Topics: Los Angeles, Crime, US News, Celebrity
The family of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor have claimed he hadn't been in touch with his ex-fiancée for years prior to his death.
Wactor's mother, Scarlett, made the claim as she criticized Tessa Farrell's decision to speak out after Wactor was killed in Los Angeles.
The actor, who was just 37, was shot during a suspected robbery at around 3am local time on Saturday (May 25), after finishing up a shift on his side job at a rooftop bar with a female colleague.
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Following his death, Farrell shared a tearful video on social media in which she addressed the people responsible for Wactor's death.
"If the person who did this, if you're watching, I'm sorry, but you shot the wrong guy," she said. "You can get a real job. I know the job market's hard but we're all in it together.
"You don't have to steal - especially take a life over it."
Farrell, who met Wactor in 2013, went on to claim that she 'will always love' him, but the actor's mom has now hit back to say the former couple were no longer in touch.
Speaking to TMZ, Scarlett acknowledged that Wactor and Farrell dated 'years ago', but said they haven't spoken in at least two-three years.
That being said, Farrell still has every right to grieve for her former partner.
Scarlett further claimed Wactor's family were not in contact with Farrell, and indicated she was unaware of some of the claims Farrell had been making, like the existence of surveillance video of the crime.
In her video, Farrell said her relationship with Wactor had been 'rushed'.
"We were too young and kids and healing - but I'm just so proud of the man he's become and it's so sad that crime in LA had to do this," she said.
"It's so sad that, you know, that this is how he had to get taken from us because he cared so much about doing the right thing and earning things. He taught me that."
In response to the claims made by Wactor's family, Farrell told UNILAD she will 'forever respect' the family, adding that she is 'praying they find justice, strength and truth through this'.
Farrell went on to say in part that 'any and all speculations about me clout clashing are completely false'.
"In reference to people’s comments claiming Johnny’s mother said we hadn’t spoken in years, this is a reminder I was the person who first mentioned the last time I spoke with Johnny and have always been very open about it," she added.
"This knowledge was never something Johnny’s mother revealed— she only confirmed what I already said in my emotional plea video."
Police have not made an arrest in the crime at the time of writing (May 29). Wactor's family are now preparing to fly his body to South Carolina, as well as planning a memorial to take place in Los Angeles.
Anyone with any information regarding this case is being urged to call the LAPD's Central Station at 213-486-6606.
Alternatively, you can anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
