Williamsburg Landlord Murder Case: New man Indicted for Murder and Kidnapping
The acting Brooklyn Attorney General has today announced that a new man, Erskin Felix, 38, has been indicted for murder and kidnapping in the 2014 Williamsburg landlord murder case. According to Attorney General Gonzalez, Erskin, his 28 year old brother Kendall Felix, and cousins Irvine Henry, 35, and Kendel, all from Crown Heights, were the prime suspects in the landlord’s murder.
Investigations revealed that the three suspects Erskin and Kendall Felix and cousin Irvine Henry, were partners in a constructions trade, and were contracted by the victim, Menachem Stark, a landlord in Williamsburg. The acting Brooklyn attorney, Gonzalez, said that according to investigations, Kendall and Erskin Felix confronted Stark on Rutledge Street in Williamsburg, as he was heading home from his office. The confrontation which happened on the 2nd of January, 2014, saw the two force the victim into a standby van before driving away. Stark tried to fight the criminals but they overpowered him and managed to restrain him. They were apparently joined by their cousins Irvin and Kendel Felix in a different location where they held the victim captive, during which time he succumbed to asphyxia.
Investigations further revealed that the main motive behind the kidnapping of the landlord was to extort cash from him. The instigator of the extortion idea was Erskin, who then convinced his brother to help him with the kidnapping.
When the four criminals realized that the victim was dead, they are alleged to have tried to return him to Rutledge Street to dispose off his body. But on arrival, Erskin and Irvin got off the vehicle and to their utter surprise found police already packed at the crime scene. Erskin then gave ordered for Kendel and Kendall to drive to Nassau County and dispose the body in a dumpster, after which he ordered them to set the dumpster on fire.
Nassau County police officers discovered Starks body in a dumpster behind a gas station in Great Neck, Long Island, about 17 hours later, partially burned. An autopsy that was carried out by Nassau County Medical Examiner’s concluded the cause of death to be asphyxia that resulted from chest and neck compression.
A jury trial for Kendall Felix convicted him of second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping of Menachem Stark, a father of seven. Meanwhile Erskin Felix has been indicted for kidnapping and murder, while his 35 year old cousin Irvin Henry has been indicted for conspiracy, according to the acting Brooklyn DA. If convicted, Erskin Felix faces a maximum of 25 years life in jail.
Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This indictment is the latest step in our journey toward justice for Menachem Stark, his seven children and the rest of the family his killers took him from. The tireless work of NYPD investigators and prosecutors from my Office will ensure that all involved in this grievous crime are held to answer for their despicable acts. ”
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt
