Gator boasted to friends that while touring the South he would walk into liquor stores and 7-Elevens stark naked, rob them, then get drunk in the cornfields while police helicopters searched for him overhead. Plus, he had shown remorse for his actions. Mark "Gator" Rogowski was a gifted athlete, playing many organized sports, shinning most on little league baseball teams. To this end, every visitor at the trial was examined with hand-held metal detectors. I was just reading this interview tonight randomly after watching the video earlier today. Bergsten's skeletal remains were found buried in a shallow grave in a remote part of the desert in Imperial County. Where is Mark Rogowski in jail right now? Mr. Rogowski grew arrogant, alienating himself from his skateboard buddies, falling into trouble with the law. He raped her and raped her and raped her and then thought, Lets kill her. We couldnt say goodbye to Jessica because that filth left her with nothing but a piece of skin, left her for the coyotes and the goddamned birds to eat her. He glared directly at Gator and said in a firm voice. He and his beautiful live-in girlfriend, Brandi McClain, were the skateboarding couple: they starred in skating videos together, they worked as models together, they even appeared together in a Tom Petty video. More people watched Tucker Carlson's Twitter video in the FIRST hour than watched his old time slot at 8pm, Tucker Carlson unleashes on 'liars trying to silence honest people' and powerbrokers who are 'hysterical and afraid' in blistering video on the state of modern America after shock firing from Fox News, Howard Stern says fired Fox host Tucker Carlson forgot he's a 'worker bee' and a 'fly on Murdoch's a******', MEGHAN MCCAIN: Tucker had a death wish: He's been fired three times now - and attacked his own colleagues live on-air. In 1982, he won his first major contest, the Canadian Amateur Skateboarding Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. [4] On February 6, 2015, another parole hearing was scheduled, but Rogowski waived his right to a hearing for one year. BBYO International Leadership Training Conference Julia Denos (illustrator and fellow Cheshire, CT native). He told his priest,' the actress replied, though Rogowski's eventual confession was instead to a born-again Christian friend.
Former pro-skater Mark "Gator" Rogowski granted parole for 1991 rape I think it is pretty sexist of Devon, as a female, to have said that. Bergsten was a good friend of his ex Brandi McClain, though the two aren't. [3] Afterward, he placed her in a surfboard bag because he was concerned about the neighbors hearing the noise. You cunt! Born Mark Anthony Rogowski in Brooklyn, he moved with his mother and older brother to San Diego at age three, following his parents divorce. He says he doesnt think hell ever ride a skateboard again, but hopes that someday hell be free so he can learn to fly a kite. Save up to 50% on Trending when you shop now. Skateboard manufacturers became multimillion-dollar companies branching out into clothing, sneakers, even movies. mr_scary. He claimed McClain broke his heart and that Bergsten was from the same mold, reports local. A skateboarder and former professional surfer who lived just two blocks from Gator and Brandi, Constantino had suffered an accident similar to Gators four years earlier. He says hes undergone a religious conversion. An original Boy of Steel gives love to Bill Finger. It was pretty cool to see a bunch of guys from San Diego County at the center of this huge thing. News of Mr. Rogowski's crime rocked skateboarding. I just want to make it known that I was led into a sexual situation that I didnt want to have anything to do with.
