Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Suspect Claims Innocence in Developer's Murder
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 25, 2008
Modified Mar 25, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 25, 2008
Modified Mar 25, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A murder suspect told WCBS 2 he didn't kill real estate developer Andrew Kissel. Carlos Trujillo, who was Kissel's personal assistant-chauffeur, is being held on $1 million bail, while his cousin Leonard Trujillo was also charged with killing Kissel.
In 2006, right before Kissel was to plead guilty to federal embezzling charges, movers found his stabbed body in his Greenwich mansion's basement. Kissel, who had embezzled millions from his Upper East Side co-op, faced millions in debt, and his house, collectible cars and yachts were being liquidated. The Courant mentions a "tangled web" of finances between Kissel and Trujillo's family (brother Jorge Trujillo managed Kissel's NJ apartment holdings, Jorge's wife was Kissel's bookkeeper), including Kissel giving Jorge $250,000 to buy a boat for Kissel and giving Carlos jewelry (including some of Kissel's wife's) to sell off.
Greenwich police chief David Ridberg didn't dismiss the suicide-for-hire theory (his kids would still get insurance money), "If it ends up being the case, that's fine. If it doesn't end up being the case, that's fine too." But he added Trujillo would still be charged with murder.
Overall, Ridberg gave few details, “I know everybody wants a story, and it’s a good story, and when the warrant is unsealed, you’ll have it...I hate to say no comment. I’m such a TV-driven guy. I know you want to have it all mapped out and have a ‘Law and Order’ episode.”
Tagged
Andrew Kissel
crime
murder
real estate developer
suicide-for-hire
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .