On 15 June 1965, at the age of 48, he died on his yacht off the coast of Guatemala of an acute lung infection. His body, along with
three alive but upset female Mexican assistants (Eva Montero Castellano, 25, a seamstress; Eugenia Bautista Zacarias, 19, a laundress; and 14-year-old Lorenza de la Rosa), remained terrified on board for 10 days until the boat drifted to shore and was found by authorities. His death was apparently a mystery, surrounded by various rumors about foul play and poisoning.
Merle Oberon, a former paramour a couple of years back, tried to use her influence to push for further police investigations but failed.
