Jean Ingram was an American actress who appeared in several TV shows and movies in the 1950s and 1960s. She is best known for her roles in Burke’s Law (1963), Sergeant Dead Head (1965) and Three Came to Kill (1960). However, her life took a tragic turn when she became romantically involved with a Los Angeles restaurateur who was convicted of murdering her husband.
Early Life and Career
Jean Ingram was born in 1934 in Los Angeles, California. She started her acting career in 1959, when she appeared in an episode of the TV series Wagon Train. She then landed roles in other popular shows such as Sea Hunt, Hawaiian Eye, Tales of Wells Fargo, Tightrope, Overland Trail, The Millionaire and The DuPont Show with June Allyson. She also had a small role in the Elvis Presley movie Tickle Me (1965).
In 1960, she starred in the crime thriller Three Came to Kill, where she played the role of Betty Cameron, a woman who is kidnapped by three assassins who plan to kill a politician. The film was directed by Edward L. Cahn and also featured Cameron Mitchell, John Lupton and Steve Brodie.
In 1963, she appeared in an episode of the TV series Burke’s Law, where she played the role of Lucinda, a woman who is suspected of murdering her husband. The show was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and starred Gene Barry as Amos Burke, a millionaire police captain who solves crimes in Los Angeles.
In 1965, she played the role of W.A.F. in the comedy film Sergeant Dead Head, where she was part of a group of women who join the Air Force. The film was directed by Norman Taurog and starred Frankie Avalon, Deborah Walley, Eve Arden and Cesar Romero.
Personal Life and Murder Case
Jean Ingram was married to Robert Ingram, a businessman who owned a chain of restaurants in Los Angeles. They had two children, a son and a daughter. However, their marriage was not happy and they were planning to divorce.
In 1963, Jean Ingram met James E. Baker, a charismatic restaurateur who owned a health food store called The Source. Baker was also known as Father Yod, a spiritual leader who founded a religious cult called The Source Family. He claimed to have mystical powers and attracted many followers, mostly young women.
Jean Ingram fell in love with Baker and became one of his devotees. She left her husband and moved in with Baker and his other wives at a mansion in Hollywood Hills. She also changed her name to Ahom Aquarian.
Robert Ingram was furious and tried to get custody of their children. He also hired a private detective to follow his wife and gather evidence of her affair. On November 6, 1963, he confronted Baker at his restaurant and accused him of ruining his marriage. A heated argument ensued and Baker shot Ingram in the chest, killing him instantly.
Baker was arrested and charged with murder. He claimed that he acted in self-defense and that Ingram had threatened him with a knife. However, the police found no evidence of a knife at the scene. Baker also claimed that he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and that Ingram was the devil.
The trial was sensational and attracted a lot of media attention. Jean Ingram testified in Baker’s defense and said that she loved him and that he was a good man. She also said that her husband was abusive and that she was afraid of him. However, the jury did not believe her and found Baker guilty of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
Jean Ingram remained loyal to Baker and visited him regularly in jail. She also continued to be part of The Source Family and followed their teachings. In 1974, Baker was paroled and moved to Hawaii with some of his followers. He died in 1975, when he crashed his hang glider into a cliff.
Jean Ingram never remarried and lived a secluded life. She died in 1997, at the age of 63. She was buried next to Baker in Hawaii.