Judith Eva Barsi

 

Judith Eva Barsi

June 6, 1978 - July 17, 1988

 

Judith Eva Barsi was born on June 6, 1978. Her parents were Maria Benko Barsi and Jozsef Barsi, both Hungarian immigrants. She was their only child. Judith's mother, Maria, had always wanted to be an actress. When Maria never became an actress, she had a new idea. She wanted her precious daughter to become an actress. Judith (who was nick-named 'Judy' and 'Judy-Bug) had almost no chances in becoming an actress, but she beat all odds when she was five and a half years old. She was discovered at a skating rink. Judith had always been small for her age, so she was mistaken for a three year old. Everyone she worked with loved Judith. They thought she was smart, funny, and adorable. In her life, Judith would appear in over 70 commercials, four television movies, and three big screen movies.

When Judith was seven years old (in 1985) her career was bringing in enough money to help buy her family a nice bedroom house. One of the first things her father did was put an iron fence with spikes around their home. It was around this time that Judith's life began to fall apart. Jozsef was a plumber. He became easily frustrated and when he was frustrated, he would drink. He soon was not only very dependent on alcohol, but also, having a low-income job, he was becoming jealous of his seven year old daughter. When he would drink, he would become abusive. It started with his wife. Jozsef would beat Maria and threaten her life. Judith probably witnessed this.

Eventually, not only did Jozsef abuse is wife, he also abused his daughter. On one occasion, the Barsi family was having a house party. Jozsef believed that Judith was getting too much attention so when she went into the kitchen, he followed her. He grabbed her by her ponytail and yanked so hard that she fell to the ground. He called her a 'damn brat'.  The only person Judith ever told about this was an elementary school friend. On another occasion, Jozsef threw a frying pan at her and bloodied her nose. Later, he bought her a pink television set as an apology. Before Judith and Maria set off to film Jaws IV: The Revenge, Jozsef held a kitchen knife to Judith's throat and told her that if she didn't come back, he would find her and kill her. Judith was horrified.

Judith with her mother

As the abuse went on, Judith, of course, was experiencing many emotional issues. In a fit of stress, she plucked out her cats' whiskers, and her eyelashes. When she was asked why she did this, Judith replied "Because of all the problems at home." She was referred to a child therapist who said that the abuse Judith was suffering was so bad, a report needed to be filed immediately. Maria filed the report, but no one ever followed up on it.

 

Jozsef told Maria that they would get a divorce, but they never divorced. Judith was abused for the last three years of her life. Many of Judith's friends remember that they were scared of Jozsef and sometimes, when they would knock on the door to ask if Judith could come out and play he would say "Oh that little ass? She's not here."

 

On July 27, 1988 smoke was coming from the Barsi house. A neighbor called the fire department who quickly put out the fire. However, they discovered much more than a fire. Judith appeared to be sleeping in her bed. She was laying on her left side, and her elbow was up. She also had a clean bullet wound in her head. Maria's body was found in the hallway. She had also been shot. Both of their bodies were drenched in gasoline. Jozsef's body was found in the garage. It is believed that Jozsef went to his daughter's room and shot her, causing Maria to wake up and hear the shot and rush to her daughter's room. Jozsef met her in the hall and shot her as well. Jozsef let the bodies stay as they were for a few days. Then he drenched them in gasoline and lit the house on fire. After this, he went to the garage and used the same gun he took his wife and daughter's life with to take his own.

Facts About Judith:

• Judith could speak Hungarian fluently. When she was in public with her mother, they would speak it so no one else would know what they were talking about.
• Until the public helped, Judith had no headstone. In August of 2004, Judith's headstone was placed.
• Judith is buried beside her mother, whose headstone was also purchased by the public. Her headstone was placed in January of 2005. The remains of Jozsef Barsi are unknown.
• Judith's final three productions were released after her death. She was the voice of Ducky in The Land Before Time, Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go To Heaven, and Billie in A Family Again. In the credits of A Family Again, you will see 'In Loving Memory of Judith Barsi'.
• In a Campbell's Tomato Soup commercial, they had to do so many takes, Judith said she would never eat tomato soup again.
• A few of Judith's favorite things to do were play dolls and ride her bicycle to her friend's house.
• Whenever Judith was about to appear on television, Maria would pop popcorn and watch the program with Judith if Jozsef wasn't home. If he was home, they would watch it on the television in Judith's room. Maria would get excited about this, but Judith didn't care very much. She would rather play with her toys.

•  Judith's toys that weren't destroyed in the fire were donated to good will. 
• Judith liked the Smurfs and CareBears.
• Judith liked to watch Growing Pains (which she got to guest star in!), Alf, Win, Lose, or Draw, and Who's the Boss?
• Judith's favorite flower was the sunflower.
• Judith's favorite colors were pink and purple.
• Before she was murdered, Judith was learning to knit.
• At school, Maria would sometimes bring Judith a warm Hungarian lunch. Her favorite was duck.
• Judith also liked eating Macaroni and Cheese
• Judith's favorite classes at school were History and Art. Her least favorite were P.E. and Math.
• Judith had a crush on a boy named Kenny.

Judith and her mother

 Judith in a doll commercial.