BEVERLY HILLS—This week I caught up with my friend Lis Wiehl, who is an author of several bestsellers, a Fox News legal analyst who appears regularly on Fox’s “O’Reilly Factor” as well as other shows and radio programs around the nation. Lis is also a former federal prosecutor, so I put questions to the legal expert regarding a case that has gripped the nation, but most assuredly has been the topic of every conversation in this region for the past several weeks. The death of famed Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen just hours after the premiere of Cher’s new film “Burlesque” has virtually every Beverly Hills resident looking over their shoulder and entertainment insiders whispering that there could be a larger conspiracy, but still we are hoping that the case was a random act of violence.

Ms. Wiehl also offered our readers an opportunity to see the cover of her new book titled “Heart of Ice.” Her current bestseller “Hand of Fate” is available for Christmas in paperback.

Q-Earlier this week, we spoke and you agreed with me that the murder of Ronni Chasen was going to be solved rather quickly. Do you still believe this case was coincidental and not a hit as the police are stating?

A-“The facts are still unfolding, the murder investigation will continue in order to close all the details of the case. Perhaps all the speculating about it being a hit was due to the recent report that Chasen’s brother believes she drafted a second will in 2006 that has yet to surface, but other signs always seemed to point to her being, unfortunately, a mistaken target. For example, a woman driving in the same neighborhood a week earlier was threatened through her window by a gunman under similar circumstances and many experts have said the killing was likely not the work of a professional hit man. Investigators also said they received tips that a person named Harold Smith, who had previous burglary and drug possession charges, was a possible suspect before he shot and killed himself on December 1.”

Q-You and I have spoken about my having been stalked previously by people, it happens to almost everyone in the public forum today. Do you believe our current legal system is capable of keeping people who are being stalked safe?

A-“Only to a point. Sometimes protective orders are barely worth the paper they are written on. Anti-stalking statutes exist to prevent people from stalking someone in person, but cyberstalking has become an area of serious concern. There is a federal law on cyberstalking, and some states have followed with their own measures, but most of the country lags behind in addressing this issue. With all the recent stories about cyberbullying, I hope to see law enforcement take a closer look at how people are harassed over the Internet, where the stalkers incorrectly think they are safe from the law.”

Q-Ronni disinherited her brother and one niece. Can they challenge the will?

A-“Not because they were disinherited. Typically, wills can only be challenged on grounds of fraud, duress, or the will maker was incapacitated mentally when that person made the will. Here, Chasen bequeathed $50,000 to one niece, and $10 to another niece. She may have been trying to send a message to the niece who only got the $10, but that is not grounds on which the will can be challenged.”

Q-At press time, the police are stating that the man who shot and killed himself was in fact the murderer and that he acted alone, do you believe these are the facts?

A-“I have no reason to doubt that this is in fact the case. The police have looked extensively into Harold Smith’s past, they had always stated that he was the only ”˜person of interest’ and they did so publicly. This was a high-profile case that had a lot of people on edge who live in and around Beverly Hills. Police wanted to solve this gruesome murder and reassure the people of Los Angeles at the same time.”

Q-Do you have any upcoming books to be released?

A-“Yes, Tommy. It’s titled ”˜Heart of Ice.’ My next mystery novel in the ”˜Triple Threat’ series is due out next April. You can pre-order on Amazon. And ”˜Hand of Fate’ will be out in paperback in time for Christmas.”

Photograph Courtesy: Kyle Widder Photography, book covery by: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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