Remembering Lorissa McComas on the 9th anniversary of her passing.

Time marches on, seasons change, and now the great circle of being has brought us all to this most sad of occasions. It is with particular melancholy that I recall missing the mark in paying tribute to Lorissa's date of passing last year, due to a combination of personal and business obligations. Nevertheless, this period of inactivity related to this blog has seen further movement, largely in collecting all of the events of Lorissa's life into a singular biopic that I hope to complete in the coming months. It is during my ongoing research in this endeavor that a sudden stroke of inspiration came along, sparked by a sudden yet obvious insight into Lorissa's nature, and specifically how her natural beauty pertained to one of the four seasons.

There was an unwritten rule that often steered how Lorissa's print work was marked, most notably her various titles and honors within the glamour modeling world. Though one would rightly point out the Hapuna Swimwear commercial debut and all its tropical underpinnings lending to Lorissa's career being a creature of summer. Others might note her film debut Can It Be Love (aka Spring Break Sorority Babes) as an indication of her projected lust for life and fun-loving personality as representing the season of new life in spring. However, the true testament of her recurring character upon both the printed page and in film was the twilight beauty before the ravages of winter that is autumn.

This insight of Lorissa as a sort of autumn queen passing through the divide between summer and winter is the most all-encompassing analogy to who she was, in her career ventures and beyond. Given and taken away from us all at the height of the last harvest of November, regularly featured modeling for various calendars for either the months of October or November, and even titled Miss October on several modeling documentaries in relation to her work with Playboy and Penthouse. The rainbow of colors that mark the season were often a backdrop to her print work, and even when photographed in a field or on a beach at the height of summer, her earthy brown eyes and hair, along with her symmetrical figure projected a proportionality and flair more suited to an equinox than a solstice.

In a sense, I feel a bit foolish for not noting this as far back as my 12th year in this world when I happened upon a copy of the September/October 1991 issue of the Playboy Book of Lingerie in late October of the following year amid the fallen leaves in the woods behind my middle school. From the surrounding setting of yellow, red and brown foliage her innocent yet sly smile projected outward towards me and forever changed the way I understood the godly perfection that came forth from Adam's rib on the 6th day. And lo, here I write this a little over 26 years later in the cold rain of November like a sentimental fool as the heavens weep for the memory of the lesser world that they've beheld for the past 9 years.

As these years pass I have likewise noted that I am now about the same age that she was in 2009 when darkness prevailed and justice was turned on itself a little over 300 miles south of where I now hang my hat. In the time since Lorissa left the modeling world I've noted a clear downturn in the quality of representatives in both the glamour and mainstream modeling worlds, as the strong build of a ballerina coupled with the voluptuous one of the all-american girl has given way to an array of pencil-thin pushovers and plus-sized, overbearing types that couldn't be bothered with the concept of moderation and balance. Something was lost at the time that the early 2000s gave way to Paris Hilton, something that will likely never return.

Though this moment of extreme nostalgia will likely pass like falling leaves as autumn gives way to winter, a lone echo of a dream still rings fresh in my memory, and hopefully I am not alone in this. A reverberation of a time where I was too young and naive to know the dark side of life, one that was reciprocated with a naive smile from a printed page that was produced on the other side of the country and the owner of that smile someone that I would fail to meet in life. With it travels a visual of an earthy brunette princess frolicking amid great oaks and maples as they shed their stalk in the cool of late November, the day of her birth. It is with this picture in mind that I pen the following poem:

~ An Ode to the Autumn Queen ~

The twilight of seasons now seek her grace

A treasure of a thousand rainbows worth

With the cool of the fall's wind, does it race

Eleven months and twenty-six days forth.

You'll see her there, dancing with golden flair

Half as long, the shooting star fire is thine

Blessed are all eyes that your beauty declares

Fleeting with the cold, yet frozen in time.

Diamonds in their permanence envy thee

And the snow repents of its coming reign

Even father time, regrets his decree

That the Queen of Winter shall your throne gain.

Long for the memory and weep for the cost

An Ode to the Autumn Queen, never lost.

