Abused boy ate feces, drank urine to survive
| Police say he tried to rape Sara, but she fought back |
The body of a nude woman -- her throat slashed with a knife sticking out -- has been found in the lavish Jumeirah Essex House hotel, which sits on the edge of New York's Central Park. A maid found Andree Sara Bejjani, 44, in her luxury condo yesterday. The native of Lebanon also had a jump rope wrapped around her neck.
This isn't a place you'd expect to find a murder. Bejjani is the president of Royal Investments, a real estate investment company from the United Arab Emirates. Apartments at Essex House go for $7,000 a month and up.
So far, the investigation seems focused on hotel employees. There were no signs of forced entry or burglary. Nor does it appear Andree was sexually assaulted, though more tests are being conducted. Police seem to be centering on hotel housekeeping manager Derrick Praileau as their main suspect...
| Derrick Praileau had been stalking Sara for weeks |
Praileau, 29 and a 10-year- employee, is reported to have made statements to police implicating himself. Video caught him entering her room early yesterday morning. He's admitted to police that he entered the condo, but didn't do anything else. And he initially raised detective's suspicions when he returned to the condo after the murder, possibly to clean up evidence.
UPDATE: Police say Derrick Praileu has confessed to killing Andree Sara Bejjani.
According to the NYPD, it went down like this:
Praileau snuck into the apartment of the beautiful investment adviser with a 10-inch knife. He found Sara sleeping and pulled her nightgown over her head. When she fought back, he strangled her and slashed her throat, then left the knife sticking out the back of her neck as she lay dead on the floor. He later returned in an attempt to clean up the murder scene.
A prosecutor says Praileau has confessed to the killing, but refuses to admit to attempted rape, even though the 44-year-old exec was found naked. He'd apparently been stalking her for weeks, though the two didn't know each other.UPDATE II: According to police. Derrick Praileau was so drunk the morning of the murder that he prowled the Essex House looking for a woman to attack.
So reports the New York Post. It says the Praileau had been drinking all night before reporting to work that morning, and "when I drink, I lose control -- and I want what I want."
He was so hammered a copy of his work schedule fell out of his pocket at the crime scene. He also failed to dispose of his bloody shoes, pants and shirt at his Bronx apartment. The father of two admitted to drinking all night before arriving at work at 5 a.m.







Uhmmm - this story reads as if these two (2) people were involved... she threatened him, he killed her. Don't know what else to think. Crime of passion!!! Sad, sad, sad!!!
Posted 09/20/2009 at 11:05:31 AMUghhhhh....its always the blacks. Here's another one!
Posted 09/20/2009 at 12:03:45 PMno such crime of passion is involved in this murder, i know that for sure, coz that is my Anty we are talking about. i still cant believe what happened to her, still in shock, i dont care if it is a black of white guy who did this, or even if it is counted as a first or second grade murder, the killer should be punished either by life sentence or to be hanged.
Posted 09/21/2009 at 08:02:04 AMGod Bless your Soul Anty Andrea we miss you so much. love u.
Oh here we go AGAIN! A black man kills a beautiful white woman (Arab). How many times have you heard of a white man killing a black woman? Hmmmmmm....im still thinking...
Is there something in a black mans nature that takes over his functions when sexual urge occurs?...they cant handle the word NO?...too prideful?....im sure before its all over it will end up being white mans fault again, somehow.
Poor Sara, she was soooo beautiful, soooo smart, soooo successful...and some sorry arse black individual who had every opportunity to make good in life as she did....killed her.
What is that word that blacks always use??? Oh yeah...Audacity....How dare you have the Audacity...
Salaam Alaykum Andree
Posted 09/21/2009 at 09:36:50 AMI knew her as Sara. She was a lady of high integrity and religious conviction (Catholic, yes, that's right). Because of her beauty she was the target of men's attentions but she was graceful in how she dismissed them and cautious in the attentions she permitted. Sara would not accept even a soda from somebody and take the chance of creating a perceived social debt. She was unusual that way and you rarely see this much anymore. She did want to find the right man but not by way of shallow romantic adventures.
Sara had no relationship with the man now accused of her murder, except that she mentioned on numerous occassions that her jewelery would disappear from her room, about which she did make complaints. Now we understand.
Sara had no family in the U.S.A. but she had a sister she was close to and visited regularly. She had a brother that she spoke of longingly, hoping to mend differences with him soon. He should know this.
Sara and I had not spoken in a while, probably because of something I did or did not do. She was a stickler for details. But I expected we would renew our friendship again as we had after similar such past episodes. I know she valued my friendship as I hers and I will miss her. Sara was a diamond in an emerald city.
