NY - Catherine Woods, 21, stabbed to death in her NYC apartment, 27 Nov 2005

[nanandjim]

I think those are the buildings you have to have a key to get in or be buzzed in for the door to unlock.

Yes, it is a shame. She is simply gorgeous. Kind of resembles Laci in a way, too.

But what if the murderer was standing outside of the locked entrance, just waiting for someone to exit. He could have grabbed the door as David (or another tenant) was exiting. So, he wouldn't have needed a key.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

But what if the murderer was standing outside of the locked entrance, just waiting for someone to exit. He could have grabbed the door as David (or(another tenant) was exiting. So, he wouldn't have needed a key.

Yeah, that definitely could've happened.

I wonder if the ex who was living with her has witnesses who saw him where he said he was? Even so, he still could've had time to clean himself up.

I thought I read that he did have skin under his nails but no scratches on him??

Very weird case.

 

[GreenEyedGirl]

My thing is this. If I walked into my apartment and found my Girlfriend laying dead on the floor I would have blood all over me from going to her and trying to help her. especially if we were having a "Lovely Evening"


:bang:

I totally agree! Something is very fishy here.

 

[KatherineQ]

Yeah, that definitely could've happened.

I wonder if the ex who was living with her has witnesses who saw him where he said he was? Even so, he still could've had time to clean himself up.

I thought I read that he did have skin under his nails but no scratches on him??

Very weird case.

I think SHE had skin under her nails.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

I think SHE had skin under her nails.

Ahhh... well that makes more sense why it said he didn't have scratch marks on him :doh:

Thanks!

 

[joanofarc]

But what if the murderer was standing outside of the locked entrance, just waiting for someone to exit. He could have grabbed the door as David (or(another tenant) was exiting. So, he wouldn't have needed a key.

So then, what is the motive? Why kill her? She wasn't sexually assaulted was she? How would the perp know that David would be gone long enough to warrant an attack on her? A secured building with no signs of forced entry..hmmm..I would be checking out the other tenants in the building if I were L.E....

So for me, after initially suspecting the "lovely evening" man now I am not so sure.....with that violent of an attack you would think he would have marks on him.....something to make cops suspicious of him but it seems his story may be checking out.....it was said in one of the news articles that he was going to get his car to drive her to the strip club for work and on the way stopped at his work (where he is a doorman)....so I wonder where his car was parked??

 

[mysteriew]

The young stripper from Ohio slain in her upper East Side apartment may have been trapped in a deadly love triangle with her longtime boyfriend - and her dance partner at a local gym - sources said yesterday.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that someone on a cell phone called 21-year-old aspiring Broadway star Catherine Woods seven times in rapid succession minutes before her throat was cut Sunday, the sources said.

It wasn't immediately clear who made the rapid-fire phone calls to Woods.

Both Haughn and Cortez, of Spanish Harlem, were released by cops yesterday after being questioned at length. Neither has been charged with a crime. "Paul is a good kid with a lot of heart and soul," said Cortez's father, Manuel, who lives in Minnesota. "I just spoke to him over Thanksgiving. He sounded chipper and he wasn't depressed."

Cortez's stepfather in the Bronx, Ducal Drake, said, "We're in shock because it's our son." "This lady came over two years ago," Drake said of Woods. "He was her boyfriend for a week." In Columbus, Haughn's sister Brittany, 19, revealed that her brother and Woods got engaged last Valentine's Day.

EDITED BY DP DUE TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGMENT

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/370226p-314923c.html

 

[concernedperson]

This is an odd case. With throat slashing there would be a lot of blood. If he was totally clean and walked in on it, it would be on his shoes and nowhere else. This is what is being reported.....still could be Braunstein. I have been waiting for him to escalate and now we know he was familiar with the Chelsea district and could have been to Privileges.Just throwing out possibilities here...don't know squat.

Also, if the BF had done this, assuming they have checked the drains, there would be so much forensic evidence. If they haven't, which, I doubt then he could have. Not 100% sure of the BF at this point...need more info.

 

[mysteriew]

The seven calls in rapid fire succession is an intriguing point.
A warning to her? A way to get her on edge? A way to determine if there is anyone with her?
They remind me of those horror movies. You know, the don't answer the phone movies. Makes it sound like a Braustein move.
Yet the 2nd boyfriend is looking like a possible also. May have been depressed over her. Looks like they have known each other a good while, but haven't been together as boyfriend and girlfriend long. Possible problems in the new relationship. Maybe the relationship meant more to him than to her? Maybe he had been desiring her, but until the breakup with Haughn didn't think he had a chance, then after going out with her, the realization that to her- he was just the guy she used to show Haughn she was moving on?

