When she was admitted to California Hospital on November 26, 1954, doctors had reason to believe that something fishy was going on. They provided care until around 8:00 on the evening of November 29, when they transferred her to General Hospital because her kidneys had shut down, requiring an artificial kidney machine that California Hospital didn't have.
An investigation uncovered that she had arranged for a lay abortionist, Roger Fred Brenon, to come to her house and perform the abortion there. Brenon had only been paroled three days earlier after serving 11 months of a jail term for perpetrating abortions that hadn't proved fatal to the women.
In telling the authorities about the events that led to his wife's death, he indicated that Brenon had visited Virginia two years earlier, spent time alone with her, and went off with a check Arthur had written. During both visits, Arthur said, he'd been under the impression that Brenon was a physician named Rogers.
The kidney machine was unable to save Virginia's life. She died shortly before midnight. It wasn't until 4:15 the morning of November 30 that anybody reported the cause of her illness to the police for investigation. Virginia was the victim of a criminal abortionist.
Virginia had been 32 years old and pursuing a Hollywood career, hoping to follow the trail blazed by her former teammate. However, after being offered a small movie role, she became pregnant. Since she couldn't do the movie in a visible state of pregnancy, Virginia arranged to have an abortion on November 18.
Virginia's husband, Arthur, carefully avoided learning too much about what was going on even after observing Brenon in the kitchen evidently sterilizing some instruments by boiling them on the stove. At Virginia's instruction, Arthur also wrote a check payable to cash for $150 and gave it to Brenon. (About $870 in 2020)
After the abortion, Virginia became sick with vomiting and bleeding before passing the dead fetus.By November 26, Virginia had difficulty in breathing and was taken to California Hospital.
In telling the authorities about the events that led to his wife's death, he indicated that Brenon had visited Virginia two years earlier, spent time alone with her, and went off with a check Arthur had written. During both visits, Arthur said, he'd been under the impression that Brenon was a physician named Rogers.
Brenon was convicted of second-degree murder in Virginia's death.
Newly added source: "Delay in Report About Operation Stirs Inquiry," Los Angeles Times, December 3, 1954
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