Elvis' Co-Star Suzanna Leigh Sells Sharon Tate's Engagement Ring for $21K

Well, here's a story that caused a lot of controversy. Gotta Have It auction house in NYC had Sharon Tate's engagement ring up for auction last month. It sold for $21,260.  Click here for auction listing & photos

L to R Sharon Tate & sister Debra Tate

The ring was originally listed with the description that Sharon might possibly be wearing this very ring when she was murdered by Charles Manson followers. But her sister, Debra told TMZ the ring featured in a recent auction on GottaHaveRockndRoll.com DID belong to the actress ... but she gave it away to a family friend long before she was killed by the Manson family in 1969.
Debra says the ring was not an "official" engagement ring -- but rather an "unofficial symbol of her relationship" with Roman Polanski. Debra says, "The ring was not Sharon's style and she never wore it."
Debra says Polanski later gave Sharon an "official" engagement ring -- a gold and diamond band "which she treasured."
Despite the auction house's claim, Debra is adamant Sharon was NOT wearing ANY rings on her finger at the time of her death -- adding, "Because Sharon was pregnant, she couldn't fit any rings on her finger." Sharon was two weeks away from her due date when she was murdered.
The auction house did revise their description of the ring. Although, they continued to describe it as Sharon's engagement ring.

Suzanna Leigh & Elvis Presley
Paradise, Hawaiian Style co-stars

Now here's where it gets even more tricky. Apparently, the ring was auctioned off by actress Suzanna Leigh. Best known to Elvis Presley fans, as the king's co-star in Paradise, Hawaiian Style in 1966. But according to a sworn 2006 affidavit, Judy Dreszner said, "Suzanna Leigh stole the ring from me in 1989." Dreszner said she gave it to Leigh to be appraised and never saw it again.
Former fashion model Judy Dreszner who died last year, was given the ring by director Roman Polanski as a treasured memento shortly after Tate's murder.

Adam Bardach, son of model Judy Dreszner

Judy's son Adam Bardach says "It was never intended for sale. This is a private symbol of my mother's friendship with Sharon Tate." He also says, "It's disgusting to me that people are attempting to profit from such a tragedy."

Suzanna Leigh denies stealing the ring and says she's the rightful owner.

The ring sold in December at auction for $21,260 double it's estimate of $10,000. The new owner of the ring has not been identified.

Here's Debra talking about her sister Sharon's horrific murder by the Manson family
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