Two people connected to Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson who died a year, before and after, their murders.
Most people know that O.J. Simpson, an American footballer and actor, was accused of murdering his wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. He maintained his innocence and after a lengthy trial was acquitted. But what they may not know was two of Ron Goldman’s best friends were also murdered. One in a eerily similar manner.
Brett Canton
Brett Ross Cantor was born in New York City on 5 November 1967. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 4 and his father Paul, became a music executive at Chrysalis Records managing well-known artists like Dionne Warwick.
Brett joined him at Chrysalis before leaving to work at the Agency for Performing Arts. He then formed his own entertainment company, Underground Entertainment. He partnered with Steve Edelson to open a nightclub, Dragonfly. Dragonfly proved to be very popular with clubgoers one of the frequent attendees was Nicole Brown Simpson her friend Ron Goldman for a time, was a waiter at the club. He and Brett were well-acquainted. Another attendee was actress Rose McGowan who became romantically involved with Brett, whom she referred to as her soulmate.
On July 29, 1993, Brett went partying at the nightclub, Club 434. He seemed to have disagreed with some of the people there and left for home in the early hours of July 30. Later that day his body was found in his Hollywood home. He’d suffered 23 stab wounds to his head and arms and had been nearly decapitated. It was said his tongue had been pulled out through a cut in his jaw, a form of mutilation known as a Colombian necktie. Despite an extensive investigation by the LAPD, his murder was never solved.
Micheal Nigg
Micheal Nigg was born in Colorado on 28 April 1969. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor and model. He had a bit part in the television series Liars.
Like many aspiring actors, he supported himself by waiting tables. In 1994 he got a job in the Mezzaluna Trattoria restaurant in Brentwood. One of his co-workers was Ron Goldman and they became friends. Ron’s friend, Nicole Brown Simpson, was a regular patron. He later left to work for another restaurant in Hollywood called Sanctuary.
On September 8, 1995, Micheal and his girlfriend were on their way to a restaurant. They stopped at an ATM so he could withdraw $40. Two men approached him as he made his way to his car and demanded the money. Before he could respond he was shot in the head. The men then walked to a waiting car and left not taking the $40, or any other valuables. The LAPD had no leads until months later when three men were arrested. They were however quickly released due to lack of evidence.
Alleged drug connection
Although the murders of two people known to Ron Goldman may just be a coincidence, at the trial of O.J. Simpson, his attorney alleged that Brett, Ron, Micheal, and even Nicole, had been involved in the drug trade through, the Mezzaluna Trattoria restaurant which was alleged to be a cocaine distribution hub in Los Angeles. And that was what had gotten all four killed.
Though it’s merely an allegation, on the part of the defense, there are a few facts.
All four knew each other through the Firefly Club and the Mezzaluna restaurant. Micheal Nigg was known to be living well above what his waiter salary could afford.
Also, Brett, Ron, and Nicole’s murders were almost identical. All three had been stabbed multiple times and nearly decapitated. Though Micheal had been shot, it seemed like an assassination.
At the time of his death, Brett was under investigation by the FBI for possible involvement in the drug trade. Micheal too had been questioned for his involvement while working in the Aspen branch of the Mezzaluna.
Also, two other Mezzaluna waiters had been kidnapped and a third had his car set ablaze.
While they may or may not all be coincidences, the Mezzaluna couldn’t shake some of the bad publicity brought on by the Simpson trial, and the franchise shut down in 1997.
