In 1995 in California, another crime would occur that some have attempted to link with the extremely high-profile murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, not to mention the mysterious 1993 slaying of record promoter Brett Cantor.
Twenty-six-year-old Michael Nigg was originally from Colorado, but had moved to Los Angeles after graduating from college to try to make it as an actor or model. He had obtained a few low-key acting gigs, such as a recurring role on the mostly-forgotten syndicated television program Liars, but he mostly supported himself by waiting tables, just as many aspiring actors in the City of Angels do.
In fact, Michael had worked as a waiter at Mezzaluna Trattoria, where Ronald Goldman also worked for a time, and the two were said to be friends. Michael had quit his job there a month before Ronald Goldman was murdered, and went to work at another restaurant called Sanctuary, in Hollywood.
On the evening of September 8th, 1995, Michael Nigg and his girlfriend Julie Long were planning on going out to dinner. Michael stopped at an ATM in Hollywood to withdraw some cash; Julie waited for him in the car.
As Michael walked away from the bank, he was set upon by two men who waved guns in his face and demanded money. However, Michael did not even have enough time to hand over the cash, for one of the men shot him in the head, and then both assailants jumped into a waiting car driven by a third man. The supposed robbers had not stolen any money, and Julie Long was unharmed.
Though the crime initially appeared to be nothing more than a botched robbery, Michael Nigg’s tenuous links with Ronald Goldman and the Mezzaluna restaurant gave some later researchers pause. Theories began to swirl that Mezzaluna was the center for a drug trafficking empire run by Mafia-affiliated cocaine dealer Joey Ippolito, and that several waiters there were part of the operation. In this scenario, it was hypothesized that Ron Goldman, Nicole Brown Simpson, Brett Cantor, and possibly Michael Nigg were involved in setting up a rival narcotics network, and were essentially assassinated. Evidence for this particular series of events is scant, however, and relies mostly on nebulous relationships and the fact that Michael Nigg was not robbed in spite of the fact that his attackers had specifically demanded money.
Three suspects were later arrested for the murder, but summarily released due to lack of evidence. The case has seen no further significant progress since that time, and remains unsolved.
Crime Immemorial 