Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen left voicemail message minutes before she was killed

At 12:22 a.m. Tuesday  -- six minutes before she was shot –- Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen placed a cellphone call to her office, leaving a to-do list for her staff. It was the second such message she left at the office last night. The first came at 10:29 p.m., which would have been the time between when she attended the premiere of the movie "Burlesque" and the beginning of the after-party at the W Hotel.

"That was typical of Ronni," said her close friend, longtime Hollywood publicist Vivian Mayer-Siskind, referring to her tireless work ethic.

Mayer-Siskind had seen Chasen at the premiere, which they both attended with respective clients.

"I saw her on the red carpet and gave her a kiss," said Mayer-Siskind. "Then we all went to the party at the W Hotel."

Mayer-Siskind, who said Chasen was her first boss at MGM in 1993 and was the maid of honor at her wedding three years ago in Martha's Vineyard, called Chasen "my best friend, my mentor and my sister and she will be missed dearly by me as well as everyone else in the industry."

Mayer-Siskind added, "Ronni was loved and respected by everyone. She was part of the fabric of the industry that meant everything to her. Ronni loved every minute of what she did and in return her clients were equally dedicated to her."

After hearing about Chasen's death early Tuesday morning, Mayer-Siskind drove directly to the Beverly Hills Police station to try and learn more about the murder. She then drove to Chasen's office on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood to write her friend's obituary. By the time she arrived at the office, it was swarming with police, who were poring through Chasen's phone records, listening to her messages, going through her computer (which they took with them) and taking photographs.

"The police said they were on it," she said.

Chasen's brother, writer-director Larry Cohen, described her as a "a loving and caring person who treated her clients like they were her own family."

"She was my sister and best friend and we shared so many wonderful times together," Cohen said.

RELATED:

No motive, no suspects in slaying of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen

Outpouring of grief for Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen

-- Claudia Eller

Photos: Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen fatally shot in Beverly Hills

Comments

[kuruc]

something fishy about this murder. one person didn't love her for some reason. i have confidence in the police.

[Josiah]

It's "poring," Ms. Eller. Not "pouring." The cops didn't "pour" anything into the victim's things. Just sayin.'

"By the time she arrived at the office, it was swarming with police, who were pouring through Chasen's phone records, listening to her messages, going through her computer (which they took with them) and taking photographs."

[phoenixandrew]

Was Larry Cohen the same guy who directed the "It's Alive" horror movies of the 70s about some killer baby?

[JimBob]

Maybe she cut off the wrong person while driving and leaving voicemails at the same time.

[gary]

What a sad, sad incident. May she rest in peace.

[Donna Arnold]

So sad! Does this ever stop? We are losing all the best of Hollywood at an amazingly fast rate. Soon there will be no use to even think of watching a movie. I pray they find who did this and subject them to the worst punishment available. I am just sick about this and I didn't even know the woman.

I do agree with some of the other posters though. There is something fishy. If it was a carjacking, why didn't they take the car? But then again, why would someone want to kill her for any other reason than to take her car or money, jewels, etc? Senseless, just senseless.

[Stanton Reed]

Anyone who has confidence in BHPD has never been a victim of a crime in Beverly Hills. Seriously, the BHPD is the most inept and highly paid police farce in the country. I have personal knowledge unfortunately of their bumbling police work. Hopefully they will bring in LAPD to solve this crime and get back to the parking meter beat. This case needs a professional police department.

[Stanton Reed]

Follow-up... Three murders in BH in last 2-3 years, do you really think BHPD is qualified to investigate this case???

[Bill]

Police arrived at 12:30am, she texted 12:22am, it should take police about 3-5 minutes to arrive and took 2-3 minutes for th woman to let her daughter-in-law to call 911 and the shooting was coming from passenger side. all this seemed she was texting at a stop when this happened, and likely someone was trying to rob her with gun from the sidewalk. we will see

[wild83rry]

Sorry I'm not from LA and I'm not biased about bus commuters, but I have this wild idea that the gunman briskly walked and alighted to the next bus stop to escape the crime and also beat his curfew

[kgoddess]

StantonReed, I work in the City of Beverly Hills & I must say I totally agree with you. BHPD is good for writing traffic tickets & nothing else. They won't solve this one.