- By Swati Singh
- Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Legendary singer Connie Francis, known for Pretty Little Baby, has passed away at 87. The music world mourns her loss, celebrating her timeless legacy and hit songs. The news of her passing was shared by her friend and copyright manager, Ron Roberts, on social media platform Facebook. Roberts expressed his extreme sadness in announcing Francis' death, describing her as his dear friend. Despite her successful career, Francis endured significant personal struggles, including a tragic rape incident in 1974 that temporarily silenced her voice for years.
In a conversation with Fox News, Connie Francis had opened up about the 1974 horrifying rape incident that shook her life. She told the publication, "I had a lot of help. I had good friends, a family who supported me and my sense of humour. But I didn’t have the benefit of going to a support group for women who were raped because it would have been in the National Enquirer the following week. So I had to do that in the privacy of my own home. But it did take seven years out of my life. I didn’t grant an interview for seven years. I didn’t sing for seven years. It was a horrible experience."
What is the Motel Room tragedy?
The Pretty Little Singer hitmaker was tragically raped at knife-point in her room at the Howard Johnson Motor Lodge in Westbury, Long Island, early on a morning in 1974, as reported by The New York Times. According to the Nassau County police, Francis had returned to her second-floor room with friends after the show and gone to bed around 2:30 a.m.
What happened in the room? At around 5:30 am, she was awoken by a young man who assaulted her. During the attack, the assailant tied her to a chair with her hands behind her back, knocked the chair over, and covered her with a mattress and a suitcase. He then stole some jewelry and a mink coat before fleeing the scene.
After the attacker left, Francis managed to work her way to the telephone in her room despite being severely traumatised. She dialed her secretary's number, who was sleeping in the adjacent room and the police were subsequently called. Soon after that, Francis was taken to the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, where she was treated for her physical injuries. She identified herself as Mrs. Constance Garzilli, her married name at the time. The police investigation led to the detention of a 19-year-old youth who was a guest at the motel.
The 1974 rape profoundly impacted Connie Francis's life and career. She had been performing successfully at the Westbury Music Fair with comedian Rodney Dangerfield and singer Enzo Stuarti, but the trauma led to her absence and replacement by Melba Moore. Francis had recently returned to show business after a miscarriage, but the incident marked a significant turning point.