Rest In Peace Lorissa.

Remembering Lorissa McComas on the 7th anniversary of her passing.

Coincidence, or more likely the illusion of coincidence has a way of entering life at unexpected occasions. I don't believe in the concept of chance, luck or fate as these ideas denote something faceless and totally impersonal, but these are prevalent views of how events unfold at present, so they tend to enter our conversations on these occasions. This modern misconception regarding the nature of life and the events contained within is accompanied by an equally, if not more blatant one regarding the concept of conscience. Often defined as a feeling that causes one to question one's course of action, the root of the word deals with knowledge and its application to one's actions, as the translation of the word would be "with-knowledge" if put into modern English.

It is knowledge that informs and directs one's feelings, not the other way around, and being aware of that knowledge allows one to understand their emotional state. This self-awareness came to a head for me at the eve of the 7th anniversary of the tragic passing of Lorissa McComas, who's story I came to by what most would chalk up to happenstance. This knowledge has since informed how I approach certain parts of her body of work as a model and actress, but it has also come to affect how I react to certain other works of art that never before elicited a strong emotional response. Perhaps this is a bizarre thing to happen in the life of a person who admired, but never personally knew Lorissa.

Since making contact with friends and family of Lorissa and learning the truth, coupled with the fairly recent and tragic passing of the lead actor of the film in question, I have found myself unable to sit through the entire duration of Robin Williams' 1998 film "What Dreams May Come". The film definitely approaches the concept of life and death in such an extremely sentimental fashion that it would often move audiences to tears, though I never really regarded the film as particularly compelling or moving until just a couple years ago. Earlier this evening I managed to sit through the entire film, absorbing every iota of the lofty optimism coupled with occasions of adversity of otherworldly proportions that define's the film's plot, and came away with a desire to both reminisce on the past and hope for the future.

My reminiscence was largely concerned with reconciling the picture of Lorissa that I had up until her death with the endless rabbit-hole of twists and turns that has unveiled since that tragic day. What I saw in my youth was an unattainable perfection that seemed to transcend reality, and given the kind of outlook I had on life and the misery that often accompanies adolescence, the smile she wore in her various films and print work were the lone reminder that I wasn't in hell. Naturally as time went on I grew into myself and followed pursuits that would shape me into a far less cynical person, but I never forgot how I was at that time, and how a woman who I would never meet brought a needed ray of light into a very dark world.

Learning that my time as an extremely introverted, social misfit touched by Asperger's Syndrome was a pleasant holiday compared to the things that Lorissa experienced later in her life sickens me to no end. The reason for this isn't just some blind emotional response to the loss of something that made me feel good about myself for a time, but also because of the knowledge that there are people in this world who act in ways that affect everyone around them with no care or desire to understand the consequences, people who mock the gifts that they have been given in life and take for granted the destruction that they have wrought. This is the very basis of morality, knowledge, both of what we are doing and who it will affect.

In the face of evil, consequences must follow for the evildoer, hence the existence of a justice system. But often times justice requires the participation of those outside the justice system in order for things to happen. There are several avenues for reopening Lorissa's case that are still to be explored, including one now being promoted on the "Justice For Lorissa" Facebook page, that warrant consideration.  God willing, November the 3rd might well be a day of mourning that could become the day that justice will move towards attainment. Whether success in this effort comes in this life or not, let it not be said that those with knowledge did nothing.

Rest In Peace Lorissa

 

Remembering Lorissa McComas on the 6th anniversary of her passing.

It's been almost a year since the last time that a new post was made on this blog and I can't help but feel a strong sense of guilt for it. On the one hand, given the many advancements and setbacks that have occurred behind the scenes in attempting to gain some justice for the departed angel who's image adorns our hearts and memories. On the other, there is the growing sense that nothing is happening that must be running through the minds of many who have come and gone here. At this juncture, all I can share with regard to the ongoing case is that the wheels are still turning, albeit slowly and with a great deal of work left to be done. Nevertheless, as this date marks the 6th anniversary of the tragic death of Lorissa McComas, it is fitting that something be shared to sate the curiosity of those whose lives she touched during her time with us.

