Drunken Housekeeping Manager At New York’s Famed Essex House Hotel Confesses To Stabbing Murder Of Resident - Hotel Security Lawyer Weighs In
As an experienced hotel inadequate security and premises liability lawyer, I was quite concerned as I read news reports surrounding the violent stabbing murder of Sara Bejjani at the Essex House in Manhattan by a longtime housekeeping employee.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Ms. Bejjani who had been peacefully residing inside the luxury hotel at the time of her stabbing. Shockingly, according to news sources, the 29-year housekeeping manager had worked for the hotel since he was 17 and was known to have a “flash temper.” According to police, he replied that he “showed up drunk” before his 6:00 a.m. shift on Saturday and used his key to get into Ms. Bejjani’s 10th floor apartment and then admitted “I just lost it.” Police videotaped the confession of the housekeeping manager who had been eyeing the victim for weeks and said he choked Ms. Bejjani who was found with a jump rope up around her neck and then stabbed with a 10-inch bread knife.
Unfortunately, situations such as this are not all too uncommon in the hotel industry. The safety and privacy of hotel and motel guests should be the top priority for owners and operators. However, many times, unfortunately, this is not the case. Hotel owners and operators must be oriented towards the security of the guests and must ensure that security equipment is installed, maintained and regularly used and in service and that employees, security guards, and housekeepers have their employment and criminal backgrounds properly checked. News report indicate that the suspect was known for having a flash temper and if he showed up drunk before his 6:00 a.m. shift on Saturday, why didn’t anyone notice?
The family of the deceased would be well served to secure the services of an experienced inadequate security and hotel premises liability lawyer to carefully investigate the circumstances of this tragic incident and examine past instances of victim abuse or criminal activity at the location and surrounding areas, as well as other circumstances that should have put the hotel owner or operator on actual or constructive notice of potential dangers to customers or visitors.
On September 22nd, United States security authorities told all law enforcement agencies to be alert for security concerns in luxury hotels in the United States.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of inadequate hotel security, please contact one of our experienced inadequate security lawyers for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
