Giuliani Aide Murdered by Escort?

[BgMstr4u]

From the NY Post today, Wed., Aug. 30:

 

GRILL IN SLAY OF RUDY PAL

By PERRY CHIARAMONTE

 

MARTIN BARRETO

Had used escort services.

 

August 30, 2006 -- A suspect was being questioned last night in the strangulation murder of a gay aide to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, police sources said.

The man had visited Martin Barreto's Greenwich Village apartment before the victim was found lying naked in bed next to condoms and lubricants on Aug. 21, the sources said.

 

Barreto, 49, had suffered a crushed larynx and authorities were looking into the possibility that his death was caused by rough sex.

 

Police originally said they were looking for two men who might have gone to the apartment two days earlier, when Barreto was last seen.

 

But they now believe the suspect was the only visitor, the sources said.

 

Nothing was taken from the apartment, authorities have said.

 

Since the murder, authorities have been poring over surveillance video from the East 10th Street building and trying to find people he may have been dating.

 

Barreto had used escort services in the past, sources have said.

 

Investigators were also hoping to find DNA evidence from one of the condoms found at the scene.

 

Barreto worked in Giuliani's press office from 1994 to 1995 and served as a liaison to the Hispanic media.

 

He was a distant relative of former Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro who had rubbed elbows with celebrities such as Bianca Jagger and John F. Kennedy, Jr., friends and associates said.

 

In addition to working for Giuliani, he also was a high-powered public-relations executive.

 

perry.chiaramonte@nypost.com

____________________________________________________

 

Here's the NY Times background article from Aug. 24. The Times has not yet run the above story.

 

August 24, 2006

Former Giuliani Aide Is Found Strangled at Home, Police Say

By EMILY VASQUEZ

 

A former deputy press secretary to Rudolph W. Giuliani was found strangled in his Greenwich Village apartment Monday night, and investigators believe that he may have known his killer, the police said yesterday.

 

The victim, Martin Barreto, 48, a partner in a Manhattan-based public relations firm, was found naked in his bedroom when officers entered his apartment on East 10th Street at University Place.

 

A friend of Mr. Barreto’s, unable to reach him by phone, had become alarmed and had gone to his building to ask the superintendent to let him in the apartment. The police were called about 9:20 p.m., and the door was opened after they arrived.

 

There was no sign of forced entry, struggle or disarray in the apartment, which is owned by Mr. Barreto’s cousin and the cousin’s wife, the police said. The apartment door was locked and no keys were missing, they said.

 

There were no arrests as the investigation continued last evening, and detectives were still trying to determine a motive. The police said that no robbery appeared to have occurred.

 

The police said the building’s doorman told investigators that he saw Mr. Barreto sometime after midnight on Monday morning. Shortly thereafter, the police said, the doorman let one or maybe two men into the building to visit Mr. Barreto, who had left instructions that he was expecting company.

 

Investigators said they had not yet interviewed the visitors.

 

Mr. Barreto’s body was found wedged between his bed and the wall, the police said. They said Mr. Barreto’s larynx had been crushed, an indication that he may have been strangled from behind.

 

The murder dismayed neighbors, unaccustomed to violent crime in the area, and shocked many who knew Mr. Barreto in media circles and the New York City government. Mr. Barreto, originally from Nicaragua, began his career at CBS News, directed public relations for the I.B.M. Corporation in Latin America and served on the board of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

 

Mr. Barreto worked at City Hall in the mid-1990’s, said a former Giuliani administration spokeswoman.

 

In a message released by a representative, Mr. Giuliani expressed his sympathy and his prayers “for the family and friends of Martin during this difficult time.”

 

Mr. Barreto’s sister Carolina Meyer, who lives in El Dorado Hills, Calif., said that she last spoke with him Friday evening, and that he gave no indication that anything was wrong. His professional life seemed to be on the upswing.

 

“He had some new business that had contracted him for work that he was excited about,” she said. “I even thought, ‘He’s on a roll.’ ”

 

During that conversation, she said, Mr. Barreto also said he was thinking of buying another condominium in the South Beach section of Miami, having learned that the value of a property he already owns there had soared.

 

As for the belief that his assailant may have been someone he knew, Ms. Meyer said she did not think that Mr. Barreto had been in a romantic relationship recently. About three years ago, he ended a relationship with a man and sought restraining orders against him after the man became violent, Ms. Meyer said.

 

Roxanna Brightwell, who ran the public relations firm Barreto & Brightwell with him, said the circumstances surrounding the killing surprised her.

 

“He was always a very careful, cautious person,” she said. “He was a loyal, honest man with a lot of integrity; that’s why he was my partner, that’s why I trusted him.”

 

Al Baker, Kate Hammer and Colin Moynihan contributed reporting for this article.

[EricJeter]

The Post can be a little "sensational". Here's the latest from another source on this sad case.

http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/08/30/break_in_east_1.php

[Guest zipperzone]

I just read that they have arrested someone in connection with this crime. He is an unemployed day worker that the victim found on the street and took him home for sex. Evidently they argued over money and he was killed. Buyer beware.....

[BgMstr4u]

That's what it appears to be. According to the Post he was a drug addict as well. The Post has a picture, which might be helpful.

