NYC escort murdered?

[BgMstr4u]

Does anyone know who this is?

 

From the NY Post 12/29/05:

 

CHELSEA 'GAY SLAY' FIRE VICTIM ID'D AS ISRAELI SHLOMY

 

By MURRAY WEISS and TODD VENEZIA

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

 

December 29, 2005 -- The half-naked man found bound and strangled Tuesday in a burning Chelsea apartment was identified yesterday as a gay hustler about to be deported back to his native Israel because of a 1995 prostitution bust, police sources said.

Shlomy Rejwan, 45, paid the bills by advertising online and giving randy rubdowns to a male clientele out of his third-floor residence on West 18th Street, police sources said.

 

Firefighters found the body of the Israeli national on his living-room floor Tuesday — bound hand and foot with his pants around his ankles — after they broke in at about 3 p.m. to put out a fire starting to engulf the body, police sources said.

 

Cops believe Rejwan was strangled by a robber who then set a fire apparently in an effort to cover up the crime. The blaze was set apparently around his head, police sources said.

 

Rejwan allegedly gave his clients full-service massages that included sexual gratification, for which he charged about $100, according to his ads on the Internet, police sources said.

 

Neighbors have told The Post they would frequently see unfamiliar men coming and going from his apartment. He apparently had been plying his trade since 1995, when he was found guilty of prostitution.

 

Police sources said that U.S. immigration authorities had been planning to boot Rejwan from the country as part of a wide effort to eject foreigners convicted of sex-related crimes.

[BgMstr4u]

I've found a guy named Shalome. He's not in the current list but came up with a search, and was retrieved from the cache.

Here are his reviews. No indication of location. Is this the same guy?

 

Review #2, 5/27/2004

 

Name: Shalome:

Location: New York

Email: shalome@shalome.com

Phone: 917-929-0958

Shalome's Websiite

 

Ethnicity: Mediterranean Age: 20's

Hair: Unknown Brown

Cock: Cut 8-9" (20-22 cm) Unknown

 

Kissing: Yes Masturbation: Both Anal: Bottom Oral: Both Kink: Submissive

Roles: Escort

Calls: Out Only

Rates for time only(US $): Session=200

 

Date: 05/2004 Type: 1 Hour Rate: 200

Rating: Recommended Hire Again? Yes

Where Found? Publication

Reviewed Before? Yes Match Description? Yes Lived up? Yes

 

Experience: Hello, I'm a middle aged man, who hires escorts occasionally. I've found ad about Shalome in Next Magazine in escort section, and I thought about hiring him right away, he has very cute Mediterranean look, and this what I like. I don't like muscle heads or any type of escorts who like basically modeling, I like str8 looking guys. Shalome showed in my apartment on the Upper East Side about 8pm Friday evening. And right away we started from touching each other and I felt no time pressure, thaw I was really done in 20 min. or so, I really liked his "bottom" side, it turned me on big time, and event how I thought I'm not that big of a top, but I was excellent top with him as my dick got really hard right away and I came a lot...I would hire him again and I would recommend to others.

David

 

Handle: DaveUWS

Submissions: First documented Review

Previous Reviews: Charlie, NYC

 

You: 43 Professional, Smal Business Owner

 

 

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

 

Name: Shalome:

Location: New York, NY

Phone: 917-929-0958

Shalome's Websiite

 

Ethnicity: Caucasian Age: 20's

Height: 5'10" (178 cm) Weight: 180-190 lbs (82-86 kg) Build: Average

Eyes: Brown Hair: Average Black

Body Hair: Moderate Facial Hair: Stubble

Cock: Cut 6-7" (15-18 cm) Average

 

Kissing: Yes Anal: Bottom Oral: Gives Kink: Submissive

Roles: Escort

 

Rates for time only(US $): 1st=$250

 

Date: 05/2004 Type: 1 Hour Rate: $250

Rating: Satisfactory Hire Again? Yes

Where Found? Other website

Reviewed Before? No Match Description? Yes Lived up? Yes

 

Experience: Shalome is a big galoot: dark Israeli looks with broad, rough looks. He also is a no-nonsense escort, quite clear that it is all about the money. I think he would have done pretty much anything in the standard sex/kink scene for the right amount.

