Full Version: The Strange Death of the D.C. Madam
Several months ago everybody got a good laugh over the madame of a call girl ring and hypocrisy of powerful men, such as Senator David Vitter (R-La) who were caught up in the scandal.
But yesterday the story lost all its humor.
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - A woman who ran a prostitution ring catering to Washington's elite hanged herself in a storage shed at her mother's home in Florida on Thursday while awaiting sentencing, police said.
Police in the Gulf Coast town of Tarpon Springs said the 76-year-old mother of Deborah Jeane Palfrey woke from a short nap and began to search for her daughter. She found Palfrey's body hanging from a nylon rope looped around a metal beam in the shed alongside her mobile home, police said.
"Hand-written notes were found on scene that describe the victim's intention to take her life, and foul play does not appear to be involved," Capt. Jeffrey Young said in a statement.
Palfrey, 52, was found guilty last month of running an escort service that earned her at least $2 million. She had not yet been sentenced but media reports said could have faced up to 50 years in prison.
The scandal over the woman dubbed "the D.C. madam" ensnared Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, whose number was discovered in her telephone records. link
Deborah Jean Palfrey was facing a maximum of 55 years in prison. It's doubtful she would have actually served anything close to that. Still it was obvious that Palfrey wasn't happy about her future prospects.
She was found guilty of money laundering, racketeering and mail fraud and faced a maximum 55-year prison term at her sentencing, scheduled for July 24.
Prosecutors estimated that she would have received a sentence between 57 and 71 months, about six years, because of sentencing guidelines and other factors that would have been taken into account.
"I'm looking at 55 years in a federal penitentiary, and at my age, that is virtually a life sentence," Palfrey told CNN Radio's Ninette Sosa in March. "Realistically, we estimate between eight and 15 years. I'm also looking at the complete forfeiture of my entire life savings and work."
She said the government "went after me. They found out that I'm not who they thought I was, and instead of dropping the whole matter they decided to press forward and, what the heck, she's a woman, she's weak, we'll intimidate her, we'll humiliate her, we'll pounce on this poor lady and she'll give in."
Palfrey told writer Dan Moldea, who was helping her write a book, that she would commit suicide rather than return to jail, according to Time magazine.
"She had done time once before [for prostitution]," Moldea told Time. "And it damn near killed her."
Palfrey had made similar comments to ABC News in 2007, saying, I sure as heck am not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone, you know, four to eight years." link
Let's not pretend Deborah Palfrey was a nice person. She wasn't. She made her money by hooking up young women to wealthy men so they could act out their fantasies. After one of her girls, committed suicide Palfrey wasn't exactly overflowing with tears and sympathy.
One of the escort service employees was former University of Maryland, Baltimore County, professor Brandy Britton, who was arrested on prostitution charges in 2006. She committed suicide in January before she was scheduled to go to trial.
Palfrey said last year that she, too, was humiliated by her prostitution charges, but said: "I guess I'm made of something that Brandy Britton wasn't made of." link
Apparently, she wasn't.
Or was she? There are reports from somewhat less-than-reputable sources that Palfrey had no intentions of killing herself and had displayed no signs of depression.
Hustler magazine publisher and free-speech advocate Larry Flynt--one of Palfrey's staunchest advocates -- was the strongest voice forwarding the notion that Palfrey's death was not by her own hands.
"I think the media should be very cautious in treating this as a suicide," Flynt told FOXNews.com in a telephone interview from his Beverly Hills office.
Asked if he believed Palfrey was murdered, Flynt responded: "I personally believe that's what happened, but I have no proof."
The reason the conspiracy theories will jump all over Palfrey's apparent suicide are obvious. A sleazy sex scandal involving reportedly "big names" in Washington means there are probably some very relieved men who are glad the D.C. Madam is no longer drawing breath.
David Corn, an investigative journalist for Mother Jones magazine isn't buying it.
Corn did not question that Palfrey had taken her own life.
"There's a certain sad element to this -- anytime there's a suicide," Corn said. "She went to her grave, her death, not fully understanding why hers became the only escort service to be targeted for such prosecution.'"
And he said he did not think her death was the result of any sort of conspiracy.
"You hate to say this about anybody, but Jeane's death won't have any consequence to Washington," he said. "She's not taking any secrets with her. She seemed to not have them in the first place." link
(My apologies for the lengthy set-up but I wanted to give some context for those unfamiliar with the story).
One thing worth keeping in mind is two women are dead for selling something there is no penalty for giving away for free: sex.
