Chaplin died Christmas of 1977, aged 88. His health worsen rapidly in the final years of his life. The doctors concluded that he suffered a fatal stroke in his sleep and died peacefully.
He was buried in Corsier-sur-Vevey in Switzerland. Artists and fans from all over the world mourned his passing, and the film industry issued a series of tributes which read that Chaplin was “a monument of the cinema.”
However, the controversy that followed Chaplin throughout his life didn’t end with his death. Several months after his passing, his coffin was dug up, and his body was stolen by unknown perpetrators.
The body snatchers contacted his widow, Oona Chaplin and attempted to extort a substantial amount in exchange for return of the body.
The police organized an extensive investigation which included law enforcement agencies from all over Europe. Within six days, police saw the fruits of their labour, and Chaplin’s grave robbers were arrested.
His body was stolen by two men named Roman Wardas and Gantcho Ganev. They intended to use the ransom money to open a small business in Switzerland.
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