Bail Denied for Linda Stein's Suspected Murderer

2007_12_natavialow.jpgA judge has decided not to grant murder suspect Natavia Lowery bail. Lowery is accused of killing her boss, broker to the stars Linda Stein, by bludgeoning her to death.

Police say that Lowery confessed to snapping after Stein verbally abused her and blew pot smoke in her face. However, her lawyer Ron Kuby had claimed she deserved bail because the videotape confession (which he once referred to as being like a hostage video, since Lowery made it after hours and hours of questioning) Lowery made was coerced, because a lawyer Lowery's stepfather initially retained for her, specifically told police to contact him if she would be questioned. Lowery had contacted police at first to discuss reporters bothering her and said she didn't want anything to do with the lawyer. She was also found to have taken Stein's ATM card, withdrawing cash, and Stein's cellphone.

Judge Micki Scherer did not buy Kuby's arguments and said that "the video provides a detailed version of how the defendant bludgeoned the decedent with a wooden stick and then attempted to distance herself from the crime scene," and referenced Lowery's "substantial ties to Virginia." However, Scherer may later decide whether the confession is admissable.

Kuby's associate David Pressman told reporters, "Where the prosecution has presented no admissible evidence, it is cruel to keep an innocent, pregnant 26-year-old woman with no criminal record in jail. That Ms. Lowery has a boyfriend in Virginia is not grounds for denying her bail. Virginia is not a Third World country where extradition is not available."

Last week, Lowery's bail hearing was dramatic and tense, especially when her mother accused Stein's daughter of killing her mother, "You killed your mother! You know you did it!" and a prosecutor calling Lowery "a wolf in sheep's clothing, one of the most devious, manipulative persons I've prosecuted in 20 years."

Email This Entry


Comments (5) [rss]

How does Lowery's mother conclude that Stein's daughter is the murderer? Interesting.

user-pic

"Where the prosecution has presented no admissible evidence"?
If she didn't want her Attorney provided by her family, than she's SOL...

GUILTY!

She had the victim's ATM card and cell phone!!!! And stole money from the dead woman's account!!!!

Lock up her bitch mother as well, please.

[Prior to the Oct. 30 murder] There are tapes showing "Ms. Lowery pretending to be Linda Stein as of September, getting credit cards on her accounts," said [Prosecutor] Illuzzi-Orbon, revealing that charges of identify theft, grand larceny and fraud are pending." DAILY NEWS

If Linda Stein had done a thorough background check of Lowery prior to hiring her, she would have found at least one previous fraud charge.

In the interest of accuracy, I have to add that Lowery apparently may not have had any prior convictions.

However, last year a former high school classmate and friend had accused Lowery of stealing her identity to make credit card purchases. Subsequently, Lowery was charged with two misdemeanors, but the case was sealed, and Lowery's lawyer said that she was never convicted.

Does anyone have any idea why the case would have been sealed? Did the friend decide to take pity on her and drop the charges? Did Lowery make a deal to pay back the friend if she dropped the charges?

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

It's the same media that NEVER mentioned Muslims' hatred of Israel as a possible motive for 9/11.
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us