D.C. Madam Spoke Of Suicide

Deborah Jeane Palfrey Vowed Never To Go To Jail For Running High-End Prostitution Ring

(CBS/AP)  The so-called "D.C. Madam" vowed she would never go to federal prison for running a high-end Washington prostitution ring. Not even for a day.

Deborah Jeane Palfrey made good on that promise Thursday when she went to a shed outside her mother's mobile home and hanged herself from a rafter with nylon rope.

The 52-year-old Palfrey was convicted two weeks ago of running a prostitution service that catered to members of Washington's political elite, including Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican. She was free while she awaited sentencing on July 24.

Dan Moldea, a Washington writer who befriended Palfrey while considering writing a book about her, recalled a conversation with Palfrey over dinner last year when the subject of prison came up.

"She said, 'I am not going back to prison. I will commit suicide first,'" Moldea said.

Palfrey's 76-year-old mother, Blanche Palfrey, found the body in the tiny shed outside the pink and white mobile home in the community of mostly retirees in this Gulf Coast town 20 miles northwest of Tampa.

"She opened the shed to go in and she found her daughter hanging there," said neighbor Irwin Matthews, 73, who saw Blanche Palfrey hysterically calling for help after the discovery.

Police said Deborah Palfrey left at least two suicide notes and other writings to her family in a notebook, but they did not disclose their contents.

Blanche Palfrey told investigators she had no indication that her daughter, who had been staying at the house, was suicidal, police Capt. Jeffrey Young said. There was no immediate indication that drugs or alcohol were involved.

"This is tragic news and my heart goes out to her mother," said attorney Preston Burton, who represented Deborah Palfrey in her trial.

A federal jury convicted Palfrey on April 15 of money laundering, using the mail for illegal purposes and racketeering. Palfrey had denied her escort service engaged in prostitution, saying that if any of the women engaged in sex acts for money, they did so without her knowledge.

The trial concluded without revealing many new details about the service or its clients. Vitter was among possible witnesses but did not take the stand.

Channing Phillips, the spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in the District of Columbia, said that under sentencing guidelines, Palfrey faced about five or six years in prison.

"I'm sure as heck not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone four to eight years, because I'm shy about bringing in the deputy secretary of whatever," Palfrey told ABC last year when she released phone records that revealed some of her clients. "Not for a second. I'll bring every last one of them in if necessary."

Prosecutors said Palfrey operated the prostitution service for 13 years.

Vitter, a first-term senator who is married and has four children, has acknowledged being involved with Palfrey's escort service and has apologized for what he called a "very serious sin." But he avoided further comment.

Besides Vitter, the trial also concluded without the testimony of military strategist Harlan Ullman or Randall Tobias, a former senior State Department official. Both men had been named among possible witnesses.

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."

[fairandbal]

How come Vitter''s still in office and Spitzer is out? Some high standards of morality the GOP has for their office holders isn''t it?

[trusport83]

Wow, they totally knocked her off. No way this was a suicide. She has said publicly before that she would never commit suicide and if an apparent suicide occurred that it would be murder. They didn''t want her coming out and revealing the high profile politicians she was involved with..

[excoachken]

Looks like Vitter just "took care" of his "little problem." Now can he explin why he preferred to wear diapers while being serviced by her hookers?

[jerr11]

My guess is that it was a hit job by Vitter, fake note and all.

These neocons are capable of anything!

[jamis_bond]

ahah nice killing

[dredre2k]

Wow, someone had her killed. Looks like the neoconservatives will go to any length. I bet her hookers serviced many in the current administration...

Too bad they killed her though, I was hoping she would publish the list.

[mudrose-2009]

Well I guess all her chickens came home to roost.

[iwsvinci]

if you think she committed suicide, I have a big red bridge to sell you for a $1.00...same old issue like Clinton''s attorney''s death. What a sad world we live in.

[random_radar]

How can the police identify a suicide? The killer leaves a suicide note.

And if the killer forgets, the police can write a suitable note as necessary.

The "suicide" rate for people who cross paths with the rich and powerful is very high. Be careful who you alienate because you might commit suicide.

[dbullivant]

Suicide??? Suuurrre she committed suicide. She was suicided by some hit squad hired by the powerful elites in D.C. so that she wouldn''t spill the beans on them. It was a suicide in the same manner that Vincent Foster was suicided. Very convenient situation for those who happened to be on her customer database. Okay, all you senators, congressmen, and corporate CEOs can rest easy now, everything taken care of.

[jwlawman]

Astonishing that so many opiners know so much about events about which they apparently know so little. None of these people provided a sufficient basis for these opinions. They just "know," I guess. Wonderful talent, if that''s what it is.