Kickflips, Murder, And Underage Girls - The Dark Side Of Life Joe cast aside his own grandkid to protect his Have scientists finally created a jab to keep ALL flu strains at bay? I always thought this girl was so beautiful and I had a real crush on her, but just one thing really bugged me. [12] Deputy District Attorney Richard Sachs argued that Rogowski remains an "unreasonable risk to society" and should remain imprisoned, while a family member of Bergsten also attended the hearing and requested Rogowski remain incarcerated. This quiet story is less about war than the toll it takes on those who fight, the possibility of reconciliation, and the value of understanding other cultures. Deals and discounts in Bakeware you dont want to miss. If I couldnt get into bars because we were under age and had fake IDs she would leave me outside for three hours waiting while she drank. He left McClain angry voicemails and threatened her new boyfriend multiple times before she finally fled to New York. The sense of nostalgia keeps me safe, if only for a short while, then back to the real world again. Anyone can read what you share. Mr. Rogowski, with his dark, boyish good looks, wild hair and palpable rock-star charisma, would be the pinup boy to take skating mainstream. He was really worried about becoming a dinosaur, says Perry Gladstone, to whom Gator confided. It was hot.. ''I had to do everything I could to break down that journalist/convict barrier or he was never going to trust me,'' she said. Rogowski addressed Jessicas family in court, asking them for forgiveness. What about that girl? I said. He was mainly prominent in the 1980s and early 1990s. . Eight months earlier Bergsten had been indicted, along with 44 others, as part of a nationwide drug ring. Gator flipped over his mattress to hide the blood that was there, then put Jessicas body, her cut-up clothing, the bag, the handcuffs, and the Club in the trunk of his car. Shop the best selection of deals on Tools & Utensils now. I did lay upon her with a steering lock at one point, but that was part of the S&M, he says. 'Like pushing me back hard with his jaw and it felt like it was angry, Downhill:Rogowski was a popular skateboard throughout the 1980s, but his career suffered as the 1990s rolled along due to his worsening addiction to alcohol and the sport's diminishing commercial prospects; still from Mark Rogowski: The Rise And Fall Of Gator. Former professional skateboarder Mark "Gator" Rogowski, who was convicted of raping and murdering a woman in Carlsbad more than 30 years ago, has been granted parole. He murdered the best friend of the girl in the video. In 1987 Rogowski was introduced to 15-year-old Brandi McClain and her close friend Jessica Bergsten while skating at a show in Scottsdale, Arizona. While he was previously denied parole in 2011 and 2016, a 2019 finding by the state parole board that he was suitable for release was reversed by Gov. Shop our favorite Makeup finds at great prices. Wait, did I say 'recall'? [citation needed], Rogowski's popularity declined as the 'vert skating' popular in the 1980s was supplanted by street skateboarding in the 1990s. These guys were so into it, having such a good time, sweatin and laughin and crackin jokes and just snakin each other. From her profile, it seems to be the case that she is currently living in the state of Tennessee. mallgrabber. Introduction to series The Girl in the Video (including list of interviewees). Skateboarding, like other California phenomena such as surfing and savings-and-loan scams, had a tremendous surge in popularity in the 1980s. Find the best deals on Women's Handbags & Wallets from your favorite brands. There were Gator shirts, berets, hip packs, videos, stickers, posters it seemed kids couldnt get enough of him. But where is she now? Deals and discounts in Tech & Electronics you dont want to miss. He boasted of being a roving ambassador, telling skating magazines how he was going to turn the whole non-skating world on to the sport. In an attempt to shut her up, he pulled a surfboard bag from his closet and stuffed her inside it. And Mark was furious. I introduced Mark to a personal God, a God the father, says Constantino. Mr. Rogowski's voice, over crackling static, follows: ''I was a coward emotionally and mentally; I hate what I did.''. Mark had found a new life in Christ., Despite his newfound devotion to Jesus, Gators response to Brandis leaving was decidedly un-Christian, particularly after she started seeing one of the guys she surfed with. [4] By 1987, Rogowski was earning two dollars per skate deck from Vision, which was selling 7,000 decks on a monthly basis, resulting in royalties totaling US$14,000 for Rogowski (US$ 33,000 in 2023). So of course that appealed to Mark. It was around this time that Gator started calling himself Mark Anthony instead of Mark Anthony Rogowski, because, as he later said, I didnt want to be associated with my father at all., When Gators wounds healed, he joined Constantino. Maybe shes dead. The girl just ignored us and jumped into a car. I had it all, he says today, sitting in his prison cell. Its only taken me this long to type something cause my phones acting up.Anyway I just find it very fascinating how it coincided. He would call her and leave messages yelling explicit slurs and even took away all the things he had gifted her, including her car. We were very much alive.
Former professional skateboarder denied parole in rape-murder O.K., perhaps the imprisonment of your best friend or relative?, I know the Lord forgave me 2000 years ago on the cross at Calvary. By the time he was 17, he was making $100,000 a year. It was called street skating, where skaters opted for urban obstacles like curbs, garbage cans, and stairways over the traditional skate board parks. This fact is often misconstrued. Wow! We would get high every night, says Brandi. A few months later, McClain moved out of her house in Arizona to live with Gator in California. If he underwent a religious conversion, it was to evil, degradation, filth, and satanism.. I dont want to mention family members, of course, because I want to protect them.