 

Shalome was quite clear about wanting his money before we got down to business. While it was a turn-on to count out the bills while he went down on me, it put a slant on the experience that ultimately turned me off. I also would have preferred if he had showered before coming over. He did mention that he had just been at the gym. While he didn't smell bad, he had a distinctive odor that may turn some guys on, but not me.

 

That being said, Shalome gives head well, is a great power bottom and seems to like punishment. This was the highlight of the encounter, really. I started by fingering, then thoroughly working his hole with my several fingers, while spanking his ass red. It was exciting to see my handprints on the white skin, and his butt is wonderful to squeeze...hard.

 

I don't know if Shalome enjoyed the punishment all that much, but he seemed to encourage me to go right up to his clearly expressed, but generous, limits.

 

If Shalome is your physical type and you like a bit of kink, I would recommend him. While I won't use him again because of his physical type, I am marking "Yes" to the question above, because others may.

 

Handle: Jason

Submissions: 5 or more Reviews

Previous Reviews: Anthony/Paris; Philippe/Munich; Baron/Atlanta; Bill/Portland; Matt/Portland; Cory/Chicago, Gwydion - Pittsfield, MA , Chance/Toledo

 

You: Top, who generally likes to play intensely, then leave. I expect an escort to be friendly, hot and totally committed to getting me off. I usually only top, but I love to kiss and cuddle as well. I like to indulge my fetishes with escorts and can get pretty rough if the boy is into it.

 

5/17/2004

[+ ArVaGuy]

This is a sad story to read but I think there is more to it than a robbery and attempted cover up. For this guy to be found half naked, strangled and then nearly set on fire indicates a lot more than just a common criminal trying to cover up the crime.

 

It could have been a new client, or an established one for that matter. Mr. Rejwan would have had to be overpowered and caught off guard. Strangulation requires some strength and takes a really cold-blooded person to accomplish. Setting the fire actually draws attention to the crime and it seems to me that if it was a simple robbery the perp would have cut and run as quickly as possible. It could have been days or weeks before the body was discovered.

 

The whole deportation thing could have something to do with it or maybe not. Either way, I think there is more here than meets the eye and hopefully the person who did this will be caught and face justice. I guess I have been watching too much CSI and Law & Order.

[JT Brooklyn]

I am sure in time the real story about this guy will come out.

At 45 I am sure he had very few clients to begin with. But once again, "Masseurs and Working Guys" have to be very cautious about these INCALLS they do. Hopefully the guy's who are not thinking twice about these Appointments will, regardless if this was the situation with this Sad story or not! :+

[Bilbo]

JT - As he specialized in being an erotic bodyworker, and not in being a fuckable twink, there is no reason to assume from his age that he was not as successful in his business as he desired to be. I find your mentioning your assumption in this context to be unfortunate.

[JesusNYC]

Terrible

 

Terrible, terrible news.

 

Is there a fund or any way we can donate to help with funeral expenses?

 

I am so sorry to hear that a beautiful boy had to die in Chelsea.

[JT Brooklyn]

Bilbo Sorry your right..I am assuming though that at 45 rather than Advertise along with the Younger guys, he Advertised off of the Regular Massage sites, which would not give him as much EXPOSURE.. He did seem to be a $100 Hand Job Specialist though. To be Busted in NYC as a Guy for Massage Prostitution, you really have to be Sloppy with your Advertising about Happy Endings. LOL

BUT all this will I guess, come out in time. It will now be the story of the week in NYC... Now we all look for the "Fleiss Black Book"! :+

[Bilbo]

JT - Apology accepted.

Of course, you know NYC much better than I do.

[AlwaysHiring]

Yet another young gay male prostitute, taken down in the prime of his life. I love hiring escorts, I do, but sometimes I confess to feeling guilty over enabling young men to live such a tragic, sad life in prostitution.

 

May he rest in peace - more peace than I am sure he had living as an escort.

[Bilbo]

I remember once, not too long ago, when I lived near a convenience store where a robber shot and killed the clerk. We all mourned for him. And I am sure that he was not the only convenience store clerk who ever was shot and killed.