 

[concernedperson]

Cortez is a distinct possibility. I am sure by now that LE is looking at him. He seems smitten but to what degree I don't know. You have to be pretty smarmy to slash someone's throat and leave them, basically decapitated.He could have another side that was dark, to say the least.

 

[SewingDeb]

Yeah, that definitely could've happened.

I wonder if the ex who was living with her has witnesses who saw him where he said he was? Even so, he still could've had time to clean himself up.

I thought I read that he did have skin under his nails but no scratches on him??

Very weird case.

I think SHE has skin under her nails but HE had no scratches. I hope they are doing DNA tests on the skin.

Oops--I see someone else answered that. The skin under her nails should tell them a lot.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Wow, that's a great story you posted.

I can't seem to blame the live-in boyfriend after reading that one.
The ex who was the Yoga guy ... Cortez ... now he may be a different story but then again he doesn't sound like he did it either. But he seems more likely than the live-in ex.

Gosh, maybe it was someone completely different

Oh my, who knows.

This is so, so sad. Seems she was loved by many.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

This is an odd case. With throat slashing there would be a lot of blood. If he was totally clean and walked in on it, it would be on his shoes and nowhere else. This is what is being reported.....still could be Braunstein. I have been waiting for him to escalate and now we know he was familiar with the Chelsea district and could have been to Privileges.Just throwing out possibilities here...don't know squat.

Also, if the BF had done this, assuming they have checked the drains, there would be so much forensic evidence. If they haven't, which, I doubt then he could have. Not 100% sure of the BF at this point...need more info.

I must've missed something ... who is Braunstein? I need to reread!! :banghead:

 

[concernedperson]

I must've missed something ... who is Braunstein? I need to reread!! :banghead:

The fake fireman who staged a sexual assault. Read the thread it is totally fascinating.

 

[mysteriew]

I must've missed something ... who is Braunstein? I need to reread!! :banghead:

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31606&page=2

 

[PrayersForMaura]

The fake fireman who staged a sexual assault. Read the thread it is totally fascinating.

you all are good! I think you could be onto something. This guy seems more likely to do this than these ex boyfriends. I am really starting to believe the ex live in guy is innocent, and if either of them did it, Cotez seems more likely but even he seems too heartbroken to want her dead... he'd want her back if anything.

I hope that LE is checking into this, and the phoen calls as a possibility as being made with a pre-paid calling card.

 

[KatherineQ]

you all are good! I think you could be onto something. This guy seems more likely to do this than these ex boyfriends. I am really starting to believe the ex live in guy is innocent, and if either of them did it, Cotez seems more likely but even he seems too heartbroken to want her dead... he'd want her back if anything.

I hope that LE is checking into this, and the phoen calls as a possibility as being made with a pre-paid calling card.

With skin under her fingernails, unless a complete stranger did this who doesn't ever commit another felony, it's only a matter of time before he's caught. The sad thing is when you have a job as a stripper there are SO MANY possibilities of who could be lurking.

I feel so sad for her family. What a loss.

 

[mysteriew]

Braunstein's DNA would be on record from his attack on the his co worker. Would that be automatically checked against the DNA found on Catherine?

 

[scandi]

Braunstein's DNA would be on record from his attack on the his co worker. Would that be automatically checked against the DNA found on Catherine?

]

New York does have a DNA bank, so I'm sure they'll plunk it in there and into the national base as well. Fingerprints will be done the same way.

This is a disparaging case. A young talented beauty living with her ex, probably to make ends meet, and a new love in her life. I can sure see the triangle and how it must have caused great consternation for all involved.

I feel so sorry for her parents as they had a double whammie with her death and learning she danced in strip clubs when they thought she was on B
roadway. Too bad she felt she had to lie to them. I don't think she had much time from the time the perp entered the apt until she was dead to ask for God's forgiveness. I hope he will forgive her anyway because of the circumstances.

Hey, that reminds me of Katz. Has anyone seen her lately? Miss that gal. LOL


Scandi

 

[PrayersForMaura]

]

New York does have a DNA bank, so I'm sure they'll plunk it in there and into the national base as well. Fingerprints will be done the same way.

This is a disparaging case. A young talented beauty living with her ex, probably to make ends meet, and a new love in her life. I can sure see the triangle and how it must have caused great consternation for all involved.

I feel so sorry for her parents as they had a double whammie with her death and learning she danced in strip clubs when they thought she was on B
roadway. Too bad she felt she had to lie to them. I don't think she had much time from the time the perp entered the apt until she was dead to ask for God's forgiveness. I hope he will forgive her anyway because of the circumstances.

Hey, that reminds me of Katz. Has anyone seen her lately? Miss that gal. LOL


Scandi

It sounds like she led a good life and was loved by many. I think her topless dancing is definitely something God would forgive as opposed to what was done to her. I have to believe she is in a better place now.