Loved ones of an attractive investment executive who was strangled to death in a 5-star Manhattan resort made a settlement with hotel officials on $1.5million.
The victim, Andree Bejjani, 44, was asleep in her 10th floor room at Jumeirah Essex House September 19, 2009 when prying housekeeping manager, Derrick Praileau, entered her private space with an electronic key and executed what police described as a ‘sex attack gone awry.’
Praileau held a 10-inch bread knife to Bejjani’s throat and strangled the accomplished businesswoman to death after she refused his advances and pulled her nightgown above her head, according to a New York Daily News report.
The family agreed on the settlement in the suit against the hotel’s operator at the time and security firm, who were first accused in the case.
Family members to the slain Andree Bejjani (pictured) made a settlement with hotel officials on the case for the September 19, 2009 killing at Jumeirah Essex House in Manhattan
The convicted killer, Derrick Praileau (pictured), held a 10-inch bread knife to Bejjani’s throat and strangled the accomplished businesswoman to death
The Daily News reports that Essex House was accused of ‘continuing to employ Praileau despite knowing of his violent propensities before Bejjani’s death’ and ‘allowing Praileau to obtain a maid’s key card to gain access to Bejjani’s room.’
The ex-housekeeping manager, who was employed at the lavish Central Park South hotel for several years, was previously convicted of second-degree murder and has received a sentence of 23 years to life.
Security officials at the hotel were blamed for failure ‘to provide adequate security.’
Kristin Booth Glen, a judge in Manhattan’s Surrogate’s Court, revealed in a 2010 court hearing Bejjani’s family members were in a heated argument over money.
Clark Investigations & Security Corp. will pay forward $950,000 of the settlement and the Jumeirah Essex House (shown) will pay $550,000
‘I think it’s very sad. Their sister died under tragic circumstances, and this all seems to be about who is going to control the money, like it always does here, and it’s unseemly and unpleasant.’
Authorities confirmed that Bejjani, a Lebanese-born real estate investment advisor, did not appear to be raped that September morning, while an autopsy report confirmed she died by strangulation.
She was discovered in the hotel room with a jump rope tied around her neck and a basic bread knife stuck out the back of her neck.
When questioned by authorities, Praileau admitted that he simply ‘lost it’ when he walked into the room and saw the beautiful brunette.
Ray Kelly, a police commissioner on the case at the time, revealed in a statement there was no evidence proving the victim and her perpetrator knew one another romantically or casually.
Kristin Booth Glen, a judge in Manhattan’s Surrogate’s Court (pictured) revealed in a 2010 court hearing Bejjani’s family members were in a heated argument over money
The convicted killer, who was 29 at the time of the onslaught, told investigators he was under the influence of alcohol when he arrived to work around 5 a.m. day, and entered the woman’s room roughly an hour later.
An unidentified woman, who said she was the victim’s sister, told the New York Post at the time her ‘family is distraught,’ and she, in utter ‘shock’ after learning of the horrific homicide.
Hospitality company Strategic Hotels & Resorts bought out the Jumeirah Essex House back in 2012, which is now owned by Marriott.
Clark Investigations & Security Corp. will pay forward $950,000 of the settlement and the Jumeirah Essex House will pay $550,000.