Dave Navarro is telling the heartbreaking story of his mother’s murder in the upcoming documentary, “Mourning Son,” and a new trailer released Wednesday reveals the deep pain that caused the rocker to spiral into heroin abuse years later.
Constance Navarro and her friend, Sue Jory, were murdered by Constance’s ex-boyfriend, John Riccardi, on March 3, 1983, when Dave was just 15 years old.
In the moving clip from the film, a voiceover describes the killings while images of the victims and the crime scene flash across the screen. “He takes the pillow, sticks it over her face, and snuffs out the last breathe of life,” it says.
In his own words, Navarro explains how difficult it was to face the tragic childhood memory.
“It feels unreal to tell this story,” the Jane’s Addiction founding member and Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist says. “I’ve never been one to not say what’s going on with me emotionally, as an artist and a musician that’s inherent … that’s what we do.
“It’s the most profound moment of my life and I don’t think I should just sweep it under the rug anymore. It was the darkest and most horrible moment of my life.”
Navarro went on to become deeply involved in heroin, frightening friends and bandmates with the “snake trails” of injection marks up his arms.
But while he was touring, “Riccardi was still on the loose,” the guitarist recalled. “There was fear and terror out there. I was afraid, was he going to kill me?”
After being featured on “America’s Most Wanted” hosted by John Walsh, Riccardi was arrested for the double murders in 1991. He was originally sentenced to death but the California Supreme Court overturned the sentence three years ago after a prospective juror was wrongly dismissed for expressing conflicting views on the death penalty.
The convicted killer was re-sentenced in 2013 to life without parole.
“The Mourning Son,” which is executive-produced by Navarro and directed by “Married…With Children” writer Todd Newman, is set for release on Dec. 1.