There is a passage the bible that routinely rings in my mind whenever contemplating Lorissa's life, John 7:24, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." The context of the quote is a rebuke of the Jewish authorities who sought to kill Jesus for appearing to blaspheme God by healing on the Sabbath and making open declarations of being the messiah. While this analogy is not meant to compare Lorissa with the only begotten Son of God, nor should it be treated as an endorsement of the adult entertainment industry, there is an underlying theme of failing to see the truth because of an obsession with outward pretense and appearance which is echoed throughout the dismissive reactions that I've often encountered about her story as being just another loose-living soul meeting an untimely end, often by people who have probably fed into said industry monetarily while in secret.

But how does one "judge righteously", one might ask? It all begins with asking that very question, for within it lay the necessary curiosity to cut past the veil of the obvious and see things on a deeper level. This curiosity follows by a studious review of the nature of any profession that involves public performance and the arts, be it of a classical, modern, or even risque category. All entail a desire to create, a drive to leave a monument of accomplishment, but this is not the end itself, but rather the means. The actual end is the validation and approval of an audience, which even the most unconventional and eccentric of artists will admit is the greatest reward of their work. As we all share and partake of a common human nature, so too does an entertainer seek after a confirmation of this shared humanity by way of a standing ovation and a handful of devoted fans who consider themselves blessed that an accomplished artist signed their name to a piece of merchandise addressed to them.

A little known fact about Lorissa is that early in her modeling career with Playboy she worked exclusively in special catalogs. This was largely the case because she was not comfortable doing full nudity at the time, and anyone who ever happened upon her debut appearance in the 1991 September/October Book of Lingerie will note that the images contained within and adorning the cover were just a small measure more suggestive than what is usually found in Maxim magazine. Another little known fact is that this was Lorissa's favorite style of modeling, and she had actually procured an opportunity to do a photo-shoot for Maxim in the early 2000s that was sadly canceled due to a facial injury inflicted by a covetous fellow model, actress and former friend who's name I shall withhold at this juncture, though the guilty part definitely knows who she is.

Likewise, it was the more artsy and innovative photo shoots that her talents procured for her that were her true passion, such as her depiction of Shawna Diaz on the cover art for the special edition of the fantasy/horror comic series Exposure and her work with fantasy artist Tony Mauro on his When Darkness Falls calendar. Her film work had mirrored this tendency as while she was still doing a fair bit of adult oriented material with Jim Wynorski and other B-movie directors, there was a bit more of an effort to break into a realm outside of softcore, as seen in her significant roles in Hard As Nails, Crash Point Zero and Slaughter Studios. Towards the end of her career it was her desire to use her self-financed business LMP to explore a more refined and intricate style of art within her modeling and acting pursuits.

Alas, the downside to any degree of fame, be it the ubiquitous variety enjoyed by the A-list crowd or the more localized and personal pedigree that Lorissa was cut from, is attracting parasites. Naturally some are more deserving of this title than others when it comes to her supposed "friends", but this label would fit anyone who took any degree of advantage of Lorissa's graciousness while failing to recognize that they were interacting with a human being, not a party favor. This was the real truth that lay beneath the pretense of a woman caught up in a supposed Hollywood cliche, a woman who was naive and forgiving to a fault, who's love and friendship was returned with varying degrees of vindictive hatred.

The truth is, genuine love is a rarity in this world, and when it is given, it is usually done so in so gratuitous a fashion that the recipient often doesn't realize what he or she has received. At some point in 1993 it came to Lorissa in the form of a phone call from a new fan looking to purchase some of her work. He was drawn to the glowing exterior that attracted every other onlooker, but underneath that light he saw an even greater one beneath that few would probably think to seek out in anyone. That first gesture led to 16 years of friendship, and towards the end, much more. During the good times, he was content to be called a fan, but conducted himself with a degree of loyalty to her that could pass for family.

