to hurt herself. In June, the department checked on the woman at her home in Thousand Oaks after deputies received a tip from Los Angeles police that the woman might be at risk of self-harm, Bonfiglio said.

[avigil2]

In response to ofbyfor3 point, Ms. Paula Goodspeed wrote on her myspace page the following: "just because I made the mistake of trying out for a singing competition before I was even ready vocally, emotionally and physically."

Even she admits that she was not vocally ready. Now why on earth would anyone try out for a singing competition on national television, and on the most watched entertainment show in the world, if you''re not "vocally ready". That just spells disaster for redicule. I''m not saying it''s right but you gotta know that blogs are going to say mean things about you. There are still plenty of mean kids in the playground that follow you into adulthood. A friend or family member should have said, "Honey, you ain''t ready for this competition."

[ofbyfor3]

She obviously was not mentally fit and had major personal problems.

Posted by Avigil2 at 02:28 PM : Nov 13, 2008

That was my point. They make money off of ridiculing people like her, regardless of how it may affect them. The fact that they (and obviously you) have no consideration of the consequences of that is what sickens me.

Decent people don''t do that.

BTW, I no longer bother to watch the show precisely for that reason.

[avigil2]

This is not fame, fortune, and real singers!
Is the fabrication of "instant celebrity"!!! - Posted by valentin73

Then how do you explain great talents like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson. All extremely successful talented young singers and one of them even has an Oscar!

[avigil2]

Why is this news? - Posted by Be_Real
I think it''''s pretty repulsive that this show is on the air anyway. - Posted by ofbyfor3

First of all, this is news because Paula Abdul is a public figure; a celebrity if you will. Secondly, if you find this show (American Idol) repulsive, change the channel or better yet, pop in a DVD from Netflix. Don''t blame AI for this young woman''s tragedy. She obviously was not mentally fit and had major personal problems.

[ofbyfor3]

I think it''s pretty repulsive that this show is on the air anyway. Think about it--the first few months of the season is devoted to reviling people who won''t make it.

That would be fine if the show didn''t seem to focus primarily on people who seem to be more than a little bit emotionally vulnerable and weak. People who may not have enough friends and family to say that this is probably NOT a really good idea.

Competition is fine, but the fact that they focus on making a spectacle of vulnerable people seems a little sick and cruel.

Why not just throw them to the lions? That''s what it reminds me of.

[valentin73]

This is not fame, fortune, and real singers!
Is the fabrication of "instant celebrity"!!!
They ought cancel the (B)arn show altogether.
Enough of this superficial stardom baloney.
Now you have people committing suicide, Its becoming a problem, really. Where is hollywood going????

[guera74]

I can''t believe what a huge lack of respect for a human life we have these days! Crazy or not, she was a living, breathing, feeling person and I think people should give a *** that she killed herself...*** I hate how de-sensitized we''ve all become!!!

[jackp32]

I''m glad this dumb arse did not take any innocent people with her. The world is better off without this idiot.

[swingset4u]

O.J. did it! HA!

[questionnews]

Folks

The reason they keep posting this type of story is because the get hits off it.
Every time you click on the story or make a post it increases the odds that they will continue to do stories like this because they look at the number of people reading it. If you don''t want to see these types of stories, don''t click on the story & certainly don''t make a post.

[displeased]

Why is this news?
Posted by Be_Real

It''s entertainment news. Some people actually pay to read this craap! My question to you folks is...if these stories are a waste of your time, then why are you here?

[colt8881]

Wow what a Fantastic Article and so News Worthy.

I am go glad CBS spent time in putting this on CBS.com I dont know what my day would have been like without reading this krap.

Why this is the biggest news since cbs started hiring kids as journalist.

Posted by rushlimpdrug at 01:26 PM : Nov 12, 2008

There have been times where I''ve defended CBS, but when you see this and a Jonas Brother''s new girlfriend are two of the top stories, I''m wondering if the Disney Channel has taken over CBS and didn''t tell anyone.

[rushlimpdrug]

Why is this news?
Posted by Be_Real at 12:07 PM

Are you for real?

Why this is the biggest news since
cbs started hiring kids as journalist.

[yongamerica]

Whose head did she bite off this time?

[obamamabus]

Good question, Be_Real. CBS needs to fill up space since they no longer need to actively campaign for Obama.

[be_real]

Why is this news?