Turn on Notifications - Los Angeles Times What was cool was that he was stoked that I was skating, too. This was to be followed by a 120 day review period by the board, and then up to 30 days for the Governor to make a final decision. Save up to 50% on Women's Accessories when you shop now. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Chilling: Patricia Arquette, 53, revealed Wednesday on Twitter that she once dated the professional skateboarder Mark Rogowski, 54, who would later be convicted of rape and murder; Arquette seen in January 2020, Patricia shared her horrifying date in response to the prompt: 'Whats the most awkward date yall ever been on?'. I was completely mesmerized by this book from the first instant I opened it. I was getting ready for bed when I answered the door, recalls Constantino. Her best friend, Jessica Bergsten, was the one murdered. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He then placed her in a surfboard bag and strangled her, burying the body in a desert outside San Diego. Ive always loved this song and the video clip was always one of my favourites .Great work and great interview - thank you Devon :). But let me put more emphasis on the fact that it was babysitters and older neighborhood kids.. For Constantino, he was terrific bait for young skaters willing to listen to just about anything to meet Gator. After beating Ms. Bergstrom into semiconsciousness, he raped her. Publicly discussing the fate of Mark Rogowski, a legendary skateboarder in the 1980's now serving 31 years in prison for murder and rape, was long considered taboo. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Tabloid TV legend passes Jerry Springer, 79, dies 'peacefully' at his Chicago home after months-long battle with pancreatic cancer - as his family says 'he's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely', Thanks for the memories! All rights reserved, US Readies Second Attempt at Speedy Border Asylum Screenings, Man, 20s, Dies of Heat Exhaustion on El Capitan Trail in Lakeside, New Rules for Short-Term Vacation Rentals in San Diego Start May 1. Lets just hope that we can all remain strong., He became a cause clbre in San Diego County. We were making a ton of money, we flew all over the world, there were skating groupies at every stop. Fame, a big house in the suburbs, fancy cars, and girls following him everywhere he stepped. Rogowskis life as a skateboard champion and his steep downfall leading to the heinous crime he committed has been chronicled in a documentary titled Stoked The Rise and Fall of Gator, which was released in 2002. In the statement he admitted that although his original confession was directed by the Lord, in the subsequent eight months he had been tempted to dodge responsibility, deceiving myself as well as others. But now, at last, Ive been led to a full, true repentance, having nothing to hide. Rogowski did not think he could do well on street skating and saw his lucrative career coming to an end. Please forgive me for the those, my little cell pbone has a mind of its own and I can not correct the typos. That move was called the Gait-air, named for its originator, the man who sat in the jail at the bottom of the hill. It was rad, more amped, and all the kids wanted to be a part of it. He was sentenced to life in prison with the chance of parole after 31 years. It was, like, quick, were going to have the very best lives, and were going to have them now.. Classic Reagan country, with surfers, malls, churches, and loads of disaffected middle-class youth, it was there that Gator, at age 7, discovered skating. Rogowski and McClain hit it off immediately, and the 2 began relationship shortly after.
Mark Rogowski (Professional Skateboarder) ~ Wiki & Bio with Photos | Videos One night, after a Bible study at Constantinos house, Gator returned to the house with tears streaming down his face. Deals and discounts in Nails you dont want to miss. ''By the time I started looking into the story, everyone had been speculating and gossiping about it for years, but there were no real answers.''. [3], Rogowski received a 31-year to life prison sentence: six years for forcible rape and 25 years to life for the first-degree murder charges to be served consecutively.[3][11]. The police were astonished that someone was turning himself in for a murder that they didnt even know had happened. Stay rooted in Christ and pray. Bergsten was a good friend of his ex Brandi McClain, though the two aren't. In his confession, Rogowski conveyed that he had killed Bergsten in a misplaced act of revenge toward McClain, calling Bergsten the "mold Brandi was made out of". His girlfriend of five years, Brandi McClain, left him for a surfer. My fellow skater friends were all hyped on the surf thing who had what board, the newest O.P.s, and who had a Hang Ten shirt. Rogowski and McClain hit it off right away, and the two started dating shortly after. Ive never actually seen the video until tonight. The trial ended with Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Whelan sentencing Rogowski to consecutive six years for forcible rape and 25 years to life for first-degree murder. With Mark "Gator" Rogowski, Tony Hawk, Stacy Peralta, Jason Jessee and Brandi McClain. It features interviews with the lead investigator, Brandy McClain, and the minister Auggie Costantino.[17]. On March 20, 1991, Rogowski received a call from 22 year old Jessica Bergsten (whom he had not spoken to in years), who had recently moved to California. Brandi appeared in Gators videos, and when he appeared in Tom Pettys Free Fallin' video, she was in it too. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office said Bergsten's family members are "devastated" by the decision and that the office will appeal for Newsom to reverse the grant. Save up to 50% on Swimwear when you shop now. Brandi and Gator partied that entire weekend, which wasnt unusual considering the groupies who awaited him in every town.
