Murder of ‘Rocky’-Inspired Character Probed 32 Years Later

LOS ANGELES -- The daughter of a boxing manager, whose personality was the inspiration for Burgess Meredith's character in the "Rocky" movies, asked for the public's help Wednesday in providing information that can help detectives solve the murder of her father, which took place 32 years ago this week.

As an added incentive, Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine's office offered a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals who killed Howard Steindler on March 9, 1977.

"Even though it is 32 years later, it doesn't make it any easier. The only thing you have as the family of a victim is hope and the hope that somebody would come forward," said Steindler's daughter Carol Steindler Ferris.

Steindler was at the corner of Lindley Avenue and Killion Street, a block away from his home, about 7 p.m. on March 9, 1977 when he was accosted by two men, who beat him and forced him into his 1976 gold Cadillac, according to police. Steindler's car was discovered by the California Highway Patrol about an hour later on the Ventura (101) Freeway near Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The body of the boxing manager, who had been suffocated, was found in the vehicle.

One of the suspects was described as an African-American man, 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a gray knit cap with orange threads, said LAPD Detective Greg Stearns.

Steindler Ferris said her father will not be at peace until his killers are arrested and prosecuted.

"It's so heart-wrenching to want closure so badly and as I get older, I worry that I won't get that closure and I want it desperately. I want my father to become the victor in this and not the victim any more," said Carol Steindler Ferris.

Local

Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.