Posted on 09/01/2006 4:09:40 AM PDT by Liz
Detectives last night nabbed a man who has been using the cell phone of Martín Barreto, the former Giuliani administration press aide found strangled in a Greenwich Village apartment last week, police sources said.
Police stopped short of calling the unidentified man a suspect in the murder of Barreto, who was found naked on his bed Aug. 21. But they were questioning the man last night at the 6th Precinct and had not ruled him out as the killer. Sources said detectives were eager to check his DNA against evidence from the crime scene.
Investigators believe Barreto, 48, a childhood friend of Bianca Jagger who had his own public relations business, was killed by someone he knew - possibly an enraged ex-lover or a man he met while cruising the Internet for gay sex, sources said.
Baretto's cell phone, laptop and keys were stolen, leading cops to believe his killer was savvy enough to cover his tracks.
Cops had been tracking Barreto's stolen cell phone for the past week, and zeroed in on the man using it about 3:30 p.m. yesterday on 30th St. between Second and Third Aves., sources said. He was charged with possession of stolen property - giving detectives ample opportunity to grill him.
"He has the victim's phone - he had a lot of questions to answer," a police source said.
Investigators seized Barreto's desktop computer from the E. 10th St. apartment and pored over Internet dates he had made and escort services he had called, sources said.
Neighbors said Barreto had had a series of male visitors the weekend before his death. Friends notified building management when the meticulous media exec missed an important conference call Aug. 21.
The city's medical examiner's office determined Barreto's larynx had been crushed and ruled the death a homicide.
Barreto's city appointment was Mayor Giuliani's all-out pander to Latino voting blocs.
Grilled and fried. Works for me.
Hope he left his DNA at the crime scene.........somewhere.
But perhaps not savvy enough to avoid using the cell phone?!?
Barbecued works too.
Charcoal or gas?
Mesquite smoked for 16-24 hours at 140°F.
But perhaps not savvy enough to avoid using the cell phone?!?
While the cops have been chasing the guy who found the cell, the killer futher covers his tracks.
Maybe he left some in the 'habitrail'
Killed for being a friend of a D-List celebrity!
"Killed for being a friend of a D-List celebrity!"
I wonder if she'll advocate the death penalty for the killer of her friend?
Mighta been the top nominee to head Giuliani in 2008's Committee for Free Transportaiton Across the Border, Free Amnesty, Free Forged Documents, Free Social Security, Free Health Care and Education, and Free Rent for all Illegal Aliens.
'zactly my thought.
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