Where Is Mark "Gator" Rogowski Now? - The Cinemaholic Tom Petty should have consulted Stacy about getting a pro skater for the video. Ms. Stickler initially had trouble convincing those who knew Mr. Rogowski that she was not interested in producing a ''skateploitation'' film. It was more like an involuntary manslaughter. A documentary examining Mark Rogowski's trajectory, Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator, was released in 2002 by Palm Pictures. He had bought a ranch in the mountains near Tony Hawks new ranch, which hed equipped with a whole series of wooden skating ramps. What's wrong with that? Mark Rogowski assaulted, raped, and killed Jessica Bergsten out of rage against his girlfriend and Jessicas best friend, Brandi McClain. ''I'm going to get up there and say, 'To all of you who have been kicked out or are thinking of dropping out, go for it!' Means so much. First let me say that it wasnt only incest. Mark was crazy, says Brandi. A well-known 1980's skateboarder Mark Anthony Rogowski's career and life were in a downward spiral and fell apart after he raped and killed Jessica Bergsten. He also dragged Brandi to the church several times, but Brandi downright refused and eventually broke up with him. Hi from Australia Devon. Rogowski is currently incarcerated at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. Mark Rogowski assaulted, raped, and killed Jessica Bergsten out of rage against his girlfriend and Jessica's best friend, Brandi McClain.
STOKED: THE RISE AND FALL OF GATOR - Juice Magazine Authorities stated that the decision was based on several factors, out of which one is a law that gives additional leniency to convicts who commit crimes before the age of 26. Mark Anthony Gator Rogowski is a former skateboarding superstar who was convicted for the assault, rape, and murder of his former girlfriends best friend, Jessica Bergsten.
Contacting Skateboarder Mark "Gator" Rogowski - Gne Skag PPE on the Great White Way: Karen Finley Commemorates Disaster, Review: New York, New York Makes It Here, Review: Peter Pan Goes Wrong Bludgeons With Wit, What Was Once Underground: Vintage Weed Ads From The Heyday. For re-invention, Rogowski changed his name to "Gator" Mark Anthony, explaining "Rogowski" was the name of the father he never knew. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. ''But once people realized I was not going to do some 'Hard Copy' thing, they opened up. In the eighties, a teenage Mark Rogowski rode to superstardom alongside Tony Hawk, but as his popularity waned, Rogowski became a manic, violent binge drinker. I had been exposed to pornography since I was a little boy, three years old, he says. Rogowski then confessed his crime to a born-again Christian friend, who urged him to confess to the police, which he did. This was an entirely new type of skating. The book is absolutely fantastic, the book is tremendous, the book is a huge achievement, Expertly craftedentertaining and good lookinga real winner, I have to praise this wonderful book. American convicted murderer and rapist, former skateboarder, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Mark "Gator" Rogowski, Skaterboarder: Jessica Bergsten's Killer", "Legendary 80s skateboarder Mark 'Gator' Rogowski raped and murdered Jessica Bergsten - Shattered", "Skateboarding star convicted of 1991 murder denied parole", "Transworld Skateboadring Magazine October 1987 Gator cover Gonz Vallely Miller | #1827717777", "Rock Promoter Silva is Really on a Roll", "Mark "Gator" Rogowski, Former Pro Skateboarder, Denied Parole for 1992 Calif. Murder-Rape", "Parole Denied For Local Skateboarding Legend", "State of California Inmate Locator: CDCR Number H27508", California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, "Ex-Skateboard Champion Could Get Parole in Brutal 1991 Rape and Murder in San Diego County", "Parole grant reversed for 'Gator,' former skateboard superstar convicted for 1991 rape, murder", "DA fighting parole granted to former skateboard star convicted of 1991 Carlsbad rape, murder", "Shattered | Watch Full Episodes & More! Yet something drove Gator to confess his crime. And although I attempt to forgive myself daily, wrote Gator, the struggle over his ultimate culpability still raging in his head, I havent quite been able and may never be able to do so.. Hes built like a fireplug, wears a goatee, and has one eye slightly askew a result of his accident.