Nancy Campbell-Panitz and her ex-husband, Ralf Panitz, are the parents of their son, Jeffrey Campbell, who has discussed the tragic events that led to his mother’s death.
She was a reserved and nurturing person, mild by nature, committed to the concerns of single parenting.
Highlights
- Nancy Campbell-Panitz was a single mother whose life changed completely after joining a show, “The Jerry Springer Show.”
- Her ex-husband viciously murdered her after watching their telecast at the bar and became angry with the restriction of the court.
- Campbell’s son, Jeffrey Campbell, carries the pain of separation from his mother.
Unlike the dramatic personalities on shows such as ” The Jerry Springer Show,” Panitz was a soft-spoken individual who preferred to remain out of the limelight.
But once she was asked to appear before the show to reunite with her ex-husband, Ralf Panitz, and his paramour, the poor woman bowed to the persuasion and perhaps believed this would bring some relief.
Public surroundings did not change her life as a mother who was wholly concerned with the future well-being of her family; however, taking part in that show became very costly for her.
Ralf Panitz, former husband of Nancy Campbell-Panitz, gained notoriety through the Jerry Springer Show before being convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
The German Ralf Panitz became notorious for his heinous crime against his ex-wife, Nancy Campbell-Panitz, in July 2000.
Shortly after they had appeared in “The Jerry Springer Show”, facing him with his new wife, Eleanor, Mr Panitz brutally beat and choked Nancy to d*ath.
In 2000, Nancy Campbell-Panitz (52) was choked and stomped to death by her ex-husband.
She was a loving mother who raised two boys on her own. She was killed by her second husband who she met later in life. #femicide #DomesticViolence pic.twitter.com/iCwEREHf01— feminist_collages_ nyc (@CollagesNyc) January 9, 2025
The attack happened on the same day the episode aired, and according to accounts, it was after he watched the episode in the bar, angry because of a court order barring him from her home.
In May of 2002, the culprit was found guilty of second-degree m*rder and received a life sentence without parole.
During sentencing, Circuit Judge Nancy Donnellan emphasized the severity of the perpetrator’s crime, even presenting a photo of his ex-partner’s injury to underscore the gravity of his actions.
Nancy Campbell-Panitz’s Son Speaks Out: The Painful Reality Behind His mOther’s Tragic Death
Jeffrey Campbell, son of Nancy Campbell-Panitz, features in the Netflix docuseries “Jerry Springer: Fight, Camera, Action,” as he describes the emotional hell his mother went through because of his family’s appearance in “The Jerry Springer Show.”
He reflects on that shocking decision saying,
As far as my mother going on the show, it was shocking to say the least,” he says in the doc. “I was pretty surprised when she told me about going on the show … She didn’t like having her pictures taken much. She always had to hide her face or hide behind something, so to see her up there on the stage, just looking like a deer caught in the headlights, like, ‘What is going on here?
What Happened to ‘Jerry Springer’ Murder Victim Nancy Campbell-Panitz? https://t.co/VPnmhLguGZ
— Parade Mag (@ParadeMagazine) January 7, 2025
The words of Campbell carry across the deep discomfort of his mother, who was thrust into a situation that was chaotic and ended in tragedy.
He adds that his mother was never the type to engage in the drama that characterized the show.
Unfortunately, the damage was done and as her son reflects on her decision to participate, he says poignantly,
I just wish I could go back and say, ‘Don’t do it
His heartbreaking words reveal not just his pain over his mother’s untimely demise but the deep regret he feels over her involvement in the show that manipulated her in the worst way possible.
Additional Information
- Nancy Campbell-Panitz’s son filed a $25 million lawsuit against “The Jerry Springer Show” in 2003.
- She was a single mother who raised her two sons, Jeffrey Campbell, and Gary Campbell.
- Panitz and her ex-husband, Ralf Panitz, parted ways in February 1999 after 15 months of marriage.