And taxi cab drivers - Wasn't there a rash of killing them at one point?

Escorts are not the only ones who fall victim to violence. True, this sex worker met a tragic end. And we should all take steps to make sure that it doesn't happen to us or those that we love. But just because his death was tragic is not reason enough to decide that his whole professional life was. I fear you are coming close to "adding insult to injury."

[AlwaysHiring]

>I remember once, not too long ago, when I lived near a

>convenience store where a robber shot and killed the clerk. We

>all mourned for him.

 

Sure, other jobs entail risk. But escorting entails a lot of it. And unlike being a taxi driver or store clerk, there is a sadness and tragedy to the job even before it results in death.

 

I for one am tired of pretending that prostitution is a perfectly fine career to steer young gay men into. For the rare few, it works out Ok and they don't get injured. But it's an inherently unstable, damaging and sad life, and although I hire, I would strongly encourage any young gay male friend or family member to steer clear of a life of prostitution.

 

Wouldn't you?

[Bilbo]

Of course I wouldn't. I've been very happy with a career in escorting going off and on since 1975. In fact, there is one nephew right now whom if I knew him better I might suggest it to.

The purpose of this site is to encourage people to think about the honorable side of the profession, to help clients and true professionals find each other, and, by doing so, to further the cause of finding more social acceptance for both sides and, perhaps eventually, having become a force which will eventually be one of the contributing factors towards it being legalized. IMHO, I know. There are those who will disagree with me, or who won't have thought beyond the immediate, practical use of this site to the effects that that will have.

In other words, if you can't say anything nice, you may be on the wrong site. Please believe me that there are plenty of other places to take your icks, but not as many other places to avoid them.

[+ Tom Isern]

I am astonished, frankly, at how quickly some people on this site are to blame the victim of this horrible murder. I'm deeply troubled by what has been written: "prostitution" described as "a tragic, sad life"; sex-workers encouraged to "think twice" about incalls; the victim criticized for being 45; the victim labeled "sloppy" about his advertising and called a "Low Rent, Hand Job type, most guys looking for Pro Massages wouldn't make an Appointment with." Shame on the people who wrote these horrible things! Bilbo suggests we take steps so that our friends and those we love don't get murdered--what steps? Why should our concern be limited to our friends and loved ones?

 

When a client called to inform me of this murder, I immediately thought of this site and its message boards and its potential for communication, dialog, and constructive political engagement. Why is no one discussing the lack of attention in the gay press to this murder? Why is no one suggesting contributory political action? Why is no one upset that some of the gay press have placed the story under an NYPD logo? Why is no one concerned that the police might just consider Shlomy "deported" and let this murder sit--he was "afterall" a "pervert" and a convicted criminal. Why is no one outraged by the homophobic coverage of the New York Post? The people who have been posting about this so far do not seem like friends of sex workers--they seem like our worst enemies. I'm very disappointed.

 

Sex workers are part of our gay community and they provide a service that many people use. In large portions of the world their work is legal and respected. It should be legal, respected, and honored here, in the United States in general, but especially, especially, on this site.

[BgMstr4u]

Thank you, Tom, for your insight and passion.

 

I posted this initially to inform this community of this murder, and then to find out more if more about him were known. Two from this community wrote reviews, but a check of the HooBoy profiles provides nothing under either screen name, so perhaps they have morphed or departed altogether.

 

Fantasy is part and parcel of sex in general, and certainly of the kinds of sex we all are interested in here -- hiring lads and men for fun. God knows I like it! I can dream endlessly about what turns me on, and once in a while I'll work up the courage to act on it, sometimes with success. That an attractive guy will lend himself to my fantasies just amazes me. I have such love and respect for this profession when it is engaged with passion.

 

But when two people close the door, in a real way fantasy ends. I think good sex workers are among the bravest people in the world. They become vulnerable to strangers as a matter of course, and sometimes that is riskier than it should be. Sometimes there is disappointment, sometimes disagreement, sometimes even violence. Sometimes, as in this case, someone dies. This is not a fantasy.

 

My hope is that we can share real information with each other and make the work and lives of the lads we love better and safer. And our own as well.

