The History
Nicole Brown met O.J. Simpson in 1977 when she was an 18-year-old waitress at a Beverly Hills nightclub called The Daisy. Simpson, already a football legend and movie star, was 30. They married in 1985 and had two children, but the marriage was marked by documented domestic violence. Nicole called 911 multiple times, and Simpson pleaded no contest to spousal battery in 1989.
After their 1992 divorce, Nicole moved into a two-story condominium at 875 South Bundy Drive in the Brentwood neighborhood. She was trying to rebuild her life as a single mother. Ron Goldman, a 25-year-old waiter at the nearby Mezzaluna restaurant, had become a friend. On the evening of June 12, 1994, Goldman was returning a pair of sunglasses that Nicole's mother had left at the restaurant.
The Crime
On the night of June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were found murdered on the front walkway of her Bundy Drive condo. Both had been stabbed multiple times. Nicole was nearly decapitated. Goldman's body showed signs of a fierce struggle.
Suspicion immediately fell on O.J. Simpson. Blood drops at the scene matched his DNA. A bloody glove found at his Rockingham estate matched one found at the crime scene. On June 17, Simpson led police on a slow-speed chase in a white Ford Bronco that was watched by 95 million people on live television.
The trial, which began in January 1995, became the most-watched criminal proceeding in American history. On October 3, 1995, an estimated 150 million people watched as the jury delivered a not guilty verdict after less than four hours of deliberation. The verdict exposed deep racial divisions in how Americans viewed the justice system.
Key Facts
The Bronco Chase
95 million Americans watched O.J. Simpson's slow-speed chase on June 17, 1994. The white Ford Bronco became one of the most iconic images of the decade.
The Glove
"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." Defense attorney Johnnie Cochran's famous line came after Simpson appeared to struggle pulling on the bloody glove in court.
The Civil Trial
In 1997, a civil jury found Simpson liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages. A lower burden of proof applied in the civil case.
Cultural Impact
The case spawned the award-winning FX series "The People v. O.J. Simpson," ESPN's "O.J.: Made in America," and fundamentally changed how America watches trials.
What's There Now
Visiting the Bundy Drive Location
Address: 879 South Bundy Drive, Los Angeles, CA (renumbered from 875)
Status: The condo still stands but has been significantly remodeled with altered landscaping and architecture.
Note: The address was changed from 875 to 879 to discourage sightseers. This is a private residence. Please be respectful and do not trespass.
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