A woman was found dead in her car outside of Paula Abdul's house late last night, the result of an apparent drug overdose/suicide.  The woman, who some are identifying as Paula Goodspeed, is thought to have been a stalker of Paula Abdul.  The car she was found in, just mere feet from Abdul's Los Angeles property, had a Abdul-themed vanity license plate, and pictures of Abdul inside the car.  Goodspeed previously auditioned for American Idol, and was even featured on an episode, though she was harshly criticized and sent away by the judges.  Abdul and her people have known about the stalker for years, and have had numerous, albeit peaceful, run-ins with her. 

Though the Los Angeles police won't release the name of the woman who was found dead, Abdul and her staff have been made aware of the identity, and have said that they've known about this woman for years.  Still, this remains shocking and horrifying news that can't be easy for Abdul, especially as the new season of American Idol rapidly approaches.

Stalkers are one kind of crazy that I simply cannot empathize with.  To be obsessed with someone to such a remarkable degree that you would follow them around and get depressed when they don't return your love is unfathomable to me.  What is the end game for these people?  Did this woman want Paula Abdul to be her best friend?  Did she want career advice?  It's all very confusing and terribly, terribly sad that a fan would actually kill themselves outside the house of someone they purport to love. 

Fame has some negative side effects.  While much of it can be tossed away as an acceptable trade-off to the fortune and visibility stars receive, no one should have to endure stalkers, especially suicidal ones.  Abdul has to be horrified by this turn of events.  What does it feel like to know that a person made the effort to get as physically close as they could to you before taking their own life?


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: Reuters
(Image Courtesy of FOX)