Results tagged “crimelibrary”

The city has been crowing about this year's low murder rate since last week, when officials announced it was likely to be under 500 murders. Currently, the murder rate is 492 as of Sunday night (we're not sure if that number includes the three men killed in Brooklyn); this year's murder rate would be the lowest since 1963, the first year with reliable data and a year that saw 548 killings.

Robert Chambers, whose privileged Upper East upbringing earned the tabloid nickname "The Preppy Killer" when he killed a woman in 1986, was charged with 14 counts of selling and possessing drugs. Since two of the counts are for first-degree sale, which the Daily News reports carries 15-30 years, Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau said, "I would expect he would spend the rest of his life in jail."

You'd think that if you were one of the city's most notorious murderers, you'd try to keep a low profile. But apparently Robert Chambers, the infamous Preppy Killer, thinks a low profile means selling drugs from an East 57th Street Manhattan apartment.

Leona Helmsley, whose conviction on tax evasion charges made her infamous beyond her repute as a hotelier and real estate developer, died today at age 87. She and her husband Harry Helmsley (who divorced his wife of 33 years to marry her) ran a $5 billion real estate empire that included the Empire State Building, 230 Park Avenue, Tudor-City, a number of hotels including the Park Lane, New York Helmsley, and Helmsley Palace, and much more.

Reader Sacha sent us this picture of a flyer seen on Christopher Street. It looks like any ol' Wanted sign, until you see the words "Zodiac Killer" on it!

Before the trial was supposed to begin, it was announced that the two men on trial for the murder of three students during a massive dorm fire had accepted a plea deal yesterday. In exchange for prosecutors dropping the murder charges, Joseph T. LePore and Sean Michael Ryan pleaded guilty to arson and witness tampering (which have five year sentences) in the January 19, 2000 Seton Hall fire case. The fire at Boland Hall injured 58 people in addition to killing three. LePore read a statement, "I, along with Sean Ryan, lit a banner on fire that was draped across the couch in the third-floor lounge of Boland Hall. I did not intend to harm anyone. It was a prank that got out of hand."

Understand the Bonanno Crime Gamily history, which started with a killing on East 12th Street, with Court TV's Crime Library. Goodfellas is another movie about a mobster-turned-informant who lived to tell the tale; however, when Tony found out Big Pussy and Adriana were ratting them out, he had them whacked.

The FBI's site about organized crime and Court TV's Crime Library on the Gambino Crime Family. It's true that the public has an unhealthy fascination with the mob, but how can when we not, when it's like a microcosm of society, with more guns and Italian food? The Goodfellas new two-disc DVD has commentary by Henry Hill, the gansgster whose life story the movie is based on. Other good mob movies: Carlito's Way, Donnie Brasco, and of course The Godfather. And two TV shows: Wiseguy and The Sopranos

Crime Library on David Berkowitz.