As the Eskimo proverb states, "You never really know your friends from your enemies until the ice breaks", and when all the money was gone (stolen), her career at a standstill, and her bombshell appearance faded, that same fan still saw the same person that he fell in love with in the early 1990s and proved his salt in a way that few have or ever will. The few months that they had together before the ravenous predator of a federal government that this country suffers under tore their lives apart were marked by a mixture of hope and hardship, as Lorissa worked to beat a nasty addiction to Oxy Contin and regain her life, but in that short time, they experienced a love that is rarely found, and even more rarely kept.

It is my hope that at some point in the near future that a breakthrough is had and that the guilty parties that caused this benevolent woman's downfall are brought to justice. Justice will not bring her back, (I continue to cleave to the hope that at the end of all things she will be brought back, fully justified by the faith in Christ that I have reason to believe that she carried, obviously ebbing and flowing, throughout her life.) but her and David are entitled to it. I thus, on this sad of anniversaries, renew my vow to fight in any way that I can for that justice, and I hope that anyone reading this with any pull with the powers that be will consider these words.

Rest In Peace Lorissa

Happy 44th Birthday Lorissa, We All Still Miss You Dearly.

Not much more than 3 weeks ago was the sad commemoration of the day that Lorissa prematurely left this world. I had elected to mark that occasion with a mood of nostalgia and sentimentality, which culminated in the release of several uncommon photographs that I came into possession of thanks to the trust and generosity of her ex-fiance David Keeter. One of them is the photo displayed above, taken at her sweet 16 birthday party back in 1986, with that same warm and loving smile that caused a substantial chunk of my generation to fall in love with her.

If she were still with us today, she would be 44 years old, and probably either continuing her work in the film industry with maybe some occasional modeling on the side, though she had always wanted to be a school teacher and was interested in working with Kindergarteners had things panned out differently. Per David's own testimony, she was a very nurturing and benevolent soul that was always interested in working with children, and did some volunteer work at a day care back during her time in Melbourne, Florida.

As the effort to bring her killer to justice is ongoing, I am nevertheless reminded that any justice that will be had is just that, justice. While justice is a defining law of how all of us live, it is not life itself, and any hope that we harbor for the restoration of life is not found in justice alone, but in something more. Goodness is not only confined to the nature of our choices, but also in the nature of being, and thus I've come to have a new take on the very concept of a birthday. As in the account of Genesis when God looked upon all that was created and saw that it was good, there is a goodness in the very object of life itself. A birthday is such a joyous time because it marks the addition of something good to the world.

In light of this, any concept of good can only be diminished by its absence, and thus Lorissa's birthday has become something of a time for lamentation for those who cared the most for her. As I write this blog, somewhere over 300 miles south of where I sit is a man sitting alone in the woods with a single candle lit in her memory. In that act of goodness to her memory is also a hope that like the flame flickering in the wind, that at some time, somewhere, the fire of life can be regathered and set alight again. It is with this in mind that I dedicate the following sonnet to both her memory and the man that misses her most.

~Across The Infinite Chasm~

A distance set without a bridge or path

Yet a promise of a way to be kept.

Division is fleeting, no root it hath

Even by the endless sea of tears wept.

What is space but the emissary's road?

What is time but the measure of a word?

Traveling from the messenger's abode,

To the waiting heart by which it is heard.

Be still, the memory of things unsaid

Make way for the light of a moment seized.

Love endures beyond the passing soul's bed

The lost still remembers, the spirit pleased.

A time for mourning, but never for shame

Across The Infinite Chasm, call her name.

Happy 44th Lorissa. Rest In Peace. 

A Tribute to Lorissa on the 5th anniversary of her passing.

November 3rd has taken on a different meaning for many of us in the past 5 years, one that includes a feeling of absence. Somehow things have seemed a bit less bright, a bit less alive since Lorissa left this world, at least to those of us that either knew her or knew of her. But our memory can also be a blessing, depending upon how and what we choose to remember. Normally it would be fitting to mark a celebratory occasion on a person's birthday, but on this particular anniversary of Lorissa's passing, the sentiments of a good friend have inspired me to take this occasion to share some things about this beautiful angel, now missing from this world.

