Remembering The Tragic Death Of Rising Star Stephanie Moseley

Stephanie Moseley was just a teen when she arrived in Los Angeles in 2002. The Vancouver, Canada native had dreams of being famous, and LA would get her the exposure she needed to get there.

According to reports, she performed as part of a dance group called Best Kept Secret when she first arrived in LA, and soon she was landing other dancing and acting jobs. Her star power rose, and she added to an impressive resume with film roles in Catwoman, Idlewild, and Mirror Mirror. She helped choreograph Twilight Breaking Dawn: Part 1, and she was a regular backup dancer for Hollywood’s hottest pop stars. She starred alongside Jamie Foxx as his wife in his 2006 TV special Jamie Foxx: Unpredictable. Her dream was within reach; she would be famous.

By 2008, Moseley was 24 years old and married to Detroit native Earl Hayes. Hayes himself had a couple of small acting credits under his belt and a burgeoning rap career, and he ran in the same circles as boxer Floyd Mayweather. He had reportedly worked with musicians Alicia Keys and Dr. Dre. With all the famous connections they had made, the world was their oyster.

On Dec. 8, 2014, the pair were at their apartment in Los Angeles’s Fairfax neighborhood. They were trying to reconcile after a year-long separation, and Moseley was reportedly hopeful about the state of their marriage.

Instead, things went horribly wrong. That morning, Hayes allegedly accused Moseley of infidelity with a famous musician. According to ET Online, neighbors heard screams before gunshots rang out that morning. TMZ reported that Hayes was video chatting with Floyd Mayweather around 7 a.m. that morning when he walked away from the phone. Mayweather then heard gunshots before Hayes appeared again and said he was going to shoot himself next.

When authorities arrived at the apartment around 7:30 a.m., they heard another round of gunshots before gaining entry to find both Moseley and Hayes dead in the bathroom.

The Moseley and Hayes murder-suicide will be featured on ID’s new podcast, Death By Fame, hosted by Sara Azari. Each Monday, Sara will discuss a case where the pursuit of stardom led to an untimely demise. Guests will include experts, insiders, and journalists who broke the stories. Hear all the details wherever you get your podcasts.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence or abuse from a romantic partner, you can visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website, call 1.800.799.SAFE or text START to 88788 for help. Advocates are available 24/7 to help callers talk through their situation and connect them with local resources. There is no charge to reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.