Sid Vicious, bassist of the punk band Sex Pistols, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for the death of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in 1978. Spungen was found stabbed to death in their hotel bathroom. Though Sid confessed to the murder, theories suggest that their drug dealer or Spungen's ex-boyfriend may have been the real killer. Forensic evidence including Nancy's blood on Sid's hunting knife was presented, but Sid died of a heroin overdose before trial. Their tumultuous relationship and tragic deaths became iconic in punk culture.

1. Famous Criminal Presentation
By: Jennifer Chang
Forensic Science, Period 1
Bellflower High

2. Interesting Facts
• Sid Vicious – Sex Pistols
– Revolutionized Punk
Movement in Britain
(1970s)
• Dr. Michael Baden
performed Nancy’s
autopsy
• Movies, books, articles written
• uPUNK CULTURE – Attitude, fashion, music, nihilist,
existentialism…
• “I am an anti-christ…I wanna destroy!”

3. Background: S & N
Sid Nancy
• Bassist of the band, Sex • Groupie (followed punk bands)
Pistols • Erratic, violent behavior since
• “If Johnny Rotten is the childhood
voice of punk, then Sid
Vicious is the attitude.” • Schizophrenic
• Controlled by Nancy • Controlled Sid
• History of drug abuse • History of drug abuse
• Domestic violence • Heroine addict (age 15)
• Self-mutilation

4. Crime & Scene
• Who?
– Victim
Nancy Spungen
– Suspects
John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious)
Rockets Redglare (Michael Morra)
“Steve C” (dealer)
• What?
– Sid Vicious woke from a drug stupor to find Nancy Spungen dead in the
hotel bathroom with a stab wound to the abdomen. Sid is uncertain
what occurred and convinced he killed her, but later decides he’s not
certain.
• When?
• Oct. 12, 1978
• Where?
• Chelsea Hotel
Manhattan,
New York City

6. Forensic Evidence
Type of Evidence Description/Info.
• Hunting knife (5” blade) • Found in hallway with
Nancy’s blood, belonged to
• Blood stains Sid
• On bed sheet, carpet of
hallway, hunting knife,
bathroom floor and walls
• Sid’s confession to murder
• “I killed her…I loved her,
even if she treated me like
shit.”

7. Legal Aspects
• Oct 12 1978 – Sid confesses, arrested,
charged 2nd deg murder
“I stabbed her, but I didn’t mean to kill her. I
loved her, even if she treated me like shit.”
– Sid pleads not guilty & released on $50,000
bail

8. Theories on Nancy’s Real Killer
• Rocket Redglare • Drug dealer
(Michael Morra) • Sold drugs to Nancy
prior to death
• Robbed & Killed
• Never confessed
• Robbery/Drug Deal • “Steve C”
Gone Wrong • Nancy - $15,000 cash
• Called Redglare,
desperation for drugs

9. References
Bruno, Anthony. “Punk Rock Romeo and Juliet: Sid
Vicious and Nancy Spungen.” TruTVWebsite. 29
Mar. 2012. TruTV. 29 Mar. 2012
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders
/celebrity/sid_vicious/index.html
Wikipedia. “Nancy Spungen.” Wikipedia.org Website.
29 Mar. 2012. Wikipedia.org. 29 Mar. 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Spungen
The Autopsy Files. Dir. Arthur Ginsberg. 2005. DVD.
HBO Home Video, 2005.