Karen Klaas is the ex-wife of Bill Medley. Karen’s ex-husband is a popular singer and songwriter who is best known as one-half of The Righteous Brothers. He is known for his bass-baritone voice, exemplified in songs such as You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin. He is the producer of songs including Unchained Melody and (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration.
Karen Klaas: Bio Summary
| Name | Karen Klaas |
| Date of birth | 22 April 1943 |
| Died | 1976 (aged 32) |
| Famous as | Bill Medley’s ex-wife |
| Gender | Female |
| Birthplace | Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Bill Medley |
| Children | Darrin Medley and Damien Klass |
What Happened To Bill Medley’s Ex-wife?
Bill Medley’s ex-wife Karen Klaas was born on 22 April 1943, in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, USA. In 1976, at the age of 32 years, in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA, Karen tragically passed away. She was married to singer-songwriter William Thomas Medley known as Bill Medley.
Karen Klaas and Bill Medley met in church. They started dating in the year 1963. On May 24, 1964, they got married. They gave birth to Darrin Medley in 1965 and divorced in 1970 when Darrin was about 5 years old. Karen also known as Karen O’Grady married Gerald Klaas and became Karen Klaas.
Karen Klaas and Gerald Klaas have one child, Damien Klass. Karen was brutally murdered and found badly beaten, sexually assaulted, and strangled with her pantyhose in her home in Hermosa Beach, California. She was left unconscious. She was hospitalized and in a coma for five days before dying.
Also Read: Paula Vasu: What happened to Bill Medley’s Wife
Karen Klaas got killed after returning home from dropping her son off at school, per sources. She was attacked at her home and her neighbors found her when they could not reach her. It is said that her ex-husband Bill Medley hired a private investigator to track the killer.
Several decades after Karen Klaas’ death, the authorities with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department identified her alleged killer as Kenneth Troyer. The sheriff’s department revealed that the case “was solved through the use of familial DNA, which identified the killer”.
Kenneth Troyer is a sex offender and fugitive killed by police in 1982. He had been suspected of committing several other sexual assaults in California. He was shot and killed by police after escaping from a California prison in 1982. Karen’s ex-husband Bill Medley said:
“It’s been something we’ve been hoping for and speculating about for 40 years and all of a sudden they say, ‘We got him, and here’s who did it. It’s just nice to be able to close the book on this.” Bill Medley married Paula Vasu on July 9, 1986.
The couple has a daughter named McKenna Medley. McKenna has followed in her father’s footsteps. McKenna works in the music industry as a singer and performs with her father Bill Medley as his duetting partner on “Time of My Life” in his tour.
Also Read: McKenna Medley- Who is the daughter of Bill Medley’s daughter
Bill Medley is a successful solo artist. His million-selling #1 duet with Jennifer Warnes “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” won several awards. He was nominated for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist in the 1972 Grammy Awards for his recording of “Freedom and Fear”, a track from Michel Colombier’s album Wings.
In 1988, Bill Medley received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for his duet with Jennifer Warnes on “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”. He released many solo albums during the 1970s and 1980s and enjoyed a resurgence in his career in the 1980s. He is known for Cobra (1986), Rambo III (1988), and Get Out (2017).
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