'The Playboy Murders': From centerfold to killer, the wild story of Carole Gold
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Playboy Murders', a six-part true-crime series, explores some of the tragedies that were linked to the infamous magazine. Executive produced by Holly Madison, a former Playboy model and ex-girlfriend of the magazine's founder Hugh Hefner, the series will premiere on January 23 on ID and will be available on Discovery+ the same day. While discussing the show with ET, Madison mentioned the names of some models who will be the focus of the episodes. One of the names was Carole Gold, a former Playboy bunny, who was sentenced to life for the murder of her husband, Charles Gold.
Madison told ET that each part of the series is about a different murder that somehow involved someone linked to the Playboy world. Madison said, "I think these stories are really important stories to tell," while noting that not all of them have been covered before. Madison also believes that Hefner "would have wanted people to know about the truth of what happened." Madison added that "these were real people, some of whom worked for him and they deserve justice and they deserve to have their stories told." 'The Playboy Murders' will uncover the various murders, rape accusations, and conspiracies connected to the publication.
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The story of Carole Gold
A former Playboy bunny, Carole Gold was sentenced to life in prison on October 14, 1997 for first-degree murder and conspiracy, as reported by the Associated Press. Carole had hired a hitman to kill her husband Charles Gold. Charles, 51, was a gunslinging Wild West show performer and went by the name of Black Bart. He was gunned down at his Phoenix home in 1992 as he came home from a convention. Charles was wearing his gun, which he reportedly always did but was shot eight times, with a bullet between his eyes as he reached for his pistol. The hitman was waiting behind a wall and Charles' body was found in the kitchen.
At her sentencing, Carole said she had "nothing to do with this crime" and that she has "always loved Charles Gold." The prosecutors stated that Carole, along with her son Kenneth Ashton Cottini, hired a hitman to murder Charles. The alleged motive was his $150,000 life insurance policy and control of his horse stables. Cottini’s drug dealer Robert Pryor testified that he hired hitman Dan Goddard to kill Charles at the behest of Cottini and his mother Carole. Cottini pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and even Pryor cut a deal to serve 20 years. Goddard was given immunity from prosecution in return for his testimony.
Charles played Black Bart, a villain dressed in black from head to toe. His bushy mustache added to the look, and he even played the role offstage sometimes. Charles and his performers would dress as gunfighters with boots, chaps and gun belts for an old-fashioned showdown, without the real bullets. The troupe performed at Western-themed restaurants, rodeos and other venues, often for charity. He had also done a few TV shows and movie cameos.
Charles' friend Ron Nelson, who used to be a gunfighter in Black Bart’s show, said he was surprised someone hadn’t killed Charles earlier, because he often used his wit to berate and belittle people, claiming many of Charles' employees and acquaintances despised him. Sharon Novoselski, another one of Charles' former gunfighting partners, added, "You either loved him or hated him,″