'Jerry Springer' show guest found dead in Florida, other guests suspected

Sarasota County Sheriff's Department crime scene vehicles sit in front of the home where the body of Nancy Campbell-Panitz was found

SARASOTA, Florida (AP) -- People tune into "The Jerry Springer Show" for its explosive love triangles. Authorities fear the violence may have spilled over later, resulting in a guest's death.

In an episode entitled "Secret Mistresses Confronted," which was taped in May and aired Monday, Ralf Panitz and his wife, Eleanor Panitz, accused his former wife of stalking them.

Shortly after the broadcast, the body of Nancy Campbell-Panitz was found in a home the three were fighting over, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators wouldn't say how the 52-year-old woman was killed, but said the death was a homicide and they were searching for Panitz, 40, and his new wife, 45.

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During the show, the couple confronted Campbell-Panitz, saying she stalked them to the point they had to hide. Using the "gotcha" surprise element that is typical of the show, the couple announced to Campbell-Panitz that they were married.

A spokeswoman for "The Jerry Springer Show" called the incident "a terrible tragedy" and said it was cooperating with the investigation.

Police said they found the body of Campbell-Panitz after responding to a call that two women were arguing at a home near Sarasota. It was unclear who lived there.

Campbell-Panitz had a court order giving her access to the house. Eleanor Panitz had another saying she belonged there, sheriff's spokesman Cpl. Chuck Lesaltato said.

"They had all kinds of paperwork back and forth against each other," he said.

In 1995, a former guest on "The Jenny Jones Show" was killed after taping an episode about secret crushes.

Guest Scott Amedure admitted that he was attracted to Jonathan Schmitz, who had agreed to appear on an episode of the show to meet his secret admirer.

Schmitz, who was convicted of murdering Amedure last year, had said he expected to meet a female admirer. The episode was never broadcast,

Amedure's family was awarded $25 million last year by a Michigan jury that found the show and its producer, Warner Bros., negligent in his death.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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