Abuse and murder
As Judith's career success increased, József became increasingly abusive, jealous and paranoid, and would routinely threaten to kill himself, his wife, and daughter. His alcoholism worsened, and resulted in three separate arrests for drunk driving. In December 1986, Maria reported his threats and physical violence toward her to the police. After police found no physical signs of abuse, Maria eventually decided not to press charges against József.
After the incident, József reportedly stopped drinking, but continued to threaten his wife and daughter, which included threats of cutting their throats as well as burning down the house. He reportedly hid a telegram informing Maria that a relative in Hungary had died, in an attempt to prevent her and Judith from leaving America.Physical violence continued, with Judith telling a friend about her father throwing pots and pans at her, resulting in a nosebleed.Due to her father's abuse, Judith began putting on weightand exhibited disturbing behavior, which included plucking out all her eyelashes and pulling out her cat's whiskers.After breaking down in front of her agent during a singing audition for All Dogs Go to Heaven, Judith was taken by Maria to a child psychologist, who identified severe physical and emotional abuse and reported her findings to Child Protective Services.
The investigation was dropped after Maria assured the case worker that she intended to begin divorce proceedings against József and that she and Judith were going to move into a Panorama City apartment she had recently rented as a daytime haven from József. Friends urged Maria to follow through with the plan, but she resisted, reportedly because she did not want to lose the family home and belongings.
Judith was last seen riding her bike on the morning of July 25, 1988. That evening, József shot Judith in the head while she was sleeping in her room, then shot Maria.József spent the next two days wandering around the house, and said during a phone call with Judith's agent on the next night that he intended to move out for good, and just needed time to "say goodbye to my little girl." József went into the garage and shot himself in the Head
Judith's grave marker decorated with roses in 2004.