the Rye Town Hilton. Prosecutors said it led to six convictions in all and told the judge they supported a below-the-guidelines sentence. Ben Novack Jr. had doubts about how his mother died, but he was killed before he could demand a more thorough inquiry. The victim, 53-year-old Ben Novack Jr., was a multi-millionaire Florida businessman. July 12, 2009, 6:54 am: Ben Novack Jr. speaks briefly by cell phone with a hotel manager. Watchlist. Three days after Ben was killed in Rye Brook, New York, Narcy and her daughter flew back to Fort Lauderdale on separate flights. "I want her to . 0 Ben Novack Jr. Rye Brook Police Department, via Associated Press. Prosecutors alleged that Narcy was afraid that Ben would leave her for Bliss, who testified at Narcy's trial; their prenuptial agreement would only leave her $65,000 in a divorce. I loved my husband. So when I opened the paper on July 13, 2009 and saw a piece about the murder of the son of a famous Miami Beach hotelier, I thought this was a story that had legs. Donna Greene, communications director for Westchester County, said Novack has been kept "on ice, literally and figuratively" since his death, with both Narcy Novack and Abad laying claim to the body. When investigators discovered Novack on the morning of July 9, 2012, his limbs were bound with duct tape, and his eyes were completely gouged out. It is based on the headline-grabbing case of Ben Novack Jr., a hotel heir who was found dead in a hotel in Rye Brook, N.Y., in 2009. The warrant indicates that computers and hard drives were also taken from an office in the unattached building. Though several expensive pieces of jewelry remained in the hotel room, a gold bracelet with the letters "B-E-N" spelled out in diamonds seemed to be missing, according to the Rye Brook police. the Murderpedia project stay alive. Associated Press Rebecca Bliss, 40, her arms and legs heavily tattooed, said she met Ben Novack Jr., whose father built the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach, through an online ad for sex. Here she is pictured with Ben Snr. You can see Roberts' exclusive interview with Ben Novack's mistress, who police believe was part of the motive for murder, on Saturday night on "48 Hours" at 10 p.m. on CBS 2. September 12, 2013 / 5:12 PM 'I was told by numerous sources that Narcy, once a self-proclaimed voodoo priestess, had become involved with a very well-connected rabbi after her husbands death,' Glatt told MailOnline. As police on both ends of the Eastern seaboard continue their investigation, the Rye Brook Police Department -- small, with just 28 officers -- has set up a Web site they hope will generate tips. Each episode cohosts Kareem Tabsch and Joey Daoud narrate the facts of the case, with details, anecdotes and general color offered by an interview guest with a . Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Browse 1,047,759 murders_of_bernice_and_ben_novack,_jr. "I think she she knew she was gonna be replaced," Carpentier added. Now May Abad, Narcy's daughter, stands to inherit $150,000, and the rest of the fortune stands to go to her two sons. 'Narcy showed police her husbands sick photo collection of naked amputees. By Gerry W. Beyer. "Only a monster can do this kind of evil thing," Narcy told investigators hours after the killing. However, over the length of time I became associated as the reporter on this story, more and more people came forward to share with me their stories about the Novack family. He had been hog-tied, blinded in both eyes and beaten with gym dumbells. His father built the storied Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach, a celebrity hangout in the 1950s and '60s that appeared in the movies "Scarface . I was the first reporter to uncover the story of Novack Sr.'s long-forgotten adopted son, Ronnie Novack, who was homeless, having lived on the street most of his life. Please enter valid email address to continue. The search warrant also noted that hotel officials had determined that no keys were used to enter the hotel room between the time Narcy Novack left for breakfast and the time she returned. Related ArticlesFrom a prison cell to driving Rolls-Royces and hanging out with movie stars: How the Wolves of Wall Street are on top of the world after being released from prison over $200million fraudMother 'watched as her boyfriend smothered their baby then they put limp infant back in playpen and had sex'Former high school librarian and prison chief arrested in plot to 'kidnap, cook and EAT women and children''If it can happen to my daughter it can happen to anyone': Mother of Audrie Pott who committed suicide after alleged sexual assault bravely speaks out for the first time about her death. An instigator in Yonkers gang assault sentenced to 12 years . Ben Novack Jr.'s first wife was a beautiful Las Vegas showgirl in her late twenties named Jill Campion. And in return, Narcy has made the cornerstone of her defense the accusation that it was Abad who actually killed Ben and then framed her. Garcia and Gonzalez have pleaded guilty to the killings, the New York Daily News reported. At the conclusion of the trial, Narcy and Veliz were each convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, domestic violence, stalking, money laundering, and witness tampering. "Narcy always suspected Ben of cheating. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help But his luxurious, celebrity-studded lifestyle would ironically end in another hotel roomwhere the police found him bound up in duct tape, beaten to death. According to the police report, Narcy had hired a security guard to keep May from getting in the guest house. "The only one else that had access to that room was Narcy," Carpentier said. 16:24 20 Apr 2013, updated 16:24 20 Apr 2013. "It was a horrific scene," a detective told "Dying to Belong" about Ben Novack's murder. [6], The Novack murders have been televised on several programs including Deadly Rich, My Dirty Little Secret (ID),[12] 48 Hours,[13] Dateline NBC,[10] Snapped,[14] True Crime with Aphrodite Jones[15][16] and Dying to Belong. And so Narcy heads to the guest house -- but not before arming herself with a crowbar. Blood stains inside the kitchen of Bernice Novack's home in Fort 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The Herald reported that Abad said her stepfather was having an affair, even setting the younger woman up with a place to live, and that Narcy Novack was jealous of the other woman. Novack, 53, was bashed with dumbbells in his bed and had his eyes sliced with a knife. After 30 Years the Fontainebleau Wont Be a Hilton; New Owner Turnberry Associates Plans on Running the 1,400-room Resort Itself / February 2005. It was a horrible murder, as Bernice did not go quietly. I was also told she had funneled large amounts of cash from the estate and valuable Batman comics through him. