Steve Huff: The Preacher and the Porn Star, the Tragic Story of Felicia Tang Lee (Photos)
Story contributed by Steve Huff.
LAVONIA, Ga. (CBS) Self-styled Christian preacher and former Fox reality star Brian Lee Randone, age 45, has allegedly added "killer" to his already unusual resume. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported Thursday that police believe Randone killed his 31-year-old girlfriend Felicia Lee on Friday, Sept. 11 in the home they shared in Monrovia, CA.
Photos: Porn Star Felicia Lee Murdered
According to a police statement quoted by the Tribune, Lee was suffocated by Randone in a "domestic violence incident."
The Singapore-born Lee was also known as Felicia Tang, an actress and model who, according to KTLA.com, had performed in mainstream movies like "Rush Hour 2" as well as adult films such as "Hotel Decadence" and "Peach Ultra Vixens: Asians." Tang could also be seen with reality star Tila Tequila in a popular 2003 erotic video found online, Tang and Tequila both nude and fondling each other in a pool.
Brian Randone had a website in the early 2000s which appeared to be geared towards his ministry. On the site he said that he "ministered to the hearts of believers and nonbelievers with his critically-acclaimed performances." On the same site, Randone addressed his appearance in 2000 on "America's Sexiest Bachelor," representing his home state, Nebraska. Randone wrote that he had no plans to "try to be sexy," but he would "try to be a Christian first, a man second."
Photos: Porn Star Felicia Tang Murdered
Randone continued, "A man who knows his God should be what real men are measured by. I hope to talk about qualities that are really important, what's inside, such as faithfulness, love, commitment and self-control, the masculine characteristics of a Christian."
Randone set aside a page on his website for a "Personal Message" to readers. "I'm not better than anyone else, I'm not more intelligent and I don't look down on you or anyone," he wrote, "But, there is something special about you and there is something special about the plan God has for you. No matter where you're at in life or what you have done or been through God has a plan for you and a purpose if you will only receive it."
Later in the same message, Brian Randone addressed the matter of sin, saying in part: "We are all sinners. Sin is a bigger problem than we care to admit or that we think. Sin is as small as thinking a bad thought and/or as big as murder. Because of sin, we deserve hell. I know that if there is one thing I deserve in life its(sic) hell…"
Randone apparently also believed in apocalyptic bible prophecies: "I really believe with all my heart that Jesus is coming again soon. I've studied a lot of prophecy and many are being fulfilled literally right before our eyes. He is coming."
Felicia Lee first published FeliciaTang.com in 2002, displaying nudes and movie stills. Also, Lee sometimes blogged in the "news" section of the site. "Felicia Tang" blog posts stood out in ironic contrast to the Christian-themed writing by the man accused of her murder:
March, 2004: "I was going back and forth to casting calls with Playboy. They were casting for girls for their DVD with Red Man and Method Man's Mansion Party. I got my part so we shot this in the Playboy Mansion...I brought some pictures for you guys to view. It was great during the day I was in the pool scene with three other models. The typical ...girls laying out by pool and then decide to get naked and bounce and play in the water...giggling away. […] By the end I was delirious....these shoots really take a long time..with lots of waiting around."
Photos: Porn Star Felicia Lee Murdered
January, 2006: "My shoot for the commercial with Playboy Tv went well even tough (sic) it was such a long day. I did some great scenes for the commercial like riding sexually on an office chair, and another I had wax poured over my body..which you know I enjoyed.lol the last was a (sic)dressed as a mermaid on a clear chair that spins...very cool ideas. I was so wiped out after that shoot..."
As "Tang," Felicia Lee appeared to cultivate a warm relationship with her readers and the viewers of her webchats.
Her bubbly blog posts contained numerous expressions of thanks to readers for everything from birthday wishes to money that permitted her to purchase a more sophisticated webcam.
The Pasadena Star-News, citing Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Sgt Aura Sierra, reported no known history of domestic violence between Felicia Lee and Brian Randone. It also isn't clear how long they were together, though a woman who resembles Lee could be seen in a photo posted to a MySpace account Randone last used in April, 2009. On that same account, Randone wrote the following: "I love life. I work harder. I have a ton of energy and I love to have fun and I like being responsible with what I have and what I do. I like to travel and dont (sic) mind going places alone and I get along with guys and girls equally well and enjoy people in general. I am an extrovert and being in public energizes me, I hope to marry someday and plan to retire in 10 yrs from now..."
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. website, Brian Lee Randone is being held on felony charges under a $2 million bail. His next hearing is Sept. 29 in the Pasadena Superior Court.
Photos: Porn Star Felicia Tang Murdered
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Crime journalist Steve Huff has written for the Crime Library, Radar Magazine, Village Voice Media and True/Slant. He lives with his wife Dana and their kids in Roswell, GA.