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Slain Williamsburg Landlord Died From "Compression Asphyxiation"
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 7, 2014
Modified Jan 7, 2014
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 7, 2014
Modified Jan 7, 2014
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Menachem Stark, the kidnapped Williamsburg real estate developer whose burned body was found in a Long Island dumpster this weekend, was killed by "compression asphyxiation," according to investigators who believe an assailant may have sat on him in the kidnap van. Authorities say they are also viewing Stark's business partner, Israel Perlmutter, as a person of interest.
Investigators say the 39-year-old Stark's body was burned after he was killed. "It might be that they sat on him to get him under control and that they wound up killing him that way," a law enforcement source told the Daily News. Now, Stark's family has offered a $25K reward for information about his killers—before he was confirmed dead, the family had offered a $100K reward for his safe return. "We beg you, whoever knows anything or thinks they know anything—for your own sake, for the sake of your brothers and sisters, citizens of New York City, the human race—come forward,” Rabbi David Niederman of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg said at a news conference yesterday.
Meanwhile, authorities are looking into Stark's finances and business affairs in hopes of uncovering information about his killers. Stark owned a number of properties in North Brooklyn, and he was sued twice for failing to pay his mortgage on two properties, though both of those cases were dismissed. Law enforcement agents have also noted Stark defaulted on over $30 million in real-estate loans and allegedly dabbled in loansharking; several of his properties racked up heavy code violations, and tenants offered overwhelmingly negative reviews of Stark's management company, Southside Associates, on Yelp (real estate blog The Real Deal notes, however, that at least a few tenants had positive experiences in dealing with Stark).
As for partner Perlmutter, cops say they "don’t have anything yet that would lead them to say it’s this person, not that person," but the Daily News reported that officials suspect Perlmutter has been lying to them. He reportedly told investigators that several shady characters with whom he and Stark had business dealings were likely suspects as well. And according to authorities, Stark obtained a $500,000 loan from a fellow Brooklyn developer on the morning of his death.
Tagged
brooklyn
kidnapping
landlord
menachem stark
murder
real estate
williamsburg
Rebecca Fishbein
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