When 50-year-old multi-millionaire Bill McLaughlin answered 25-year-old Nanette Johnston’s classified ad back in 1991, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. The ad was directed at “wealthy men only” and Nanette described herself as a “classy, well-educated woman” who “knows how to take care of her man.” Clearly, Nanette was looking for a sugar daddy. Divorced and lonely, it seemed like a good deal to Bill.
Despite the concerns of Bill’s daughters, Nanette moved into Bill’s Newport Beach home. He took her on expensive trips, bought her a new car, and even gave her a generous allowance. But unknown to Bill, Nanette had secrets, including other boyfriends, during their relationship.
Join us at the quiet end for Death of a Sugar Daddy. After three years together, Nanette was out shopping when someone got into the house with a brand-new key and shot Bill six-times. There was no direct evidence linking Nanette to the crime, but she was the beneficiary of a $1 million life insurance policy. In 1995, Nanette was arrested and convicted for forging checks and stealing from Bill, but it would take another seventeen years to find and convict Bill McLaughlin’s killers.
Support the show for ad-free and bonus episodes and more!
Record a voicemail for a future show
Read “I’ll Take Care of You” by Caitlyn Rother
Read “Wealthy Men Only” by Stella Sands
Join our True Crime Brewery Fan Discussion Group
Eric, Nanette, & Bill McLaughlin
Sources
48 hours “Murder in the OC” Season 25 Episode 5
“I’ll Take Care of You” by Caitlyn Rother
LA Times Archives 2009
Orange County Register archives 1995-2012
“Wealthy Men Only” by Stella Sands
Comments
2 Comments
Hi Jill and Dick I’m s new listener I love how you both work great together and give a great in depth look at these cases thank you both so much take care have you ever did the jack the ripper case like to hear what you both think about it thanks Sherri
The Chrisdelelphan church in Springfield, Vermont was were a weirdo family resided. The pastor, and wife spawned a boy named Gary, who murdered Theresa Fenton, a little girl on her bicycle ride, in Windsor, Vermont. Then, he killed another girl, walking with her friend. My husband grew up in Springfield, and asked their daughter out on a date. Her father refused, because he was not a member of the Christedelphion Church. That house/church is still there, ( 2021), and creeps me out.