Chain
10-28-2004, 01:48 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/502-goldstein_h.JPG
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/247040p-211567c.html
Cross-dressed to kill
Cops say Rabbi's roomie was in beard & eye shadow
A cross-dressing, bearded Hasidic man[SIZE=7] [COLOR=Navy]wearing blue eye shadow [/color][color=pink]and pink pumps [/SIZE] [/color]was busted on charges of killing a 75-year-old rabbi who had taken him into his home, police said yesterday.The alleged killer, Howard Goldstein, 47, had been living with the body of Rabbi Rahamin Sultan for five days when cops went to their Midwood apartment Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Cops and friends said Sultan, whose wife died of brain cancer seven months ago, had taken on Goldstein as a roommate to help cover his $900-a-month rent.
When Goldstein answered the door of the two-bedroom apartment on E. 19th St. around noon Tuesday, cops knew they were in for a bizarre case.
Goldstein was dressed in a [SIZE=6][COLOR=Gray]gray blouse with a plunging neckline[/COLOR][/SIZE] , dark slacks and pink high-heeled shoes, a police source said. His face was made up with bright red lipstick and blue eye shadow that clashed with his long beard, the source said.
"It's the craziest thing I've ever seen: [SIZE=4][COLOR=Red]a cross-dressing Hasidic killer[/COLOR][/size]," said the source. "He had a full face of makeup on - with a beard."
At first, Goldstein told cops he did not know where Sultan was, but a strong stench emanating from Apartment 1-C led them to a body in the living room.
The elderly man had been bludgeoned, stabbed and strangled, the police source said.
Goldstein confessed to the murder while being interrogated, saying he killed Sultan after the elderly man demanded his share of the rent, the source said.
"He was a beautiful man," a friend, Adele Scher, 85, said of Sultan, who was a regular at the Young Israel of Midwood Synagogue's senior center.
Shocked neighbors said Goldstein usually wore traditional clothing, a black suit and black hat, when he went out in public. But cops said he was obviously living a double life behind closed doors.
Investigators searched his bedroom and found pornographic photos of women ripped from magazines and plastered on the walls, the source said. They also found garbage and women's underwear on the floor and a scantily clad doll in a corner.
"He seemed strange, almost shy," neighbor Jeff Friedman, 46, said of Goldstein, who has been charged with murder. "He didn't want to look at you."
Sultan's friends said he was a member of the Young Israel synagogue, tutored in Hebrew, visited the sick and regularly attended temple.
"He was such a nice guy," said a friend from the senior center, who did not want his name used. "He was a pussycat."
Sultan agreed to let Goldstein move in with him about six months ago, just weeks after his wife, Audrey, lost her long battle with cancer, friends said.
"I know that when his wife passed away, he needed help with his rent," said David Stern, president of the synagogue.
In recent weeks, Sultan's friends said, Goldstein had been spending a lot of time hanging around the synagogue and seemed desperate for money.
"He came to my house begging," said an elderly man at the center, adding Goldstein once told him he was a Vietnam veteran.
Sultan's body was discovered because a senior center worker grew concerned after he failed to show up for lunch for several days, Stern said. She asked cops Tuesday to check on her friend after she went to his apartment and noticed the smell.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/247040p-211567c.html
Cross-dressed to kill
Cops say Rabbi's roomie was in beard & eye shadow
A cross-dressing, bearded Hasidic man[SIZE=7] [COLOR=Navy]wearing blue eye shadow [/color][color=pink]and pink pumps [/SIZE] [/color]was busted on charges of killing a 75-year-old rabbi who had taken him into his home, police said yesterday.The alleged killer, Howard Goldstein, 47, had been living with the body of Rabbi Rahamin Sultan for five days when cops went to their Midwood apartment Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Cops and friends said Sultan, whose wife died of brain cancer seven months ago, had taken on Goldstein as a roommate to help cover his $900-a-month rent.
When Goldstein answered the door of the two-bedroom apartment on E. 19th St. around noon Tuesday, cops knew they were in for a bizarre case.
Goldstein was dressed in a [SIZE=6][COLOR=Gray]gray blouse with a plunging neckline[/COLOR][/SIZE] , dark slacks and pink high-heeled shoes, a police source said. His face was made up with bright red lipstick and blue eye shadow that clashed with his long beard, the source said.
"It's the craziest thing I've ever seen: [SIZE=4][COLOR=Red]a cross-dressing Hasidic killer[/COLOR][/size]," said the source. "He had a full face of makeup on - with a beard."
At first, Goldstein told cops he did not know where Sultan was, but a strong stench emanating from Apartment 1-C led them to a body in the living room.
The elderly man had been bludgeoned, stabbed and strangled, the police source said.
Goldstein confessed to the murder while being interrogated, saying he killed Sultan after the elderly man demanded his share of the rent, the source said.
"He was a beautiful man," a friend, Adele Scher, 85, said of Sultan, who was a regular at the Young Israel of Midwood Synagogue's senior center.
Shocked neighbors said Goldstein usually wore traditional clothing, a black suit and black hat, when he went out in public. But cops said he was obviously living a double life behind closed doors.
Investigators searched his bedroom and found pornographic photos of women ripped from magazines and plastered on the walls, the source said. They also found garbage and women's underwear on the floor and a scantily clad doll in a corner.
"He seemed strange, almost shy," neighbor Jeff Friedman, 46, said of Goldstein, who has been charged with murder. "He didn't want to look at you."
Sultan's friends said he was a member of the Young Israel synagogue, tutored in Hebrew, visited the sick and regularly attended temple.
"He was such a nice guy," said a friend from the senior center, who did not want his name used. "He was a pussycat."
Sultan agreed to let Goldstein move in with him about six months ago, just weeks after his wife, Audrey, lost her long battle with cancer, friends said.
"I know that when his wife passed away, he needed help with his rent," said David Stern, president of the synagogue.
In recent weeks, Sultan's friends said, Goldstein had been spending a lot of time hanging around the synagogue and seemed desperate for money.
"He came to my house begging," said an elderly man at the center, adding Goldstein once told him he was a Vietnam veteran.
Sultan's body was discovered because a senior center worker grew concerned after he failed to show up for lunch for several days, Stern said. She asked cops Tuesday to check on her friend after she went to his apartment and noticed the smell.