At the pinnacle of his acting career, Thom Bierdz had a leading role in ‘The Young and the Restless’ when he received the tragic news of his dear mother, Phyllis, being viciously killed.
To unveil the hidden truths of his early life and expose the realities surrounding this abrupt catastrophe, Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here: The Soap Star’s Secret’ presents Thom taking charge as a presenter on a journey into his past.
The narratives of Troy Bierdz’s killer, highlighting distinctive viewpoints from family and staff interviews and exclusive archived footage, offer a personal portrayal of Thom’s encounters before, during, and after this heart-wrenching period in his life.
What was the cause of Phyllis Bierdz’s demise?
Phyllis Diletti was one of eleven children born to Italian Catholic parents. After meeting and marrying Tom, who had originally aspired to pursue an acting career, the couple welcomed three children into their family.
Regrettably, their lives took an unexpected turn when Tom decided to abandon them when Troy was four years old, leaving his wife to become the sole breadwinner for her family.
Despite the hardships she faced, Phyllis courageously supported them all through her jobs as a waitress and records clerk.
Tragically, on July 15, 1989, Phyllis was discovered lifeless on the kitchen floor when the family came by to carry out electrical work at the house in Kenosha.
Her passing undoubtedly left family and friends distraught by their grievous loss.
Who was responsible for Phyllis Bierdz’s death?
Troy Bierdz, the youngest child of the family, had a tumultuous upbringing, which involved mistreatment of the family dog, substance abuse, frequent suspensions at school, and expressions of suicidal thoughts during his early adolescence.
At the age of 16, he stole his mother’s car and crashed it in Florida. Two years later, he engaged in a high-speed chase with the police and self-harmed upon being apprehended.
Subsequently, he was admitted to a psychiatric ward, where he menaced to kill a nurse and spoke about harming his brother, Thom, and experiencing the sensation of taking someone’s life.
Although Troy was eventually diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, it was too late, and he took the life of his mother, Phyllis Bierdz, just months after she reported his menacing behavior to the authorities.
After the murder, Troy fled in her car with her purse, repainting the car black and switching license plates with another vehicle.
He even sold items found in the trunk to pay for fuel and impersonated his brother, Thom, in a 911 call, confessing to the murder of Phyllis and fabricating a story of assault.
Ultimately, the authorities apprehended him in Laredo, Texas, and Troy attempted to remove his fingerprints to avoid identification.
Following his admission of the crime, Troy was convicted and given a life sentence. He is currently incarcerated at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin, and will be eligible for parole in 2039.
In contrast, Thom Bierdz relocated from Wisconsin. He pursued a career as an actor, eventually landing a role on the popular soap opera, ‘The Young and the Restless,’ portraying the character Phillip Chancellor III.
Although the character was written out in 1989, Thom was requested to return in the 2000s, becoming the first openly gay actor to depict a major openly gay character on a soap opera.
Thom was deeply affected by his mother’s murder and initially severed all contact with his brother.
However, he visited Troy in prison in 1994 and was taken aback by his condition, prompting him to advocate for Troy’s mental health care.
Presently, Thom resides in Lake Arrowhead, California, and has shifted his focus to painting and sustaining a career as an artist.
He has also penned and published ‘Forgiving Troy,’ a book that provides insights into the aftermath of the murder and delves into mental health issues and the treatment of gay actors in Hollywood.
Thom is also the president of the American Art Awards and has authored several other books. Although he has pardoned Troy, he acknowledges that his mother’s murder had a profound impact on his life.
Troy Bierdz’s turbulent upbringing and mental health problems ultimately led to him ending the life of his mother, Phyllis Bierdz.
He is currently detained at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin, and will be eligible for parole in 2039.
On the contrary, Thom Bierdz pursued a successful career in Hollywood and redirected his interests to painting and writing.
Despite being devastated by his mother’s murder, he has absolved his brother and lobbies for his mental health care.