[prinzowhales]

Ms. Palfrey said in an interview on the Alex Jones Show that she would never commit suicide...she would continue to fight even if convicted and NEVER commit suicide. The tape is being played on the March 8, 2008 interview of her saying this!

She had said that Cheney was one of her customers but did not want to go public yet. She planned to expose government''s use of her and her operation...and was going to name her clients if she had to...

[jjarden]

This is a Travesty...She was TOTALLY let down by the "Justice System."

Her attorney subpoenaed Senator David Vitter (A Client!) and other high-ranking officials (Clients!) to tell whether or not they merely hired the girls as "escorts" to go out on the town, as Debra claimed, or for actual "$ex Services."

Debra claimed that if any $ex was going on she knew nothing about it and that was between the girl and the client. All she did was set up the company to provide "Escorting" services.

The "Judge" ruled that the "SENATOR" (who is STILL in office!!!!) and other officials DID NOT have to appear in court to testify...and NONE of them stepped forward to come to her defense to say that they merely hired the girls as "Escorts"...because they didn''t hire them JUST as Escorts...which means THEY all broke the law...but they Threw the book at HER...and did nothing to these High-Level officials...and there were MANY High-level people in DC who used her service.

Is it any wonder that she killed herself.

She was let down.

[sevenveils]

Take note, the names of the high level politicans and business men who supported and payed for these "escort" services are still under court seal.

The wolf is guarding the hen house.

[nothappyatall]

How can the police identify a suicide? The killer leaves a suicide note.
Posted by random_radar

Easy- balistics tests, coroner can tell, and handwriting analisis on the note along with fingerprints and DNA can EASILY rule out a murder staged to look like a suicide. This isn''t 1890 buddy, the police crime lab have all kinds of ways to find out, even if blood is totally cleaned up in a murder scene there is a chemical that when applied to surfaces vividly shows even the slightest traces of blood the eye cant see.


"if you think she committed suicide, I have a big red bridge to sell you for a $1.00...same
Posted by iwsvinci

She was facing 55 YEARS in prison, obviously she knew she would be found guilty and convicted, so she killed herself instead of spending the rest of her life in jail, makes perfect sense.

[roger_inkart]

A conspiracy is born.

From what I''ve seen from her, she certainly doesn''t seem like the type to off herself. Hopefully she gave all her important documents to her lawyer and/or others.

[prinzowhales]

She said she would release the big names if they sent her to jail...She was murdered, just like Webb was murdered with two shots to the head and it was called a ''suicide.''...These killers need to be brought to justice...The Vince Foster murder is still deemed a ''suicide'' by these monsters...and the Demopublicans have no shame.

[prinzowhales]

Perhaps the people should start using "pre-emption" against the so-called ''authorities''!!

[ljspiel]

I agree, sounds like murder to me by people who did not want their names to be associated with prostitutes.

[prinzowhales]

The murderers of Ms. Palfrey are the same murderers who launched the war against Iraq...who are planning the war against Iran...who are robbing you through the oil companies and energy companies. Wasn''t it convenient that Kenny Lay died before he went to jail?

[libh8er]

She must have slept with Bill, as well! Vince Foster the 2nd! LOL

[ioweign]

She was a Whoore.

Posted by mbcsmith at 02:03 PM : May 01, 2008

As are politicians...

[roger_inkart]

Brandy Britton (who was also a DC Madam escort service employee) was was arrested on prostitution charges in 2006. And guess what? She supposedly committed suicide before even going to trial.

Right. Both women simply couldn''t handle the humiliation and decided to kill themselves. The fact that they had firsthand knowledge of illegal s.exual encounters with some of the most powerful men in DC certainly had nothing to do with it!

[thcarson-2009]

Palfrey had prior legal problems, including a restraining order from a former boyfriend in 1989, and a 1990 arrest for prostitution. After fleeing to Montana, she was brought back for trial and spent 18 months in jail

[canyoutellme-2009]

If she killed herself, then I''m the Pope! She had the goods on so many people that she was for SURE murdered and was made to look like a suicide. Folks, this story is a BIG one. Just wait until we find out who killed this woman. I say this woman was slime, but the people who used her services were/are even slimier.

[prinzowhales]

"Move along...nothing to see here."

[cbsblogger]

The rich and powerful can easily make death happen and can make it appear as a suicide. We''re no longer that far from the culture that pervades in Russia where this kind of thing happens all the time.

[usbrit-2009]

Do you think Bush will use "Executive Priviledge" on her little black book?

[jetlizhan]

oh well - the Bible states "the wages of sin is death". so true.

[lorinkundert]

I wonder if she knew the Clinton''s

[briansgirl2]

This is so sad. Goodness, it was only "time" she was going to serve. Was it really worth taking your life over?????

[htboy08]

I agree.If those names got out,she would have taken alot of slime in Washington with her.Someone had her done in.

