Where Are They Now - Mary Anne Dent

Continued from The Hanging Poker Tournament

 

Mary Anne Dent was a surprise winner in the hanging poker tournament. When they drew names for player match ups, Mary Anne was paired against one of the most famous hanging poker tournament players ever, Cindy Louowki, usually know as Cindy Lou. Cindy Lou is the only player to win four major hanging poker tournaments. Everyone expected Many Anne to be her fifth victim. Instead Mary Anne called Cindy's bluffs and quickly dispatched Cindy to the gallows. Cindy was obviously shocked by her quick defeat, but she composed herself and stepped off the gallows with grace.

Mary Anne turned most of her million dollar winnings over to an investment adviser who actually earned a reasonable rate of return for her. Mary Anne moved to LA and became a C list celebrity appearing on TV, radio and a few minor parts in movies. She was frequently referred to as the girl that hanged Cindy Lou on talk and interview show.

She met and married Louis Crane, a vice president at NHO Studios. After they were married Mary Anne appeared in some minor parts in NHO movies as well as interview shows. When NHO studio got the TV production contract for the Professional Hanging Porker Tournament circuit, Mary Anne become a frequent and popular expert commentator.

A few years after their marriage, the French starlet Marie Lemont was found hanged in an outdoor bathing area next to the swimming pool at the Louis and Mary Anne Crane estate. Police said the hanging looked like a suicide. Five months later after an extensive investigation the death was officially ruled a suicide.

At the time rumors were circulating in the French and American tabloid press that Marie Lemont had told a friend she was going to challenge Mary Anne to hanging poker. Her friend thought it was just a joke, but after her death he suspected she had been serious. Police were aware of these rumors when they ruled the death a suicide.

A few years latter a series of pictures leaked to the press. Some people suggested the pictures were fake, created in Photoshop, but police confirmed they are real and were turned over to police as part of their initial investigation.

It is believed that someone in the police or prosecutors office leaked these images. The pictures show Marie Lemont's death was a suicide. Mary Anne can be seen in the mirror taking some of the pictures, leaving little doubt that the rumors were true. 

To be legal private hanging poker games require a signed contract and the actual hanging must be completely suicidal. This differs from the licensed hanging poker tournaments which operate under varying laws and rules, but all allow the loser to be executed by hanging if she refuses the voluntary option.

Since private hanging poker contracts are not enforceable, the loser can simply ignore her promise to hang herself. For this reason private hanging games are rare. It is clear from these pictures that Marie Lemont was a woman of integrity. 

Although Marie may have been reluctant, she gathered her inner courage and did the right thing. Marie's friend told the French tabloids that Marie had been a big fan of hanging poker, especially Cindy Lou. Marie admired the grace with which Cindy Lou accepted her fate and stepped off the gallows platform.

From these pictures we can see that Marie accepted her fate like her idol, Cindy Lou. Marie stepped off the stool with determination and became a swinger with a lot of style. 

We can only guess at Marie's motive for challenging Mary Anne. Was it because Mary Anne had hanged Cindy Lou? Was Marie trying to get revenge? We will probably never know for sure, but these pictures show Marie's final dance was sensational. 

After the pictures of Marie's hanging were leaked to the press, Mary Anne released a couple additional pictures through her agent. This one shows Mary Anne giving Marie the thumbs down. Although there are cases where hanging poker losers have been cut down after private games, no one would expect a professional player like Mary Anne to show mercy.

Here is Mary Anne's second trophy shot. With these photos there is little question that Mary Anne has two nooses on her belt. Marie, although she lost her first time out, showed great style. Mary Anne is officially retired from hanging poker, but Marie was certainly a worthy opponent that has only enhanced Mary Anne's reputation. Mary Anne is not just the girl that hanged Cindy Lou anymore.