The greatest cliche of any celebrity passing under mysterious circumstances is that he or she came from less than enviable beginnings. But cliches are often the hallmark of lazy minds, ones that opt for the simplest answer rather than the correct one. As the Gospel of John says so truthfully in chapter 7, verse 24, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." Lorissa came from a loving family with two decent, upstanding parents that spared no expense for the future of their children. Originally from West Virginia, they relocated to Columbus, Ohio before Lorissa's birth, and at age 4 they moved to Cincinnati, where her life began to take shape. 

Her mother was particularly interested in the future of her daughter and encouraged her in a broad array of extra-curricular activities. Per her own testimony on her now defunct website, "Even when I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a model or an actress when I grew up. I was about as rambunctious of a kid as you'd ever see -  it always seemed like I was in the spotlight. In school, I was in the swinging singers. Gymnastics, ballet, and just about every play that I could do." Those with fond memories of active childhoods will no doubt see some parallel in the hectic yet fulfilling younger years described here with their own early days, with both parents looking on with hope and pride. That is the one thing that is usually lost when contemplating the life of any celebrity, the truly human truth behind the surreal appearance of things.

But simply describing with words alone would not do justice to those who remember her so fondly, and to what was the truth behind this spellbinding beauty. Thus it is with the blessing and permission of David Keeter, Lorissa's former fiance and de facto widower, that I now share some pictures of Lorissa's life, both inside and outside the purview of her career. All of these were given to David by Lorissa at some point during their 16 year long friendship, and I was afforded the opportunity to make my own copies when I interviewed him back in 2013, and I kept the surrounding table and scenery beneath the pictures to keep a sense of that time within them.

An original of one of Lorissa's many modeling shoots, taken in the late 1990s,

highlighting her dual nature of innocence and allure.

 

 

 

A promotional photograph for her 1995 film Lapdancing,

showcasing more of her innocent and naive side.

 

 

 

Another late 90s shoot, a little known fact is that Lorissa actually had a brief stint 

in Catholic School, though she was originally raised a Baptist.

Taken on the set of Stormswept with fellow actress and friend Julie Hughes, at

 some point between 1992 and 1994, drinking the same milks featured in the film.

 

Picture from the Aloha Motel in South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, 

I can't recall the exact time, but not long after she won that first Bikini contest in 1987.

 

 

 

Another photo taken at Myrtle beach, even in the early days Lorissa was

a master at striking a pose and a blessing to her surroundings.

 

 

 

One of Lorissa's iconic photos with her signature and a cute little message
for David in the upper left-hand corner. She loved him dearly.

Lorissa's sweet sixteen birthday card,
notice the smile and iconic 80s hair, absolutely priceless.

 

I honestly can't remember when or where this was taken, perhaps David can

remind me at some point, but the beauty speaks for itself.

 

Somewhere down in southern Virginia a decent, upstanding man who was wronged by this nation and this world is remembering Lorissa in his own way. I had intended to compose this entry solely as a tribute to her, but my thoughts also drift back to him. I have come to curse this day for what it represents, but I can't even begin to imagine the feeling of loss that he has experienced, having everything he could have ever wanted out of life and being rendered powerless as it was all taken away from him. To this day he still blames himself for what happened, in spite of being the only man in her life to do right by her with no expectation of reward after her parents had passed.

This story is a sad one, but there is one silver-lining to be enjoyed in this world, and that is our memory. It is what defines us, it is what tells us who we are, where we are, and where we should go in the future. I mourn for David's loss, for the loss experienced by the rest of Lorissa's family, but at the same time I am thankful. Thankful to know David, to know Lorissa's story (despite it's tragic end), and thankful that though I never met her, I have known of her. And with all this knowledge, my perspective on my own pursuit of the Christian hope has been augmented with the hope that she sees all of us, and is touched by our memories of her.

Lorissa McComas' website is down.

It has been almost a year since the last time I have given an update on the ongoing effort to reveal the truth of what happened to Lorissa McComas via this blog. There have been many ongoing efforts outside of the purview of published information that will require further investigation before it will be published, but recent events have prompted the release of some information that, while not 100% verified, should be out simply to keep her fans informed of the effort to which they have lent their support.

