Christina Grimmie became an overnight star after appearing on The Voice, but one fan became obsessed and heartbreakingly murdered her.
The 22-year-old rose to fame on the sixth season of The Voice in 2014, where she captivated audiences under the guidance of Maroon 5's Adam Levine.
Although she finished in third place, Grimmie left a lasting impression on both Levine and rapper Lil Wayne, who both sought to sign her to their respective record labels.
However, her growing fame drew the attention of Kevin Loibl, a 27-year-old from Orlando, Florida, whose fascination with the singer spiraled into a deadly obsession, as reported by CNN.
Although Loibl had no criminal record, the St. Petersburg police had been called to his home in 2014 over a domestic disturbance involving Loibl and his father’s girlfriend.
The police report is filled with odd details about Loibl’s life. His family claimed he had no history of mental illness, yet they described him as living "like a hermit," with his bedroom windows covered in aluminum foil and heavy curtains due to what they called an "aversion to light."
Loibl's obsession with Grimmie began in 2015, with a friend recalling to CNN how he would "watch everything having to do with her" and spend "most of his waking hours" engrossed in her videos or scrolling through her social media pages.
In 2016, Loibl purchased tickets to see Grimmie perform in Orlando, but his intentions were far from innocent. In the days leading up to the concert, he meticulously planned her murder.
He visited a gun store and, after the required waiting periods, purchased two firearms, receiving the first on May 31 and the second on June 7 - just three days before the concert.
On June 9, Loibl checked into an Orlando hotel, paying $269 for a room.
According to a receptionist who later spoke with St. Petersburg police: "There was no luggage; no personal belongings visible, and the bed looked as if he slept on top of the covers. In the trash, it appeared he had purchased some food from the hotel snack bar and ate it in his room."
The following day, June 10, Grimmie stayed after her concert to meet fans and sign autographs. Just over 20 minutes later, Loibl approached her.
As she went to embrace him for a hug, Loibl pulled out a gun and fired three shots into her head and chest.
Grimmie’s brother bravely tackled him, but Loibl managed to break free and took his own life with the same weapon.
Grimmie was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries half an hour later.
Those who knew Loibl noticed changes in his appearance leading up to the murder—he lost 50 pounds, underwent Lasik surgery, whitened his teeth, and got hair implants.
At least five of Loibl’s coworkers were aware of his obsession with Grimmie, though they did not grasp its full extent.
While they noticed his physical changes, they did not observe any significant changes in his behavior.
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