[prinzowhales]

There is nothing but "slime" in Washington--and the spineless, ignorant cowards who continue to elect these Demopublican thugs and murderers to office!

[honestabe8]

She was a Whoore.
Posted by mbcsmith at 02:03 PM : May 01, 2008

No, her girls serviced the ******.

[pamstuart20016]

This is a tragedy. I am a former prosecutor. A "pimp" was eligible for a five year sentence in those days. Money Laundering is a 20 year felony. Nothing she did was worth dying for.

[honestabe8]

The wages of sin is death...but after taxes are taken out you are left with a sort of tired feeling.

[prinzowhales]

The people allow this regime to lie us into a war...

They try to lie us into another...

They rape you at the pump...

They rape you at the grocery store...

They rape you at the hospital...

They rope you into "free speech" zones...

They torture and murder innocents...

They suicide those who would hurt their interests

...and you vote for them over and over and over again....Who is the more disgusting vermin...the Demopublican dogs who rule this land...or the garbage that empowers them?

[mbcsmith]

Is it any wonder that she killed herself.

She was let down.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jjarden at 01:57 PM : May 01, 2008


VINCE FOSTER

[terrapin78]

We know she knew Vitter, we don''t know if she knew Bill.

I don''t think Bill ever had to pay $$$ for ***. Unlike Vitter.

[walker1209]

Not everything is wrapped up in a conspiracy folks! People commit suicide every day for all kinds of reasons. Please leave the Clintons, and every other politician out of this. None of us knows what the hell happened here; instead of pointing your funky little fingers - how about a prayer for this poor woman, her family and those who loved her?

I really wish some of you would grow up.

[usbrit-2009]

Why does Foster keep on coming up. If the DC Park Police, the FBI, renowned Clinton hater Kenneth Starr and TWO GOPig controlled congressional investigations came up with decisions of suicide - what the he11 else do you conspiracy addicts need?

I certainly hope that this woman''s death is as eagerly investigated.

[cfin5]

Hmmmm, Me thinks the headline should read D.C. Madam "Apparently" Kills Herself. Had that in the back of my mind this would happen when this story broke.

[blackyowe]

She was playing with fire and she knew it. If she was murdered or she took her own life it hardly matters now. She was messing with the rich and powerful and doing something against the law that was very, very risky. These things always end badly and Jeane Palfrey really ended her life a long time ago when she got into this business. She would have been better off running a low profile prostitution ring some place like Nevada. The higher the stakes the greater the risks. Some people get a big rush from playing cat and mouse but in the end the cat usually eats the mouse.

[culturechang]

A tragic end. The federal persecution (notice I used persecution instead of prosecution because that is what it was) drove her to suicide when she faced 55 years for a victimless crime. And its traumatic that most of the politicians who were her clients turned thier back on her. Do you think the feds, who persecuted her will bother investigating her death? Or were they finished using and abusing her????

[libh8er]

I certainly hope that this woman''''s death is as eagerly investigated.
Posted by USBrit at 02:22 PM : May 01, 2008

5 gunshot wounds to the head...obviuosly a suicide! :)

[culturechang]

BlackYowe said "If she was murdered or she took her own life it hardly matters now."

WOW! By your thoery, we should just abolish all the homicide police forces across the board. Afterall what difference does murder make? What are you a a mafia hit man. "what''s done is done". BS. You should be ashamed of yourself for such a callous statement.

[speakinup]

Hope Bill and Hillary concocted a good Alibi.

[mediabrat60]

How can people be so stupid....they didn''t commit suicide.
She was going to write a book, entailing her 12 years in the business. Her "fictitious" names she was going to use would have been all too obvious of who some of these "elite" customers were. That would have ruined many, many lives. Too many to be publicized.

Now you figure out why she is dead.

[culturechang]

This is so sad. They ruined her life and destroyed her with federal prosecution. Was a few men having a good time with some call girls worth it. Does society hate men so much that we drive a woman to suicide for providing them with a woman for money....that was in no way forced to do it? We are so stupid.

[donevis-2009]

Friend of Bill''s?

Just a quick refresher course lest we forget what has happened to many ''friends'' of the Clinton''s.
1- James McDougal - Clinton''s convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. He was a key witness in Ken Starr''s investigation.
2 - Mary Mahoney - A former White House intern was murdered July 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown. The murder happened just after she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.
3 - Vince Foster - Former White House councilor, and colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock''s Rose Law firm. Died of a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide.
4 - Ron Brown - Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top of Brown''s skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors. The rest of the people on the plane also died. A few days later the air Traffic controller commited suicide.
5 - C. Victor Raiser, II - Raiser, a major player in the Clinton fund raising organization died in a private plane crash in July 1992.
6 - Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock, September 1992. Described by Clinton as a ''Dear friend and trusted advisor''.