 

We can all speculate about the man who died, approve or disapprove. In my view, there's not a hair's breadth difference morally between any of us, client or escort, from the point of view of what we do. What can distinguish us from each other is how we treat each other, the value and respect we give each other. I am interested here in helping potentially vulnerable escorts and clients be more secure so that they (we) can have more fun all around. Our lives are in each others' hands here, in so many ways, and we should work to build each other up.

 

I want that murderer to be found, arrested, tried, convicted, sentenced, bankrupted by legal costs, and put away for good. What kind of evil wantonly destroys a man who made it his life's work simply to give others pleasure, who helped them realize their fantasies by generously sharing his body, and all he asked in return was an indication of satisfaction and a few bucks? Of course there may be other factors involved. Even so, there is a kind of desperation in the descriptions of him which tear at my heart. I think the appropriate response from us would be compassion and a determination to see justice done.

[+ deej]

Thank you, Tom. Your remarks very much echo the sentiments of this site’s founder, HooBoy. While the site does tend to expose the seamier sides of the escort business it was founded to celebrate the successes and the outstanding practitioners. I’m quite sure HooBoy would have been thinking almost exactly what you just articulated about this thread.

 

I applaud you. You’re clearly a “glass half full” kind of guy.

 

And get ready to be flamed. Not everyone shares your outlook and they can get fairly vocal. :9

[+ ArVaGuy]

Tom, I agree with what you are saying here. This site has led to some wonderful experiences for me on several levels and it has been a valuable resource. Its a cliché for many but "the golden rule" still applies for me in all my dealings in life and have to say its been well rewarded.

 

The point I was making that it’s very likely that Mr. Rejwan could have been killed by someone he knew. The robbery aspect could have been a cover up. The possibility that it was a CLIENT, new or established, is a very plausible conjecture. That to me is a very scary thing to consider, especially for an escort.

 

Let's face it, and be honest with ourselves, both clients and escorts can wind up in some dicey situations in this business. Back before I knew of this site I wound up in an encounter with an escort where I could have been seriously hurt. Fortunately, all I lost was a few hundred bucks and lessons were learned on my part. This site has prevented such an episode being repeated and has led me to some great experiences and new friends that I will long remember and cherish.

 

 

ArlingtonVaGuy

[BobbyB]

"I think there is more to it than a robbery and attempted cover up..."

 

 

I agree with you. Most robbers don't pull their victims pants down around their ankles. Pockets inside out, maybe. To me this is a blatant, psychological statement - at full volume!

 

-BobbyB

[Bilbo]

Tom and BigMstr - I opened this thread this morning fearing that I would find still more postings from people who want to over gereralize from this man's death. Instead, I found the kind of notes I would love to have written myself. So well said and so true.

 

One point, the two reviews in question - I haven't read them because it was my impression that we weren't sure if they were actually about the man who died.

 

Another point, I recommended protecting your friends and loved ones for several reasons. I read that many people are starting to pay less attention to HIV warnings and that it might be a good thing if there were none of them for a few months and then hit them again. Sort of like a "drug vacation." If people don't think that HIV warnings apply to them, I don't see them thinking that warnings against allowing yourself to be completely bound without adequate safeguards is going to apply to themselves. And, quite frankly, I didn't at that time think that anyone would be likely to mount such a campaign. (Aside form Leather organizations, whose campaigns are often like preaching to the choir.) Leaving us only the option of one on one safety work. Hence, protect the people you love and know. - Not that those you don't know aren't worth protecting.

I wouldn't put a first time client in bondage he couldn't actually get himself out of. I wouldn't let a client I didn't know damn well put me into bondage I couldn't get out of. I won't let Maverick go into bondage for a client without me in the house/apartment, even if I am not in the same room. I don't let myself assume, if I can help it, that I am completely safe or even know how to be completely safe. That edge helps keep my guard up.

And, no, you're right. We don't know for sure that it was a client who did this.

[BgMstr4u]

You're right, Bilbo -- we don't know if it was a client who did this. But as I understand it there are some forensic tests which may be able to establish if he was tied up before or after he was killed. It has to do with the distribution and settling of blood after circulation stops. It would help establish whether the killer approached his victim as a client (tied up before death), or if the bondage business was done ex post facto to cover up something else. That evidence may not be made public until after a suspect is apprehended or even till the trial itself.