Here's the Times story today (Thurs., Aug. 31), then the Post:

 

Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/nyregion/31arrest.html

 

Post:

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/bust_in_slay_of_rudy_aide_regionalnews_philip_messing.htm

[+ ArVaGuy]

I think we need to make a distinction here, to me at least. It's clear from the news stories that the accused is a street hustler. I don't think it's fair to the professional guys to refer to this guy as an escort.

 

Public perception might be that male escorts fit the mold of the accused in that they are trading sex for drug money and have violent tendencies. But we here on this board know that's far from true. There are good and bad apples among the bunch, even among street hustlers, so it's unfortunate that the media choose to sensationalize stories like these. But they have to sell newspapers.

[JT Brooklyn]

ARL..Exactly!

 

Sadly,unless you have had a High Profile Boss or Position, a case of This Nature usually ends up on Top of a Pile of other's. Especially in a City the Size of NYC....To just Fade in Memory!

 

A Chance Encounter, does not a "Working Guy" Make! :P

[Guest zipperzone]

Thanks for the POST link which has a picture of the hustler.

 

I can see the attraction - I might have been tempted myself.

 

It's hard to think with your big head when your little head is saying "go for it"

 

I think this tragic story should be a reminder to us all.

[mansniffing]

Let's not equivocate. It's the world's oldest profession. Escort is just a euphemism for hustler. By any other name a hustler is still a hustler. Just as a rose is still a rose.

[JT Brooklyn]

Where's S. Draker, when you need him?

 

He's good at this type of Discussion! LOL :P

[UncleNYC]

A rose is a rose? a House is a house...a car is a car...where R YOU LIVING...a junkie-murder is NOT a hustler or an escort...and there are great differences in life...that's what makes it interesting...

[+ ArVaGuy]

>Let's not equivocate. It's the world's oldest profession.

>Escort is just a euphemism for hustler. By any other name a

>hustler is still a hustler. Just as a rose is still a rose.

 

 

Well....we obviously have different perspectives based on our experiences.

 

With such an attitude you must be a real joy to be with for the guys you hire. }(

[JT Brooklyn]

Arlington. There are those who have never known the Experience of hooking up with a Working Guy!

 

Usually those with Negative Opinions, FALL into that Category and are just loking for "Chit Chat" Somewhere-Anywhere they can find it!

 

We do have that type around here also! No Names of Course! LOL :P

[mansniffing]

Perhaps the killing was an accident. Let's not get carried away until the case is tried. Getting back to all this equivacation

[Guest zipperzone]

>Perhaps the killing was an accident. Let's not get carried

>away until the case is tried. Getting back to all this

>equivacation

 

Yeah sure - an accident - that's what it was.

 

HIS LARYNX WAS CRUSHED.

 

How do you think it happened? he tripped over a rug?

[Luv2play]

Maybe the victim was into breath control. It could be an accident. One would have to wait to see what the alleged murderer's version of events is and whether he has a history of violence.

 

A friend of mine many years ago committed suicide by strangling himself in his bathroom (or so I thought). I and several friends found him naked after missing him for a dinner engagement. It was only later I concluded he had not committed suicide but had died of auto-asphyxiation.

 

Just to illustrate it's always good to keep an open mind about these things. And I too, don't buy the link to escorts that this story made in the press. The circumstances clearly indicate a hustler at work.

[JT Brooklyn]

The "Alleged" Suspect, took the time to Collect a few "Memento's" on his way out the door "After the Fact"

 

An Accident? Like they say "The Dead Don't Talk" LOL :P

[Luv2play]

The suspect is an "alleged murderer", not an "alleged suspect". And the fact he "collected a few momentos" after the deed proves nothing about motive. The problem in America these days is that supposed criminals are being tried and convicted in the court of public opinion, and not the courts. The end result is fiascos like the JonBonnet case, and maybe this one. Try to keep an open mind, if that's possible. x(

[pierrot]

I have to agree with Arlington that in theory, at least, there is a difference between guys who pick up hustlers on the street and the escorts who advertise for years on the web or gay mags, who are regularly reviewed here, and who have a reputation for giving good honest sexual encounters for money.

That's exactly why I stick to those escorts who have some sort of reputation and I've never had a moment, even when I thought the sex was not so good, that I felt threatened.

It is clearly risky business to pick up total unknowns on the street.

Nothing is ever 100% safe in this arena, but clearly hiring an escort with a good reputation is far far less risky.

[mansniffing]

Hustlers, prostitutes, companions and escorts are all variations on a theme. Street hustlers, can be provocative, dangerous and exciting as one barters in expectation and fear. Of course street hustlers on drugs are even more dangerous. Escorts that advertise on Rentboy and other sights are usually safer but less exciting. The one and only escort that I found totally satisfying emotionally and physically was Reece Rothmier. With most it was sex by rote on both our parts. Many who advertise also troll the AOL chat rooms and Craig's List. Others who do not advertise can be found only on Craig's list and in the AOL chat rooms. True, one can feel safer with those who have a "history." One must never be complacent though. "Who knows...what evil...lurks in the hearts of men?" The Shadow knows..."