What happened to Jason David Frank? What we know as 2017 murder plot against Power Rangers star explored in documentary

Hollywood Demons, a newly released investigation by Discovery's documentary series focusing on the darker side of fame, has revisited the life and legacy of Power Rangers star Jason David Frank.

The third episode, Dark Side of the Power Rangers, which aired on April 7, 2025, centers on a chilling 2017 murder plot that nearly took Frank’s life during an appearance at a fan convention.

According to Entertainment Weekly, in May 2017, Jason David Frank was scheduled for an appearance at Phoenix ComicCon when authorities intercepted a heavily armed man with alarming intentions. The man, Matthew Sterling, showed up at the event in a costume, dressed up as Marvel’s anti-hero, the Punisher.

Fellow actor Jason Faunt, who played the Red Ranger, alerted event security due to Sterling's strange behavior and disturbing comments. Matthew Sterling was arrested before he could do any harm.

A search later revealed a disturbing arsenal of weapons, such as a shotgun, several handguns, a combat knife, pepper spray, a stun gun, throwing stars, and body armor. Investigators later found a terrifying calendar note on his phone, which simply said, "Kill JDF at ComicCon."

An article by the Houston Chronicle states that after the incident, Frank held a press conference, thanking everyone for their support. He stated that security measures at such events had to be better. He even seemed to empathize with Sterling himself, and said in a statement:

"Due to the pending allegations, I will only state I do not know the person who was arrested, but I will pray for him,"

A look into Jason David Frank’s legacy and tragic death

Jason David Frank first appeared on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as Tommy Oliver, the mysterious Green Ranger who was introduced as an antagonist. His character, however, was soon put into a different story arc by making him join forces with the heroes.

He even returned for several of the spin-offs, including Power Rangers Zeo, as the Red Zeo Ranger, and Power Rangers Turbo, as the Red Turbo Ranger. And then, in Power Rangers Dino Thunder, he came back again as the Black Ranger.

Apart from acting, Frank was also an accomplished martial artist. He went on to create his own style of hybrid fighting called Toso Kune Do, which combined aspects of various martial art disciplines.

On November 19, 2022, Jason David Frank committed suicide at the age of 49. His wife, Tammie Frank, later confirmed that he had been struggling with depression privately. She requested privacy and respect for their family.

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"While Jason was a well-known name to some, we lived a very normal life with ups and downs, just like anyone else. It has shocked and saddened me beyond belief to see that the media has turned my family's tragedy into a tall tale."

She told in an interview with People.

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