Murdered Banker Andree Bejjani Found Naked on Kitchen Floor; Hotel Worker Charged
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) On Saturday, a maid found the naked body of Andree "Sara" Bejjani on the kitchen floor of the high-powered businesswoman's luxury Manhattan condo. Bejjani was face down. Her throat had been slashed and an exercise rope was wrapped around her neck, though police said it did not appear to be a factor in her death.
Now, Derrick Praileu, a housekeeping manager at Jumeriah Essex House, a 44-story art deco tower featuring hundreds of posh rooms, has been charged with her murder.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says it doesn't appear the two had a "previous relationship."
The Manhattan hotel, which is near Broadway and upscale Fifth Avenue shops such as Tiffany & Co. and Bergdorf Goodman, said in a statement on Sunday that an employee had been arrested in Bejjani's death.
"Our sincere condolences go out to the victim's family, and we have offered our full support during this difficult time," the statement read.
The Lebanese-born woman was the founder of Royal Investments LLC, an investment firm based in Dubai, and specialized in advising wealthy Arab investors, according to the New York Daily News. She leased the condo and had been there since August.
Praileu was held without bail following his arraignment Sunday on a second-degree murder charge. His lawyer declined to comment to the Associated Press.
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