News and Media Reports

[Socalcasualguy]

Googled "Woman_found_strangled_was_trying_to_straighten_out_life".

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local..._out_life.html

This link has her picture.

http://www.gmc.edu/news/index.php

So very sad.

I had met up with her once, off of CL for a quick cardate, a few months back. She was very nice and I had no idea her life was in such turmoil. So very sad.

[CookyJar]

Googled "Woman_found_strangled_was_trying_to_straighten_out_life".

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local..._out_life.html

This link has her picture.

http://www.gmc.edu/news/index.php

Thanks Tom,

Breaks your heart.

CookyJar

[Fbtom]

Page Not Found.

If you typed in the address, used a bookmark or followed a link from another Web site, this page is no longer available.

Which Murder? Link didn't word for me.

CookyJar

Googled "Woman_found_strangled_was_trying_to_straighten_out_life".

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local..._out_life.html

this link has her picture...

http://www.gmc.edu/news/index.php

[RookieMonger]

http://www.Philly.com/Philly/local/2..._out_life.html

Not to depress anyone.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/br...106689058.html

[CookyJar]

http://www.Philly.com/Philly/local/2..._out_life.html

Not to depress anyone.

Page Not Found.

If you typed in the address, used a bookmark or followed a link from another Web site, this page is no longer available.

Which Murder? Link didn't word for me.

CookyJar

[Mythbuster]

http://www.Philly.com/Philly/local/2..._out_life.html

Not to depress anyone.

[Johnboy]

Again the leo are going after easy targets! WTF? Go after any abusive pimps and drug dealers; there is where the real crime is occurring.

Where would you feel safer visiting...a drug set or at a hotel? Trying to tie one incident to all hotel activity is laughable and a very weak argument. Unfortunately Joe & Jane citizen who doesn't think on their own will go along and encourage this mentality.

I may be stating the obvious, but prositution is only a small factor in the illegal drug market. I could'nt state statistics without research but I'm willing to bet that the relation of prostitution to crime and drugs is relatively low compared to the big picture. Police think they are cleaning up the drug scene by targeting johns and girls, but how many working girls are there vs. the population in the city on some kind of illegal drugs. Not to mention the white collar and suburban population that come to the city for their supplies. These problems could be dealt with in the same manner as prostitution stings. Crime is everywhere and prostitution is only a small amount. Prostitution is such an obvious thing to witness on the street that LEO use this to their advantage.
JB

[Ed Norton]

From Philadelphia Weekly:

Rub 'N' Tug Mysteries Revealed

“If prostitution is the oldest profession, we were looking at its oldest boss.”
By Nile Parish

Posted Aug. 17, 2010

Chinatown looks different on a Monday night. The lack of food smells, crowds and assorted Asian chatter leaves the desolate blocks open for mischief. The trouble we sought was behind unmarked doors.

I won’t say it was all Victor’s idea, but without him I can’t imagine my search for a “massage” would’ve gone much beyond curiosity. Piqued by rumors of clandestine lairs concealed all over Philadelphia’s tiny Chinatown, we ventured to put the mystery of the late-night rub ’n’ tug to rest. Our first lead was an address on Cherry Street: White door, single white doorbell. We gave it a buzz.

If prostitution is the oldest profession, we were looking at its oldest boss. The overweight madam who greeted us stood in a lounge lined with couches—neat, nondescript and unmistakably Chinatown. There are a couple Asian women on laptops sitting near her. Our questions are to the point, as are her answers: 150 bucks gets you whatever happens in that room, whether it’s a massage, a wild orgy or discussing yard work—madam doesn’t want to know.

“How about if there’s no sex?” Victor bargains.

“Just a massage and a happy ending?” I chime in, making an unnecessary gesture.

She tells us massages cost 60 bucks, but insists on the upsell—$150 and whatever you want.

We bounce.

Convinced there are more of these spots all around, we press on. Research reveals another place just down the street. Again, plain white door, white doorbell. Buzz. We enter to a madam rushing us through a pink-lit lounge and into rooms. The lack of romance rubs us both the wrong way. Our discussion with her goes about the same as the madam before, but this one is much more pushy. We again try to bargain the “no sex” route, which gets us plum thrown out of the place.

Back on the street, we walk to the corner to take stock. We need information. Victor takes some initiative and starts a conversation in his native tongue with a couple guys walking past. I nod and smile as our map of possibilities suddenly opens up.

There are loads of these joints in Chinatown—many of them unmarked. White door, red door, green door, white doorbell, buzz. Pink walls, soft light, madam, girls, the deal’s always the same. Whatever you want, $150. By the time we tick off every place on our list of about seven, we thoroughly know the drill. Feeling like pros, we walk back to spot No. 1.

We’d told them we were running to an ATM an hour before, and our return prompts no conversation, just tea in a foam cup. We sit down on a couch and light cigarettes. It’s obviously a slow night. Madam blankly stares at the TV cycling an endless stream of commercials for Chinese restaurants in Vegas. The girls click away on laptops. Halfway through our smokes, madam is palpably impatient.

From across the room we each pick a girl, prompting them to look up from their screens and rise, awaiting us at the steps. They lead us upstairs into adjacent shower stalls, strip us down, and begin bathing us. My girl seems to be on a mission to finish this last little bit of work for the night.

