General Hospital
General Hospital Pen-Pals Turn Deadly In Connection With Brutal Murder!
In one of the most disturbing stories we have read, which also reminds everyone when corresponding with people you have never met before, think twice, as this is a frightening cautionary tale!
The L.A. Times reported yesterday that, “A New York parolee accused of fatally strangling a retired teacher in Hollywood may have come west after developing a network of pen pals, some that apparently grew from a shared fondness for the long-running soap opera General Hospital. Three months after he was released from prison after serving 20 years for murder, Scott Kratlian showed up in Hollywood and allegedly strangled one of his pen pals, 82-year-old Harry Major.”
The Times also revealed, “The relationship between the convicted killer and the retired Hollywood High School teacher was probably one of many the inmate fostered over the years while imprisoned at Marcy Correctional Facility outside Syracuse, said another of Kratlian’s pen pals.”
Kratlian was part of a General Hospital fan club whose enthusiasts wrote to one another, Jason Ward said in an interview. “I don’t know why I started writing him; it was a really dumb decision,” said Ward, who connected with Kratlian through a mutual friend who received a General Hospital newsletter that went out to fans. “I only wrote to him a handful of times because he got really weird,” Ward said.
A free man after two decades behind bars, Kratlian was in Los Angeles by Feb. 1, authorities say. After months and possibly years of exchanging letters, detectives say, Kratlian went to Major’s Hollywood apartment February 10th and strangled him. Kratlian may have been looking for other former pen pals as well when he arrived in Los Angeles, said Ward.
New York officially listed Kratlian as a fugitive February 14 after police identified him as their suspect. He was arrested by an LAPD and FBI fugitive task force at a Pasadena mental health and substance abuse treatment center on February 18th.
This story is even more horrific, if you read the entire piece from the L.A Times. So, what do you think about how these two people connected and it led to murder? Does it make you think twice before corresponding with people you don’t know? Share your thoughts!
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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Horrible, tragic news…i always believed in the death penality…had this maniac never got out of prison in the first place and given the death penality this never wouldve happened…my condolances to the victims family!!!
You got to be cautious on facebook, twitter and everywhere else! This old friend of my niece showed up at my house the other day(4 the 2nd time), obviously on something, asking for her…its been 15 years since she stayed at my house and now lives in another state. Its the 2nd time he was told she hasnt lived here in years and was told to stay off our property! I barely remember him. He asked me if i had 13 cents and if i wanted to come out and smoke a joint.(im NOT that type of person!) I sent him on his way and locked the door. Then this morning i seen him walk by my house to a nearby store. He may not do anything but i still remain cautious and dont trust him!!!
If you have not read the whole article do so you will not believe how this guy managed to get out of prison. They went around the parole board they had no intention of ever letting him out.
He shouldve been given the death penality shortly after his conviction…then he never wouldve gotten out to do this…ive seen this happened way too often…in my own town one man murdered his cousin over the last piece of pizza…several years later(he wasnt kept locked up for long) he murder another man by beating him in the head with a blunt object just to steal some tools…these crimes just sicken me!!!
The last time the state of New York executed anyone was in the 60’s now they if I read correctly abolished the death penalty. Even if you get the death penalty you sit years on death row because of all the appeals. Now the state of California will get to feed him and let him watch GH. Very sad indeed.
The is where social media is dangerous….poor innocent man, 80 years old killed by some guy that should still be in prison. The tangent we could all jump on but essentially I never understood WHY inmates are allowed computer access, TV, etc. They are in prison! PRISON! For a reason….you should not get access to the Super Bowl….you want new…read a newspaper or a book.
Anyway, thoughts and prayers to this poor mans loved ones.
This is why, when we had pen-pals and even today with social media, I warn friends and family members that they never know who’s on the other end of their messages, so please be VERY careful at all times! Don’t publicly list your address, phone numbers (I know, texting is done by phone!) or photos you don’t want your parents to see … although last night I found how easy it is for anyone with a computer to find you, even if all you have is a name and an area in which they live. It’s getting to be a very scary world, but we still trust more than we fear (which we really should be able to do)…
wolfy
This is horrible news, for Fans all over the world. Why? why, would u kill an innocent elderly.. He deserves the death penalty. Prayers go out to victims family!
No other soap features the kind of violence GH does. No doubt that someone who is off kilter would find GH to be an inspiration for how to get away with murder and still be thought of as a good guy. This is a sad and horrible situation and maybe GH could tone down the violence a little. Its not entertaining in any way.
I agree…GH needs to tone down the violence…the stories have slighly improven and could be much better, especially with less violent acts…instead of a stabbing or a shooting id settle for a couple old fashion fist fights!!!
The legal system is disgusting I used to advocate for troubled teens and I cant believe how many times I sat in a court room and watched people get sentenced to 25 years or more for stealing and child molesters, murderers less than 10. A really good friend of my families daughter was shot in the head and killed in front of her kids by her husband and he was released after only serving 4 years on top of that the judge ordered he was to get parenting time with the kids. Luckily another judge overruled it and ordered no contact. I send my prayers to the family and loved ones of the poor soul that never should have died that way. Murderers should not have contact with the outside world ever.