1991
Dec 20, Robert Bardo, the obsessed fan who had stalked actress Rebecca Schaeffer before killing her, was sentenced in Los Angeles to life in prison without parole.

1993
Dec 20, Alina Fernandez Revuelta, a daughter of Cuban President Fidel Castro, flew to Spain, where she was granted political asylum by the U.S. Embassy.
1997
Dec 20, Denise Levertov (74), poet, died in Seattle. Her first book of essays was: “The Poet in the World."

2000
Dec 20, It was reported that four-fifths of the salmon spawning in the last free-flowing reach of the Columbia River had reverted to female sex for unknown reasons. Water temperature and environmental pollutants were suspect.

2007
Dec 20, Jeanne Carmen (b.1930), the "little country girl" who became a 1950s pinup and actress and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra and other stars, died at her home in Orange County, Ca.

2008
Dec 20, San Francisco Police Chief Heather Wong (52) announced her retirement. She became the city’s first female police chief nearly 5 years ago.

2009
Dec 20, Brittany Murphy (32), star of films such as "Clueless" and "8 Mile," died after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home. Paramedics tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.