On January 21, 1959, darkness had settled into Los Angeles. Carl Switzer and his friend Jack Piott had arrived at 10400 Columbus Avenue in Mission Hills, California. Moses Stan “Bud” Stiltz, his wife and three stepchildren lived in the home. Switzer and Piott beat on the door and demanded Stiltz let them in.

After someone inside the house opened the door, the two men forced their way into the house. Switzer claimed Stiltz owed him $50 over a hunting dog. Apparently, Switzer had borrowed a hunting dog from Stiltz. The dog chased after a bear and ran away. Switzer offered a $35 reward for the dog’s return. A man found and returned the dog to Switzer, who then took the man out for drinks. Switzer spent $15 on drinks.

Switzer thought Stiltz should reimburse him the $50. Stiltz refused because he said it wasn’t his fault the dog got away. Stiltz’s wife and stepchildren left the house and went to a neighbor’s home. Switzer and Stiltz got into a heated argument. After being struck in the head with a clock, Stiltz retrieved his .38 caliber revolver from his bedroom.

Stiltz and Switzer fought over the gun. Stiltz then fatally shot Switzer in the groin. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Stiltz told authorities he killed Switzer in self-defense after Switzer pulled a jackknife on him.

Authorities did find a closed knife underneath Switzer. According to Stiltz, Switzer folded and closed the knife before he died. Piott disputed Stiltz’s story. He said Switzer didn’t pull a knife on Stiltz. After an investigation, the coroner believed Stiltz and ruled it a justifiable homicide. The 31-year-old dead man was buried and life went on. There wasn’t much fanfare over the killing.

So, who was Carl Switzer? He was a famous childhood actor you may remember as Alfalfa from the little Rascals and Our Gang short films produced by Hal Roach during the 1930s. Of all the kids, Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer was a goofy looking kid with freckles, greasy hair and a cowlick.

He became America’s most loveable nerd.

For many years, it’s been alleged by fans that the kids who appeared in the Little Rascals and Our Gang short films were cursed. Although it’s true many of the kids died tragically, there were over 100 child actors who appeared in the films. Unfortunately, Carl Switzer received much more publicity for his life because he died tragically while only 31-years-old.

If you haven’t seen any Our Gang or Little Rascals films, you can view clips on YouTube. For many years, fans and friends have questioned what happened to Switzer. Did Bud Stiltz murder Carl Switzer? As a fan of Switzer’s, I have always wondered if Switzer’s death was justified or if he was murdered. Unfortunately, too much time has passed for anyone to ever know the truth.

For over four decades, the story remained as a justified killing. But in 2000, Tom Corrigan, Bud Stiltz’s former stepson offered information about Carl Switzer’s death. Tom was 14 when Switzer died and claimed his stepfather didn’t have to kill Switzer. He also backed up Piott’s story about Switzer not pulling a knife on Stiltz.

Tom said he watched Switzer slide down the wall and die after being shot. It’s also been said that Stiltz’s wife stopped her husband from killing Piott as he begged for his life. Bud Stiltz died on May 15, 1983 and faced no criminal charges for killing the beloved child star.

Switzer, however, will always be remembered as Alfalfa—the nerdy kid who always tried to impress fellow rascal Darla Hood. Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer is buried in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. To commemorate Switzer’s love for dogs, his head stone has a hunting dog engraved into it.

Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com or through Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themarcabe or his Twitter account @themarcabe. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.