Finally, Victor and I are led into separate rooms. Mine is the size of a walk-in closet and contains something between a massage table and a bed, a nightstand stacked with oils, and strategically placed mirrors on the walls. She directs me to lay back and begins the massage, a pretty standard one, albeit sans even a stitch of clothing. It isn’t long before I have to explain that I’m not willing to receive more than a tug from this fine lady. There’s surprise on her face, but she doesn’t seem disappointed. She got to work and pulled off the finale with 10 minutes to spare on the clock. The experience redefined the handjob for me. This was the work of a professional.

Shortly after, I find myself back in the lounge smoking—TV still blaring, madam snacking. One of her employees has to intercom Victor’s room before he comes strolling down the stairs with a look of bliss on his face. “Sorry man. Got carried away.”

Can’t knock a happy ending. ■

[CookyJar]

Here's the Philadelphia Inquirer report on this story:

Police crack down on prostitution in hotels near Philadelphia International Airport

By Allison Steele

Inquirer Staff Writer

…In recent months, there have been several robberies and one fatal shooting connected to the activity at the hotels, …

In one recent robbery, a woman got a client into what Green called a "compromising position," then knocked on the door to signal her male companion. The two then robbed the man at knifepoint, police said.

"Some of these johns become easy marks for robberies," Green said.

"We hear a lot that prostitution is a victimless crime," Green said, "but we've got people getting killed."

They somehow forgot to mention the multiple robberies and murders taking place in other ventures though-out the city, that have nothing to do with prostitution. What about the 93 year old lady that was beaten and robbed for $6 bucks – they should be setting up a sting for those two real creeps.

Woman, 93, robbed, injured in Center City high-rise

Here's that story: Philadelphia Inquirer report

CookyJar

[Fbtom]

Police are looking at ways to target johns as the investigation continues, and they will conduct stings in other areas of the city.

"The message for these people is that you never know where we're going to be," said Philadelphia Lt. Charles Green, commander of the Vice Squad.

Again the leo are going after easy targets! WTF? Go after any abusive pimps and drug dealers; there is where the real crime is occurring.

Where would you feel safer visiting...a drug set or at a hotel? Trying to tie one incident to all hotel activity is laughable and a very weak argument. Unfortunately Joe & Jane citizen who doesn't think on their own will go along and encourage this mentality.

[Ed Norton]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38776298

Just a word to stay safe, don't say anything stupid and keep your wits about you.

Here's the Philadelphia Inquirer report on this story:

Police crack down on prostitution in hotels near Philadelphia International Airport

By Allison Steele

Inquirer Staff Writer

Police are targeting prostitutes and pimps who operate out of hotels near Philadelphia International Airport, saying the activity leads to robberies and other crimes.

On Thursday, police announced the arrests of six alleged prostitutes and three men accused of working with them. All were charged with prostitution and criminal solicitation.

The arrests were made in the same hotel, which police declined to identify, but Philadelphia Capt. Daniel MacDonald said several other airport hotels had reported similar problems.

Posing as johns, police officers called phone numbers advertising escort services on Craigslist and other websites and met with the alleged prostitutes. Police are looking at ways to target johns as the investigation continues, and they will conduct stings in other areas of the city.

"The message for these people is that you never know where we're going to be," said Philadelphia Lt. Charles Green, commander of the Vice Squad.

A quick glance on Craigslist and other sites turns up no shortage of advertisements that seem to be for escort services, offering half-hour and hour-long encounters for $50 to $150. On one day, police counted 38 women on three websites who advertised escort services near the airport, MacDonald said.

In recent months, there have been several robberies and one fatal shooting connected to the activity at the hotels, Green said. Because most prostitution-related robberies are not reported, police said, it is safe to assume that more such crimes were happening.

In one recent robbery, a woman got a client into what Green called a "compromising position," then knocked on the door to signal her male companion. The two then robbed the man at knifepoint, police said.

"Some of these johns become easy marks for robberies," Green said.

According to police, a prostitute and her boyfriend deemed Kalif Lewis, 26, of North Philadelphia, such a mark in December when Lewis met with the woman at the Residence Inn at Marriott on Island Avenue.

When Lewis left, police said, he realized he was missing money and returned with a gun. The woman's boyfriend, Tyre West, 28, intervened and was fatally shot in the abdomen, authorities said. Lewis was later arrested.

"We hear a lot that prostitution is a victimless crime," Green said, "but we've got people getting killed."

The hotels are working with police to prevent the prostitution rings from operating.

"These hotels don't want this going on," MacDonald said. "They've got hotel guests being held hostage by this."

Arrested in the recent sting were Jennifer Henderson, 28, of Bridgeton, N.J.; Laura Holland, 43, of South Philadelphia; Christine Hunter, 21, of Drexel Hill; Edith Massie, 44, of Germantown; Charisa Norman, 25, of North Philadelphia; Clarence Norris, 39, of West Philadelphia; Sherri Perkins, 23, of Drexel Hill; Christopher Powell, 28, of Drexel Hill; and Joseph Stalfire, 67, of Plymouth Meeting.

[Slip66]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38776298

Just a word to stay safe, don't say anything stupid and keep your wits about you.

[Ed Norton]

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/ne...stitution.html

[Admin]

Thread Starter