Posted 09/21/2009 at 11:14:05 AMIf anyone knows Sara/Andree, please can you contact me?
lmorris@thenational.ae
Thank you.
Posted 09/21/2009 at 11:32:04 AM@Nick & Rob
When scrolling through this site - are the perpetrators only black faces... NO they are not! STOP SPREADING HATE!! There are plenty of whites who kill whites and others.. one could also ask, in the vein of your thinking - why are so many child and sexual predators white? LOL.. your stereotypes are sick and demeaning.
Posted 09/21/2009 at 06:13:10 PMTo those who did not have the privilege of knowing her, Sara was a rare flower, whose bloom graced this city with a natural dignity, worldly flair and style. I knew her for little more than a year, and it took nearly that much time before she took me into her confidence and had the comfort to share her passionate feelings of the world and the city that she had all but adopted. I felt quite special she considered me a friend. Her innocence not to be mistaken for naivete was only surpassed by her purity, integrity and total sense of self. She travel the world as an ambassador of promise and possibility, never regarding her wealth or worldly possession as a passport to privilege. She had an truly unforgettable prescence and aura which could be felt a block away as she walked in your direction. Then when she saw your her face, her face lit up in friendly expectation as she beamed a marvelously captivating and demure smile which if she bestowed it upon you, you felt special and blessed with the gift of its glow. Oh how she loved the city and so much wanted to be a part of its fabric and fauna as she whispered fearlessly through the streets and avenues like a white tail deer always wary yet alive with curiosity and wonderment and a true concern for all she passed.
Posted 09/22/2009 at 12:50:57 AMNow, tragic destiny has inexplicably stolen that glow and curiosity and placed a senseless stain on a city that was only richer for her being...and is now so much less. If the evil that we must now all acknowledge truly exists in the world, we must now recognize even more the fleeting goodness, beauty and grace of someone as special as Sara whose legacy now lives in the hearts of all she touched.
Hi, If anyone knows Andree/Sara Bejjani, I would really appreciate if you would contact me.
Regards
Posted 09/22/2009 at 02:13:34 AMSiham Al Najami
Gulfnews reporter (UAE)
Salnajami@gulfnews.com
+9714 406 7967
One of the posters above said, and I paraphrase, WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE BLACKS?
Posted 09/22/2009 at 04:17:04 AMThat very interrogative of ignorance is why I gleefully clicked my heels when the accused murderer of Annie Le at Yale University turned out to be a clean-cut white guy because so many people on blogs and in sound-offs to news articles were convinced Le's attacker was a black guy from the hood of New Haven.
In this case, yes, sadly, the perp, who confessed, is a black man. But I would never want to extrapolate from this and say all black men do this. In fact, the majority of serial killers and crime of passion killers in the US are white. Truth!
I am Lebanese, just like Andree. let her soul rest in peace and God be with her family and friends . As i read above the letters of her close friends, i believe that Andree was a remarquable woman that will be missed by many.
Posted 09/22/2009 at 06:02:51 AMBut i read more, i saw that the world is still loaded with hatred and racism. Not all black people are murderers. so many white people are. i am white but i definitely reject the stereotyping. For God sake, search in previous crimes, most of the murderes are white. STOP THIS RACISM.
OHHHHHHHHHH bad news.God bless you Andree.
I know miss Bejjani since since 1988.I was her boss at work before she start working in real estate and business.She was very nice ,kind and smart girl.She has strong faith and religious girl and never felt she could hurt and ant.I feel sorry the way she died she dont deserve that way of death,its very cruel and the criminal should be punished.Beforeshe resigned from her job,i asked her what you will do she said business.I told her stay in Dubai and do the business,keep working and do the business but she was looking forward to reach better prospects in life and here we are.
God Bless her and give her family patience for this big loss.
Moe
Posted 09/22/2009 at 01:43:15 PMWhy bad things happen to good people, first this 11 year old kidnapped by a wackoo years ago, second this poor Yale student who was deprived from her witnessing her happiest most flourishing year, and now this apparently amazing lady severed and attacked in her most private spot without knowing why, what did these women to deserve this. I pray to God for justice. I could never have imagine in all the times I passed by this opulent, highly secured complex, that something so horrible can happen and that the danger is from withing. I am an Egyptian living in New York with my husband, in the heart of Harlem, I cannot say there was any direct dangers to our lives, except that my empty suit case was stolen from the entrance, there are more decent people than wack jobs, but it takes one sicko to embitter the world with the most horrific crimes
Posted 09/22/2009 at 06:17:42 PMThis site does not control one or two vocal racist idiots. People should keep that in mind and ignore the trolls. They are here merely to feed off upsetting people, energy suckers. Ignore them, they will go find someone else to bother.