The question for debate is:
In the wake of the scandal, expense and deaths in the case of the D.C. Madam's escort ring, is it time to start rethinking the laws against prostitution?
But yesterday the story lost all its humor.
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - A woman who ran a prostitution ring catering to Washington's elite hanged herself in a storage shed at her mother's home in Florida on Thursday while awaiting sentencing, police said.
Police in the Gulf Coast town of Tarpon Springs said the 76-year-old mother of Deborah Jeane Palfrey woke from a short nap and began to search for her daughter. She found Palfrey's body hanging from a nylon rope looped around a metal beam in the shed alongside her mobile home, police said.
"Hand-written notes were found on scene that describe the victim's intention to take her life, and foul play does not appear to be involved," Capt. Jeffrey Young said in a statement.
Palfrey, 52, was found guilty last month of running an escort service that earned her at least $2 million. She had not yet been sentenced but media reports said could have faced up to 50 years in prison.
The scandal over the woman dubbed "the D.C. madam" ensnared Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, whose number was discovered in her telephone records. link
Deborah Jean Palfrey was facing a maximum of 55 years in prison. It's doubtful she would have actually served anything close to that. Still it was obvious that Palfrey wasn't happy about her future prospects.
She was found guilty of money laundering, racketeering and mail fraud and faced a maximum 55-year prison term at her sentencing, scheduled for July 24.
Prosecutors estimated that she would have received a sentence between 57 and 71 months, about six years, because of sentencing guidelines and other factors that would have been taken into account.
"I'm looking at 55 years in a federal penitentiary, and at my age, that is virtually a life sentence," Palfrey told CNN Radio's Ninette Sosa in March. "Realistically, we estimate between eight and 15 years. I'm also looking at the complete forfeiture of my entire life savings and work."
She said the government "went after me. They found out that I'm not who they thought I was, and instead of dropping the whole matter they decided to press forward and, what the heck, she's a woman, she's weak, we'll intimidate her, we'll humiliate her, we'll pounce on this poor lady and she'll give in."
Palfrey told writer Dan Moldea, who was helping her write a book, that she would commit suicide rather than return to jail, according to Time magazine.
"She had done time once before [for prostitution]," Moldea told Time. "And it damn near killed her."
Palfrey had made similar comments to ABC News in 2007, saying, I sure as heck am not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone, you know, four to eight years." link
Let's not pretend Deborah Palfrey was a nice person. She wasn't. She made her money by hooking up young women to wealthy men so they could act out their fantasies. After one of her girls, committed suicide Palfrey wasn't exactly overflowing with tears and sympathy.
One of the escort service employees was former University of Maryland, Baltimore County, professor Brandy Britton, who was arrested on prostitution charges in 2006. She committed suicide in January before she was scheduled to go to trial.
Palfrey said last year that she, too, was humiliated by her prostitution charges, but said: "I guess I'm made of something that Brandy Britton wasn't made of." link
Apparently, she wasn't.
Or was she? There are reports from somewhat less-than-reputable sources that Palfrey had no intentions of killing herself and had displayed no signs of depression.
Hustler magazine publisher and free-speech advocate Larry Flynt--one of Palfrey's staunchest advocates -- was the strongest voice forwarding the notion that Palfrey's death was not by her own hands.
"I think the media should be very cautious in treating this as a suicide," Flynt told FOXNews.com in a telephone interview from his Beverly Hills office.
Asked if he believed Palfrey was murdered, Flynt responded: "I personally believe that's what happened, but I have no proof."
The reason the conspiracy theories will jump all over Palfrey's apparent suicide are obvious. A sleazy sex scandal involving reportedly "big names" in Washington means there are probably some very relieved men who are glad the D.C. Madam is no longer drawing breath.
David Corn, an investigative journalist for Mother Jones magazine isn't buying it.
Corn did not question that Palfrey had taken her own life.
"There's a certain sad element to this -- anytime there's a suicide," Corn said. "She went to her grave, her death, not fully understanding why hers became the only escort service to be targeted for such prosecution.'"
And he said he did not think her death was the result of any sort of conspiracy.
"You hate to say this about anybody, but Jeane's death won't have any consequence to Washington," he said. "She's not taking any secrets with her. She seemed to not have them in the first place." link
(My apologies for the lengthy set-up but I wanted to give some context for those unfamiliar with the story).
One thing worth keeping in mind is two women are dead for selling something there is no penalty for giving away for free: sex.
