Kelsey Grammer Revisits Sister’s Tragic Murder in New Memoir

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Actor Kelsey Grammer, best known for his role in the television series “Frasier,” is sharing the painful story of his sister’s murder in a new memoir titled “Karen.” This heart-wrenching account reveals how the brutal crime significantly impacted his life.

In July 1975, his 18-year-old sister, Karen, was kidnapped, raped, and murdered shortly after moving to Colorado following her high school graduation. Detectives approached the Grammer family home in Pompano Beach, Fla., to inform them that a Jane Doe might be their missing daughter. Karen was abducted by men planning to rob the Red Lobster where she worked, but they instead committed unspeakable acts of violence against her.

Grammer, who was only 20 at the time, flew to Colorado Springs to identify his sister’s body. He described their close relationship, stating that Karen was his only sibling and had a vibrant, joyful spirit. “The murder killed a corner of my heart,” Grammer, now 73, said in his memoir. He often refers to her as “the love of my life,” recalling fond memories of their childhood.

Freddie Lee Glenn, now 68, was convicted of Karen’s murder along with his accomplice, the late Michael Corbett. Glenn, who is serving a life sentence, has repeatedly applied for parole. Although Grammer expressed he had forgiven Glenn, he made it clear that he never wants him released from prison. “I accept that you live with remorse every day of your life, but I live with tragedy every day of my life,” he told Glenn during a video meeting.

Grammer’s memoir details not only the tragedy but also his struggles with substance abuse, particularly during his time on “Cheers” and its spinoff “Frasier.” According to the actor, both casts attempted interventions to help him. “It’s remarkable that I survived some of that,” he said, recalling how he would often perform while under the influence.

A pivotal moment in the memoir occurs when Grammer revisits Colorado Springs in 2022 with his wife, Kayte Walsh. They visited the site of the Red Lobster and Karen’s old apartment, but he could not bring himself to go to the exact location of her murder. Describing the horrific details of that night, Grammer writes of the brutality inflicted upon his sister and her desperate attempts to seek help after the attack.

He reveals his dismay at discovering that a man who found Karen did not assist her; instead, he merely called the police. “I stand corrected and disappointed that that man did not attempt to help her but simply called the police after leaving her body as it lay,” Grammer wrote, expressing in vivid detail the tragedy of his sister’s final moments.

Despite the anguish, Grammer ends the memoir with a note intended to honor Karen’s life. “This is your story, Karen. I hope you like it. It holds you. It holds me. It holds our love,” he writes. The memoir stands as a tribute to his sister while also serving as a plea to keep her murderer behind bars.