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Let the conspiracy theories begin: DC madam found dead in FL

Posted by: Sister Toldjah on May 1, 2008 at 5:40 pm

CNN reports:

(CNN) — Deborah Jeane Palfrey, known as the “D.C. Madam,” was found dead in Florida Thursday, according to Tarpon Springs police.

Palfrey hanged herself in a storage shed on her mother’s property where she had been staying, according to a police statement. Palfrey’s mother, 76-year-old Blanche Palfrey, found the body, police said.

“Blanche Palfrey had awoken from a nap and began to search the residence for her daughter,” the statement said. “When she went outside, she noticed a three-wheel bicycle had been moved that was normally kept in the shed.” The older woman then saw her daughter’s body hanging from a metal beam under the shed’s roof, police said.

“The mother’s obviously distraught,” said Tarpon Springs police Capt. Jeffrey Young. “This is the hardest part in any type of situation like this, when you have a suicide. It’s all the victims that are left behind.”

In an earlier statement, police said, “handwritten notes were found on scene that describes (sic) the victim’s intention to take her life, and foul play does not appear to be involved.”

The Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death, police said.

She gave a few warning signs in the weeks and months prior:

Palfrey was convicted last month in connection with a high-end prostitution ring catering to Washington’s elite.

She was found guilty April 15 of money laundering, racketeering and mail fraud and faced a maximum 55-year prison term at her sentencing, which was scheduled for July 24.

Prosecutors estimated she would have received a sentence between 57-71 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 in March. “Realistically we estimate between 8 and 15 years. I’m also looking at the complete forfeiture of my entire life savings and work.”

Palfrey told ABC News last year she would never return to prison, after serving time in the 1990s for other prostitution-related charges. “I sure as heck am not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone, you know, four to eight years.”

Here’s more from that ABC interview:

In an interview last year, Palfrey vowed to fight the federal prosecutors who brought the charges against her. “They just destroy you on every level, financially, emotionally, psychologically,” she said, but still she refused to accept any deal they offered.

In the interview, she contrasted herself with Brandy Britton, a woman who once worked as a prostitute — apparently for a time with Palfrey’s service, Palfrey’s phone records reflected — who committed suicide after charges were brought against her.

“She committed suicide because of the police and the prosecutor,” Palfrey said then, arguing that prostitution should be legal because the prosecutions are more harmful than the business itself. “They, they had to push it, in the name of justice. I’d like to know what justice they’re talking about.”

Even though it’s pretty clear this was a suicide, I’m sure there will be no shortage of conspiracy theorists on the left who will allege Palfrey was murdered because she “knew too much” about Republican “extracurricular activities.” Already, you’ll find that some on the left feel that Palfrey was a victim of a modern day “persecution” and “stoning” by an overzealous Republican justice department (sound familiar?).

Whatever. Let them have their conspiracy theories. My only reaction to this story is one of sympathy for the mother, who found her daughter hanging and dead, which is an image I’m sure she’ll live with for the rest of her life, one she’ll never get out of her head. I also weep for Ms. Palfrey. A model citizen she certainly wasn’t, one can only guess as to the level of internal emotional agony – and perhaps guilt – she felt. Obviously had to be high for her to feel like her family and the world would be better off without her. What all goes through the minds of those who kill themselves, right before they pull the trigger or kick the chair from under them or slit their wrists? I can only imagine, and it gives me such an intensely sad feeling, because all I can think about is the last gasps those people take, sitting in a room all alone thinking they have no hope, no future, and that no one loves them.

My deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers go out to her mother.

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    • 9 Responses to “Let the conspiracy theories begin: DC madam found dead in FL”

    Comments

    1. NC Cop says:
      May 1, 2008 at 6:02 pm

      What all goes through the minds of those who kill themselves, right before they pull the trigger or kick the chair from under them or slit their wrists? I can only imagine, and it gives me such an intensely sad feeling, because all I can think about is the last gasps those people take, sitting in a room all alone thinking they have no hope, no future, and that no one loves them.

      Recently I noticed one of my fellow officers wearing a life saving award that he was given by the police department. I asked him what he got it for and he told me that he had arrived at a suicide call where a teenage girl had hung herself. He, and another officer, ran upstairs and managed to cut her down, saving her life. Another minute or two and she would have died. The girl is now doing well after getting counseling and the officer said he has seen her from time to time, but she doesn’t recognize him.

      Sometimes all it takes is one thing to let people know that there is always hope. Something to get them to realize that life really is worth living. Unfortunately, many of those people don’t get that one little thing.

    2. William Teach says:
      May 1, 2008 at 7:16 pm

      And for the most classless comment I have seen on the DC Madam from the Leftard-o-sphere, check #15: LINK

    3. forest hunter says:
      May 1, 2008 at 9:07 pm

      NC: I was walking along the beach a few years back looking for big pieces of driftwood after a typhoon had passed through. Two young men about 100M ahead of me were on the phone calling emergency services. I could see a lifeless body being tossed onto the concrete beach and ran ahead to see if there was something could be done.

      The two said he was dead and leave him….instead I snatched him out of the surf and began *wasting my time* with trying to restore his life, as it faded from him.

      Two weeks later, the drowning victim recovered from a coma, learned he was not dead and some white guy saved him. The hospital staff said he became very angry. He had not only failed at failure but that a foreigner was credited for making his recovery possible. As far as I know he still is pissed off at *me* (not me personally) but how could it have been done any other way. His attempted 55 year late term abortion was prevented and for that I earned his spite……I would do it again, every time.

    4. NC Cop says:
      May 1, 2008 at 9:25 pm

      Wow, that’s some story, F.H. And I’ll bet knowing what you know now you would still go back and save his life. That’s because to some people life is precious, no matter WHOSE life it is.

      Good for you, my friend.

    5. NC Cop says:
      May 1, 2008 at 9:53 pm

      But wait!! Larry Flynt, the expert in psychology that he is, has chimed in:

      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.

      Asked if he believed Palfrey was murdered, Flynt responded: “I personally believe that’s what happened, but I have no proof.”

      No proof? The heck you say, Flynt? Can’t you pay someone enough money to “produce” the evidence you want?

      “She did not have the demeanor of the type of person that would carry certain signs of suicide, like being withdrawn or depressed,” Flynt said. “You know, those are the kinds of signs that you look for. She didn’t display any of those traits. … She was very friendly. … Very bright. She was by no means a dummy.

      Ahhh, because your degree is in what, Larry?

      “Let me put it this way, there were more Democrats on it than Republicans,” he said, supporting his theory that the only reason this case was of interest was because of the number of Democrats who could be targeted by the Bush administration.

      Oh, NOW, I see Larry. There were more democrats on it than Republicans so that’s the only reason the story was of interest…..even though the only name released was a Republican……so they must have been the ones to kill her, right Larry?……Wait, no, that’s not right, it must have been the democrats since there were more dems on the list.

      What an idiot.

    6. forest hunter says:
      May 2, 2008 at 2:16 am

      Another thing about that NC was the two standing there and advising me to leave him……. I wanted to ask them after the medical folks showed up and took over, if that was their Dad or brother would they just standby and watch him fade out, but I was too pissed off and once I got started chewin their ass for not even bothering to roll him out from the battering he was taking on the rock and crete……..hard to say what I may have done next.

      At the time I had no idea it was a suicide attempt nor did they.

    7. Severian says:
      May 2, 2008 at 8:18 am

      Well, Forest Hunter, no one can ever accuse you of indecisiveness. Must really irritate the liberals around you. ^:)^