Posted 09/23/2009 at 02:00:57 AMI saw you on 48 Hours this weekend! Was it a recent recording or a re-run? Good to see you on TV. ~ eyes
Posted 09/23/2009 at 12:15:42 PMI first heard about Sara from the News on TV I could not believe it. I had to read and re-read the articles on the internet. She wants to be safe that is why she lives in the best hotel in town she said. May you rest in peace Sara.
Posted 09/23/2009 at 11:00:24 PMSara is her name. She did not want to be called Andree. She loved hamburgers and especially Rue 57 hamburgers. I met Sara when I was running a real estate seminar and she waited to speak with me after the seminar. She told me that she was here from Dubaii to start a business and settle down. She worked as an administrator in a hospital in Dubaii. Originally from Lebanon, she told me that she fled to Dubaii where she settled with her brother and sister. She also told me that she got her MBA from England but did not like England as much as NYC. She told me after she was done with her job as an administrator, she got involved with the stock market where she accumulated a lot of wealth and also lost a lot of wealth. With most of her accumulated wealth, she bought gorgeous jewelry and a condo in Dubaii. She was very surprised how much taxes we pay in NYC since in Dubaii, citizens do not pay any taxes. She also told me that she was here to start a new life, a new business venture and maybe settle down and get married. I, then, introduced her to one of my colleagues who helped her get a job in real estate but ambitious as she was , she moved to a better and bigger real estate investment firm. Sara was a very trusting and naïve soul. She told people that she was here alone and the only relative she has in the US is her brother and her brother, whom she loves, happens to be busy with his life that she would love to get closer to him one day. She also told me that she loved her sister very much that she is proud of her that she married a very loving and gentle man. She also told me how proud she is from her niece who at a very young age knows a lot about her religion. Sara told me her whole life story, she also told me how much jewelry she has. I in turn told her not to tell people so much and if she has any valuable jewelry, it is better to put it in the bank and not in any hotel, She complained more than once that she was missing a few items like sun glasses etc… At one point she had to go back to Lebanon to renew her visa and she told me that I would be more than welcome to use her room at the Essex House and her tickets at the Ballet. I thanked her very much for her generosity and told her I will do it some other time. Sara was beautiful, trusting and naïve. May you rest in peace Sara and my condolence is to the family. No One deserves to die like that especially not Sara .
I knew Andrea (a.k.a Sara) for 28 years now, i never met a loving, carring, understanding, trusting, helpful person like her, she would cheer you up even in her worst days, she would help you with the outmost, all she wanted is people to love her & be nice to her as she never knew how to hurt or she never understood how hurting ppl can be.
Posted 09/24/2009 at 06:12:03 AMI love u Andrea (i was the only person who was allowed to call her Andrea) & you will always be in my heart & my prayers & thoughts i started missing your presence with us. Aunt Andrea till mom be with you to that i'm expecting a baby. May you rest in peace. i still can't believe what happened to you.
see ya.
Maverick
ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE IS INACCURATE ABOUT MISTER PRAILEAU, HE IS A WONDERDFUL FATHER AS WELL AS A WONDERFUL FRIEND WHOM I HONESTLY DOUBT HE DID IT INTENTIONALLY.
Posted 09/25/2009 at 12:14:15 PMAdrian Anusitz said:
Uhmmm - this story reads as if these two (2) people were involved... she threatened him, he killed her. Don't know what else to think. Crime of passion!!! Sad, sad, sad!!!
Posted 09/20/2009 at 11:05:31 AM
[I CAN HONESTLY SAY I AGREE WITH ADRIAN BECAUSE EVERY OTHER STATEMENT FROM ALL THE COMMENTERS SOUND SO NAIVE.]
Posted 09/25/2009 at 12:23:44 PMthis is really sad. wish the criminal, whowever he be, suffers a similar if not worse fate.
Posted 09/27/2009 at 05:58:09 AMWe just lost a friend and we are sad, shocked and still cannot believe it happened.
Posted 09/28/2009 at 09:05:44 AMWe have lost 2 friends in dramatic circumstances.
as far as i know!!!andree/sara as her friends would call her...she is not of good natured person..she maybe good to those who do not know her inside...she was a supervisor in al zarah medical centre dubai..ask all the nurses who worked with her & im sure all will speak out the truth about how BAD her treatment to all the professional NURSES & staff!!! she was HYPOCRITE and so cruel..very sharp tongue she has that she pays that somebody cut her throat!!!although she is like that,,,,im not happy the way she died!!its still a very inhuman act!!!now that you are gone may you find peace& may all the people you HURT by your attitude will find forgiveness for your soul!!!
