In his forthcoming memoir Karen: A Brother Remembers, actor Kelsey Grammer delivers a gut‑wrenching account of his 18‑year‑old sister Karen’s brutal 1975 murder—revealing how she was abducted, raped and stabbed 42 times, then fought for her life in her dying moments. The “Frasier” star says he agonized over including the graphic details, but felt sharing the full truth was essential. Reuters reports.
Kelsey was just 20 when detectives knocked on his door in Florida to inform him that Jane Doe in Colorado Springs was in fact his baby sister. On June 30, 1975, Karen left her shift at a Red Lobster restaurant, only to be forced into a car by Freddie Glenn and accomplices. She was taken to an apartment, sexually assaulted, then driven to a desolate alley and stabbed dozens of times—nearly decapitated in a frenzy of violence. People Magazine shares an exclusive excerpt.
“She crawled 400 feet, leaving bloody fingerprints on trailer walls,” Grammer writes. “That trail marks her final act of courage.” https://twitter.com/people/status/1918269252886241520— People Magazine (@People) May 2, 2025
Miraculously, Karen managed to drag herself toward a trailer two blocks away and pounded on the door—only for the occupant to call 911 without offering help. She collapsed on the steps, eyes vacant, a single finger still extended in a desperate plea. Her body lay undiscovered until dawn. Page Six reveals the full police report.
“He almost decapitated her,” Grammer writes, “and punched holes through her body with unimaginable brutality.” https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1650212345678901234— Reuters (@Reuters) May 3, 2025
Glenn was convicted in 1976 and is serving a life sentence, with his next parole hearing set for 2027. Grammer writes that although he has grappled with anger, he ultimately chose forgiveness—but insists justice must remain steadfast. “Karen’s life deserves more than just a footnote in a crime spree,” he writes.
In a candid interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, Grammer also opens up about the grief that drove him into years of substance abuse. “I spent a long time on her death and very little on her life,” he told Sawyer. His battle with alcohol and cocaine cost him roles and nearly derailed his career on “Cheers.” ABC News reports on his healing journey.
“I couldn’t access happiness for years,” Grammer admits. “This book helped me find a new place with that.” https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1918450704554795192— ABC News (@ABC) May 2, 2025
Alongside Karen’s story, the memoir touches on other family tragedies: the 1968 murder of their father and the suspected shark‑attack deaths of Kelsey’s half‑brothers. Yet through it all, Grammer emphasizes the importance of remembering Karen’s vibrant spirit: “She was a light, a poem,” he writes. As the book hits shelves on May 6, fans and critics alike are praising his courage in pulling back the curtain on a decades‑old wound.
