Judith Eva Barsi Death Story- Child Star Murdered Along With Mom Maria By Father Jozsef Barsi
Sarah Rodriguez
Updated on March 21, 2026
Judith Eva Barsi was an American actress who started her career in commercials and TV shows. She also appeared in the 1987 movie Jaws: The Revenge.
In July 1988, her father, József Barsi, killed both Judith and her mother, Maria, in their home. He then killed himself.
Judith Eva Barsi’s father killed her when she was a child star because he was mean to her
Judith Eva Barsi was a child star in Hollywood, and she had a bright future ahead of her. But as Judith’s career got better, her father, József, got more and more angry and said he would kill himself, his wife, and his daughter.
József was arrested three times for driving while drunk, and he was always violent at home. In December 1986, Maria, Judith’s mother, told the police about his threats and violence. But she didn’t press charges because the police couldn’t find any physical signs of abuse.
After the incident with the police, her father stopped drinking, but he kept making threats against them. He said he would cut their throats and set fire to the house. He allegedly hid a telegram telling Maria that a relative in Hungary had died so that she wouldn’t leave the country with Judith. He did this to stop Maria from leaving the country with Judith.
The child actress told a friend that her father hit her in the nose with pots and pans. Because of her abuse, Judith started to gain weight and do things over and over again.
Where Did Judith Eva Barsi Go?
In May of 1988, Maria Barsi took Judith Eva Barsi to see a child psychologist. The child psychologist found signs of serious physical and emotional abuse and told child protective services about them.
Her mother told the case worker that she planned to get a divorce from József and that she and Judith would move to an apartment in Panorama City that she had just rented from him as a daytime refuge. This ended the investigation.
Friends of her mother urged her to go through with the plan, but she was hesitant because she didn’t want to lose the family home.
The Los Angeles Times says that on July 28, 1988, the bodies of Barsi, her mother Maria, and her father József were found. It looked like a murder-suicide.
According to the article, Police Lieutenant Warren Knowles said that József poured an ignitable liquid, probably gasoline, on Maria and Judith’s bodies. At Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Judith and Maria were buried in plots next to each other.
Where is the person who killed Judith Eva Barsi now?
Judith Eva Barsi was killed by her own father, József. The body of József, who had killed himself with a gun, was found in the garage.
Around 8:30 a.m. on July 27, Eunice Daly said she heard a gunshot. This made her call the police.
Not much is known about where her father was laid to rest after his funeral.