The question for debate is:
In the wake of the scandal, expense and deaths in the case of the D.C. Madam's escort ring, is it time to start rethinking the laws against prostitution?
QUOTE(nighttimer @ May 2 2008, 06:37 AM) 
In the wake of the scandal, expense and deaths in the case of the D.C. Madam's escort ring, is it time to start rethinking the laws against prostitution?
No. Quite frankly the suicide of some sad old whore isn't going to stir anyone of import to do anything about the current laws. In fact, this is a boon to the evangelicals who'll remind you that these are what the wages of sin are. There are many other reasons to rethink prostitution this isn't one of them.
However, maybe the Police should be looking past the letters found at the scene and start thinking about who would want a woman with 42 pounds of names, phone records and evidence dead.
I would flip it around on BA a bit and say there are many reasons to rethink prostitution laws and this is just ONE MORE reason. Otherwise- ya, I would go after the rich and powerful in the 42 pound book like the angry fist of gawd. Just those that have been publically against prostitution though. Those that went there and have some record of supporting legalized prostitution- well, those guys should walk. 
There is a audio recording when Palfrey says "I have no plans to commit suicide."
Palfrey suggests that Dick Cheney could have been one of her clients prior to him becoming vice-president.
http://prisonplanet.com/audio/010508palfrey.mp3
The natural inclination is to write off Pelfrey as a depressed whore who couldn't face the possibility of jail and decided to end it all instead.
Very convenient and all very neat. Except for Palfrey's mother finding her daughter hanging in a shed.
I guess once you consider there are probably some very powerful men who aren't the least bit sorry the D.C. Madam is dead, it doesn't make someone to be a crazed conspiracy buff to think, something isn't quite right here.
Palfrey suggests that Dick Cheney could have been one of her clients prior to him becoming vice-president.
http://prisonplanet.com/audio/010508palfrey.mp3
The natural inclination is to write off Pelfrey as a depressed whore who couldn't face the possibility of jail and decided to end it all instead.
Very convenient and all very neat. Except for Palfrey's mother finding her daughter hanging in a shed.
I guess once you consider there are probably some very powerful men who aren't the least bit sorry the D.C. Madam is dead, it doesn't make someone to be a crazed conspiracy buff to think, something isn't quite right here.
In the wake of the scandal, expense and deaths in the case of the D.C. Madam's escort ring, is it time to start rethinking the laws against prostitution?
If nothing else, this case shows us that it would be better to have openly legal, heavily regulated prostitution, than the current situation where we have legally questionable, secretive "escort" services. The "hush-hush" nature of such services encourages their association with such things as money laundering, blackmail of clients, and so on.
This does not mean just saying "OK, all forms of prostitution are legal." For one thing, sex workers must be protected from abuse and exploitation. The horror of human trafficking must not be tolerated. Nobody should be forced into prostitution, or go into sex work because of economic desperation or addiction. Regulations must ensure that "safe sex" practices are absolutely mandatory.
Given these important provisions, I support the legalization of regulated prostitution for those who genuinely go into sex work of their own free will. Such persons should not only be protected, they should be very well paid and given a reasonable amount of respect for their decision.
If nothing else, this case shows us that it would be better to have openly legal, heavily regulated prostitution, than the current situation where we have legally questionable, secretive "escort" services. The "hush-hush" nature of such services encourages their association with such things as money laundering, blackmail of clients, and so on.
This does not mean just saying "OK, all forms of prostitution are legal." For one thing, sex workers must be protected from abuse and exploitation. The horror of human trafficking must not be tolerated. Nobody should be forced into prostitution, or go into sex work because of economic desperation or addiction. Regulations must ensure that "safe sex" practices are absolutely mandatory.
Given these important provisions, I support the legalization of regulated prostitution for those who genuinely go into sex work of their own free will. Such persons should not only be protected, they should be very well paid and given a reasonable amount of respect for their decision.
In the wake of the scandal, expense and deaths in the case of the D.C. Madam's escort ring, is it time to start rethinking the laws against prostitution?
Yep. Gee, if it were legal and an accepted part of society and economics, there'd be no scandals, no big book of johns, no marriage (?) -- and maybe that's the deal. Would there be a significant drop in marriage if guys could get sex legally and with no strings? Would that mean fewer children? Fewer consumers? A drop in military-aged youngsters to go keep things straight (or not so straight) in the world? A big slump in donations to religions? On the upside there'd be less adultry, fewer smashed hearts, maybe a reduction in murders.