Posted 09/29/2009 at 10:36:21 AMgod bless the dead we cant judje no one and no one can judje us , only god , but the criminial should be dead . thats my opinion for the crimianls she was the aunt of my cousin , and were family . we stand together , \
Posted 10/02/2009 at 07:40:48 AMR.I.P. sara
Hey anonymous, what ever you said about Sara, we forgive you, & make sure she does too. but that made it clear that you never knew Sara, you never knew how she thinks how clear soul she got & how much she loves people.
Posted 10/04/2009 at 02:30:38 AMso please get a life & do not talk about dead people with cruelty, please respect them, & if you got the nerfs you would told her those words when she was working with you, not after she is gone. respect the dead.
To all those whom have commented on this tragic subject. I have not known Sarah (god rest her soul) but i know her family residing in Dubai extremely well. Her sister is one of the sweetest and loving person you would ever meet and i'm sure Sara is the same. It is too bad to loose a relative in such a horrible way. What has the world come to? Is there no mercy?? Sara's family you have my condoloences and i'm sorry for your loss. I am always here for you and if there is anything i can do i'm always a phone call away.
For the anonmous who has spoken of Sara badly, have you no respect? would you like someone to talk to any of your expired loved ones that way? Shame on you. But as Maverick said you should have told her if you had problems with her attitude. You should be greatful that one of her family members has forgiven you.
One more thing i'd like to add.... Derrick Praileu you are a father; how would you feel if a drunk person did the same to your children?
Posted 10/04/2009 at 04:08:36 PMFirst of all, Sara rest in peace may god bless ur beloved soul.
Posted 10/04/2009 at 04:53:25 PMMy name is Tala as u all read before i am waels' wife who commented just before me i just wanted to add some of what i feel by telling u a small story; i knew sara sister as my husband is a colleague of her son who is saras'niece (Mike)
i became one of her closest freinds as we had alot to share together ,i loved her so much as she became as a sister to myself.My following words to all who loved sara and commented on her positively or even negatively... as sarah is one member of this family we knew in dubai and the sister of one of the best freinds i got ever ,and by having one drop of her blood moving in her veins passing by her brain visiting her heart circulating in her body that means she got it all people.... she got it all;loveinglness,sweetness,kindness,careing,giving, generosity,loyalty and the most of all the high class decent manners.
This is quiet short feeling explanation as if i write all the vocabs explaning sara and her family members i will never end........ again and again and again sara may ur soul rest in peace, u will be able to watch ur beloved niece baby from up there ,looking after him or her.
to all her family we r really sorry for ur huge loss, may god be with u all times ever.
I have never been sad in my life as much as i felt bad for what happened to this lady. Sara. God be with her and bless her. Its terrible to loose someone and i know that and i feel with her family. I pray for her family to have the strength to hold it togather. No matter what she worked or no matter how she was... ( kind or unkind) no one .. no one deserves such death. BUt if sara made a beautiful life here on earth .and many people loved her and cared for her. i know she will be missed but be happy for her and pray for her. she is lucky to have gone so early to be in the hands of GOD. I can never see death as bad thing only to view it as the beginning. Allah yir7ama.. ou yikoun ma3 kil yali ken yi7iba.
Posted 10/05/2009 at 07:51:54 AMI pray for u and ur family ....
Yet another horrifying death by a violent chimp that foolish white liberals insist upon calling "human".
Posted 10/28/2009 at 08:13:00 AMHow many violent rapes and deaths must occur by this savage race before we can begin deporting them?
Must it take 1,000 deaths per day?
10,000 per day?
What the hell is the breaking point for you people?
You are sheep allowing your race to be slaughtered in this manner.
Sara
was a great woman and i feel lucky that i had the chance to know
i just saw Sara Bejjani Facebook page
she wrote in her details this tragic prediction
3. All the power in the world cannot change destiny
http://www.facebook.com/sara.bejjani#!/sara.bejjani?v=info
it so true
Posted 02/14/2010 at 10:45:05 AMshe was hosted in one of most secured hotel in the world and even there she was hurt...
HELLO SISTER ANDREA .IAM SORRY TO HEAR THAT IT HAPPENED TO YOU . REMEMBER YOU SPOKE TO ME A MONTH AGO FROM DUBAI BEFORE IT HAPPENED . I COULD NOT BELIEVE SO FAR AND I STILL THINK IT DID NOT HAPPEN ,LET IT BE IN THAT WAY . YOU WERE A KIND HEARTED LADY WHICH MOST OF THE FRIENDS DID NOT UNDERSTAND YOU WELL.BUT I TELL YOU I MIS YOU TOO MUCH MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE AND WE SHALL MEET AGAIN
Posted 02/15/2010 at 04:09:56 PM