[JesusNYC]

POLICE AND PRESS

 

Anyone notice how much the police and press seem to care?

 

Nothing...

 

But a writer dressed up as a fireman working for Womans Wear Daily seems to be as popular as "The Devil Wears Prada"

 

Another fag dead. Sure, why should the taxpayers protect us?

 

JEsusNYC}(

[Bilbo]

Actually, it doesn't seem to me that knowing he was tied up before he died would show it was a client. It could have been a rapist or an SM game he was playing for fun which went wrong.

[+ Tom Isern]

Teen held in gay masseur's slay

 

 

 

BY NICOLE BODE and ROBERT F. MOORE

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

 

A Manhattan teen was charged yesterday in the Chelsea slaying of a gay masseur last month, but the suspect's family insists the killing was carried out by a mystery man.

Jose Tavares, 17, "definitely played a role" in the Dec. 27 strangulation death of 45-year-old Schlomy Rejwan, according to a law enforcement source, who also said another arrest could come soon.

 

Relatives of the Manhattan Bridge High School junior say he was seeking a massage when he answered an advertisement in the back of an alternative newspaper several months ago.

 

Instead, relatives say, Tavares met a 47-year-old mystery man who, he claims, sexually abused him and later killed Rejwan as the teen watched.

 

"He's just a witness," insisted Tavares' stepfather, David Franco, 32, a limo driver. "He was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time."

 

The teen was arrested Sunday afternoon at his parents' Washington Heights apartment.

 

Tavares was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson and was awaiting arraignment late yesterday.

 

Authorities say Tavares left Rejwan with his pants pulled down and set fire to the third-floor apartment to mask the murder. Police said Rejwan's hands and feet were bound with black wire.

[+ ArVaGuy]

Tom, thanks for the update on this tradgedy. Here is the NY Post's take on the murder. I am sure more of the story will come out and its an unfortunate one for sure.

 

 

TEEN HELD IN SLAY OF SCHLOMY

 

By ERIN CALABRESE

________________________________________

 

January 10, 2006 -- A 17-year-old boy was charged yesterday with tying up, strangling and robbing a male hustler who specialized in erotic massage, then setting his apartment on fire to cover up the grisly deed, cops said.

 

Eleventh-grader José Tavares of Washington Heights apparently knew his victim, Schlomy Rejwan, 45, who paid the bills by giving randy rubdowns to men out of his third-floor Chelsea apartment on West 18th Street, according to detectives.

 

Investigators believe Tavares went to Rejwan's apartment to rob him but ended up killing him and then sprinkled gasoline around his head in a bizarre bid to hide his victim's identity.

 

Firefighters found Rejwan bound hand and foot, with his pants around his ankles, after breaking the door down on Dec. 27 to put out the fire, which had started to engulf his body.

 

Tavares became a suspect after his number popped up on the victim's phone records, cops said.

 

Police sources and Tavares' parents told The Post the teen insists he's being framed by a 47-year-old Colombian named "Victor," who he claims is the real killer.

 

"He's a good boy. He didn't do it," said his stepfather, David Franco, 32, adding that the teen wants to join the NYPD after he graduates high school.

[BgMstr4u]

Accused Murderer Commits Suicide

 

From this morning's NY Post:

 

GAY-SLAY TEEN IN JAIL SUICIDE

 

January 14, 2006 -- The teenager accused of tying up, strangling and robbing a gay Israeli prostitute — and then setting his Chelsea apartment on fire to cover up the crime — hanged himself in jail yesterday, cops said.

 

José Tavares, 17, was being held in the Dec. 27 killing of Shlomy Rejwan, 45, when he tied one side of a shirt to his neck and the other side to a metal bar while waiting alone at about 3:30 p.m. in a cell at the Bernard Kerik Complex, formerly known as The Tombs.

 

Investigators said the Washington Heights 11th-grader went to Rejwan's West 18th Street apartment to rob him, but killed him and set a fire in a bid to hide his identity.

[JT Brooklyn]

RE: Accused Murderer Commits Suicide

 

Definitely a Sad ending to a very Sad Story!