Officials close book on suicide of ‘D.C. Madam’

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Police in Florida closed the book Friday on the suicide of the so-called “D.C. Madam,” confirming that she hanged herself with a nylon rope instead of facing prison time for running an elite prostitution ring.

Tarpon Springs police hoped the report would help squelch online speculation that someone killed 52-year-old Deborah Jeane Palfrey to keep her from identifying more prominent clients of the Washington-based escort service.

“It’s unfortunate that a lot of people seem to be obsessed with the conspiracy theory notion here,” said Preston Burton, the Washington lawyer who represented Palfrey in the trial. “I am aware of no information that would compel a conclusion other than she took her own life. It’s a real tragedy that still affects her mother greatly.”

Investigators determined that Palfrey had talked about suicide to Dan Moldea, a Washington writer who befriended Palfrey while considering writing a book about her.

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