It's very cynical, I know. But it does explain a lot, the cynic's viewpoint. There's no rational reason to keep what we call prostitution illegal and plenty of rational reasons to regulate this kind of business. It's obviously going on all the time, if the johns have the money, and apparently they do -- sometimes thousands of dollars for one encounter. That's really beyond my comprehension.
So by keeping prostitution illegal, it becomes harder (heh) to get laid. Men have to sneak around, women have to put up with a lot of abuse, everybody else has to pretend that it's just by accident that the strip bars and massage parlors concentrate around military bases, port cities and other crossroads of commerce.
However, we in the USA are very good at pretending.
Whether in this case it was suicide or murder, one thing is perfectly clear: The laws against prostitution led to this outcome. The victim was either snuffed for knowing too much or took her own life to avoid the hell of prison. This cannot be pretended away.
I suppose one can argue that she had done prostitution as an act of free will. Yep, and those who support laws against prostitution are acting out of free will. So am I by being against such laws -- there are many of them. It comes down to this:
Life is difficult. Let's not make it more difficult than it needs to be by pretending it ain't so. Legalize and regulate, and for JC's sake, pay decent wages and make sure nobody gets forced into prostitution. Make it so that the decision to go into prostitution doesn't make economic sense.
Yeah, well . . . whatever, it isn't going to happen. And I guess some people would actually enjoy entertaining in this way, depends on libido and knowledge of how sex and spirit connects. There's actually quite a bit of history on this, but not from medieval Europe. Is that where our society's attitude about prostitution comes from?
I think that's obvious. Congrats for hanging onto the Dark Ages, society.
Yep. Gee, if it were legal and an accepted part of society and economics, there'd be no scandals, no big book of johns, no marriage (?) -- and maybe that's the deal. Would there be a significant drop in marriage if guys could get sex legally and with no strings? Would that mean fewer children? Fewer consumers? A drop in military-aged youngsters to go keep things straight (or not so straight) in the world? A big slump in donations to religions? On the upside there'd be less adultry, fewer smashed hearts, maybe a reduction in murders.
It's very cynical, I know. But it does explain a lot, the cynic's viewpoint. There's no rational reason to keep what we call prostitution illegal and plenty of rational reasons to regulate this kind of business. It's obviously going on all the time, if the johns have the money, and apparently they do -- sometimes thousands of dollars for one encounter. That's really beyond my comprehension.
So by keeping prostitution illegal, it becomes harder (heh) to get laid. Men have to sneak around, women have to put up with a lot of abuse, everybody else has to pretend that it's just by accident that the strip bars and massage parlors concentrate around military bases, port cities and other crossroads of commerce.
However, we in the USA are very good at pretending.
Whether in this case it was suicide or murder, one thing is perfectly clear: The laws against prostitution led to this outcome. The victim was either snuffed for knowing too much or took her own life to avoid the hell of prison. This cannot be pretended away.
I suppose one can argue that she had done prostitution as an act of free will. Yep, and those who support laws against prostitution are acting out of free will. So am I by being against such laws -- there are many of them. It comes down to this:
Life is difficult. Let's not make it more difficult than it needs to be by pretending it ain't so. Legalize and regulate, and for JC's sake, pay decent wages and make sure nobody gets forced into prostitution. Make it so that the decision to go into prostitution doesn't make economic sense.
Yeah, well . . . whatever, it isn't going to happen. And I guess some people would actually enjoy entertaining in this way, depends on libido and knowledge of how sex and spirit connects. There's actually quite a bit of history on this, but not from medieval Europe. Is that where our society's attitude about prostitution comes from?
I think that's obvious. Congrats for hanging onto the Dark Ages, society.
In the wake of the scandal, expense and deaths in the case of the D.C. Madam's escort ring, is it time to start rethinking the laws against prostitution?
I think it is past time to rethink the laws. If you aren't going to legalize it I think instead of punishing the prostitutes it is the "clients" that should be prosecuted more harshly.
QUOTE(nighttimer @ May 2 2008, 10:45 PM)
Very convenient and all very neat. Except for Palfrey's mother finding her daughter hanging in a shed.
I guess once you consider there are probably some very powerful men who aren't the least bit sorry the D.C. Madam is dead, it doesn't make someone to be a crazed conspiracy buff to think, something isn't quite right here.
I guess once you consider there are probably some very powerful men who aren't the least bit sorry the D.C. Madam is dead, it doesn't make someone to be a crazed conspiracy buff to think, something isn't quite right here.
....and a former employee/call girl of hers was found dead in the same manner last year.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,...7,00.html?imw=Y
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