Within the past 3-4 days Lorissa McComas' website has gone down with no explanation. While what I can offer is still somewhat speculative at this point, there are several things that are certain. The first of which is that Doug Taylor, the likely reason of Lorissa's death, has had full financial and operational control of the website. The second is that at some point in late 2012 Doug had an established residence in Ohio, which also coincides with the last time that the website was updated as can be seen in this screenshot of the homepage of the website. The third and final point is that in the closing months of 2013, David Keeter (Lorissa's fiance and long-time friend) was contacted by a collection agency about the current whereabouts of Doug Taylor, who is now wanted for bank fraud.

The reason for my silence has been my desire to not interfere with an investigation that could result in Doug being brought to justice, though after about a year's time it appears that the wheels are not turning very quickly. However, the shutting down of Lorissa's website and the recent disappearance of several highly priced pieces of Lorissa's memorabilia from Ebay leave little doubt that what little enterprise Doug had manage to steal from his dead ex-wife has evaporated, and that he is now dead broke. It is my hope that this, coupled with some well realized effort lobbying the Virginia State and U.S. Federal governments will help bring Doug to where he belongs, in the defendant's chair.

In the interim, given Doug's continued at large status, a few words to the wise should be imparted to all fans of Lorissa's who might be seeking keepsakes of this beautiful creature. First, in the event that Lorissa's website is brought back on line with the current owner still in place, do not purchase anything being advertized there. Second, do not purchase any memorabilia of Lorissa's that is being sold on Ebay or elsewhere at a highly inflated price, particularly if the place of origin is Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Florida, as those are places where Doug still may have some friends or family that he can use as conduits to sell his ill-gotten gains. Third, do not purchase any items that purport to be autographed by Lorissa; most of these are fakes and I have it on good authority that Doug would often forge Lorissa's signature to help up the price on items for his own benefit prior to her passing, and is likely doing so now.

There are currently a number of efforts underway via myself, David and Missie to discover the whereabouts of Doug Taylor and get the authorities to reopen Lorissa's case. But at this point the primary goal is still the spreading of awareness regarding what actually happened in Waverly, Virginia on November 3rd, 2009. We are combating 3 years of lies that have gone uncontested due to the caprices of an out of control Federal Agency (ATF) and Court System, as well as an extremely incompetent and corrupt local police force. If you read this and if you are of a mind to help us in this effort, please visit our Justice For Lorissa petition on change.org and add your name to our growing list of supporters, and also visit the Facebook page, like it and stay tuned for more updates both there and here.

Remembering Lorissa's Birthday and why the effort must and will continue.

It's a bittersweet remembrance given that she is no longer with us to share in what should be a happy occasion, but it is a necessary part of remembering anyone who has left this world, remembering the day that they were first given to this world. Those words definitely hold a special meaning for Lorissa, because to those who knew her and of her, she was a gift. A kind-heart with a child-like innocence and naivety that was altogether quite fetching to any individual, and one that is sorely missed by those who knew and cared about her. My new found friend Missie, a childhood friend of Lorissa's, has also chosen to mark this occasion with a very poignant birthday wish to this now departed angel, which can be read on Facebook. I have also elected to re-post it here for sake of convenience, but I encourage all reading to visit Justice For Lorissa and the Petition To The Virginia Police to Re-Open Lorissa's Case links and mark this occasion with your support.

I've been trying all day to think of the proper words to make a post reminding everyone that today is Lorissa's birthday... All I want to say is HAPPY in front of birthday, but today isn't a happy day. It's the day my friend would've turned 43 if she wouldn't have been murdered ; (
I've just been trying to remember all the birthday celebrations we had as children and the crazy birthday things we did in our teens and beyond ;)~
My happy day to Lorissa will be the day Doug is found guilty in a court of law. Your continued support of sharing her story will help us achive that and we hope that's soon!!! Thanks for your support!!!
♡ RIP my friend ♡

 P.S. - With whatever assurance I can give you Missie, come what may, we will prevail. Rest In Peace Lorissa.