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. More than two months after his murder, Ben Novack Jr.'s body remained in the Westchester County morgue, prompting police to wonder why his widow was taking so long to have him buried. Violent: Glatt says the marriage was volatile from the start with Narcy accusing him of having a fetish for naked amputees and Ben once called police claiming she had pistol-whipped him, article-2249691-168F0ECC000005DC-173_306x423.jpg, article-2162339-13B529E1000005DC-909_306x423.jpg. presented as evidence in the court The Welcome Home Elvis Show. It worked. Bliss said in July 2009, her bills were no longer being paid because Ben Novack had been killed in New York. 'Sinatra became a close family friend he was an uncle to Ben as he grew up and flew the family on his private jet to President Kennedys inauguration in 1960. ", Karas acknowledged that Garcia's cooperation was important. My editor agreed and the story about the letter was buried inside the paper. They also look at robbery and other motives for . Narcy Novack and her brother are serving life sentences after being convicted last year of orchestrating the killings. Hilton, New York. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code, Vast majority of U.S. homes are unaffordable to the average buyer. in murder of Ben Novack. There are people were too afraid or didn't trust me enough to talk about what they knew when this case was still fresh and the culprits were still at large. trial of Narcy Novack, which started April 23, 2012. Ben Novack Jr. found his mother sprawled in her utility room, face down on the floor, wearing a nightgown drenched in blood. Yonkers Mayor Spano shares story of surviving sexual abuse as a kid. The Sun-Sentinel reports that Novack had been attending the convention he planned for 1,200 Spanish-speaking people for Amway Global International. Rebecca Bliss, 40, her arms and legs heavily tattooed, said she met Ben Novack Jr., whose father built the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach, through an online ad for sex. I took my piles of binders, a copy of her will, and the photographs to three seasoned police detectives to review. Ben Novack Jr., president and C.E.O. The police investigation into the murder causes a rift between his wife and step-daughter. Three months later Ben, 53, was killed in an out-of-the-way hotel room in wealthy Rye, New York. Fort Lauderdale police were forced to reopen the investigation into the family matriarch's death. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code, Vast majority of U.S. homes are unaffordable to the average buyer. In this undated image provided by the Rye Brook Police Dept., Ben 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved Advertisement. Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee, "Narcy Novack, brother guilty of plotting murders", "Ben Novack Sr., 78, Is Dead; Founder of Fontainebleau", "Bernice Novack, former model and wife of Fontainebleau hotelier", "Bernice Novack case shows coroner, police aren't perfect", "Narcy Novack case: Daughter poised to inherit multimillion dollar estate (NY/FL)", "Narcy Novack Sentenced To Life In Family Killings Case", "Widow Arrested in Murder of Ben Novack Jr., son of Miami Hotel Legend", "NBC Dateline showcases millionaire murder", "Narcy Novack back in court to fight for marital assets", "My Dirty Little Secret, Season 2, Episode 2: "The Stripper's Secrets", "Preview: True Crime with Aphrodite Jones: "Blood Money", "TV show chronicles Ben Novack Jr. murder", "Rob Lowe, Candice Bergen, Paz Vega to Take on Narcy Novack Story for Lifetime", FBI Press Release: Sentencing of Narcisa Veliz Novack and Cristobal Veliz (December 17, 2012), U.S. Department of Justice Press Release: Alejandro Garcia Sentenced In White Plains Federal Court To 17 Years And Six Months In Prison For The Beating Deaths Of Ben And Bernice Novack (September 12, 2013), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Bernice_and_Ben_Novack_Jr.&oldid=1140339215, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 17:13. The agent said that as far as he knew, no investigation was mounted. She was a very jealous woman," a family friend said. The report also included police officers' doubts about the Novacks' credibility. Ben Novack Jr., whose father founded the lavish Miami Beach landmark frequented by President John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, was found beaten to death in a suburban New York hotel in July. The Spanish actress Paz Vega plays his wife, Narcy, who was sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating the murder. was always close with Frank Sinatra (left). That's when we'll find out who jurors believed -- the mother or the daughter. Port Chester's skyline will soon look much different. When investigators discovered Novack on the morning of July 9, 2012, his limbs were bound with . They married in June 1979, receiving gifts from Frank Sinatra and Ann-Margret before . Bliss said she made adult videos in California in 2005 and 2006 under the stage name Mona Love. "She admits being a prostitute, [acting in] pornographic movies," Carpentier said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Bernice and Ben Novack Sr. owned the famous Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. Ben Novack Sr. had very little to do with his adopted son . In fact, she was busy raiding his valuable Batman collection, stashing cash from his company coffers and sneaking into his safe deposit boxes by fooling bank tellers into believing her husband, alive and well at home, would return with a permission slip. 'The Novak family is Miami Beach royalty. Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below First published on January 25, 2013 / 10:01 PM. She said Novack told her he would leave his wife for her and get a divorce, adding that Bliss Narcy Novack called her several times, yelling at her. Police thought Novack murder was sex game gone wrong. New York), Police found the mutilated body of Ben Novack Jr. lying bound and gagged on the floor of his suite at The room she goes into with May however doesn't have any cameras. According to Rye Brook police chief Gregory Austin, Novack's wife found him . [6], Narcy Novack, from Fort Lauderdale,[7] was arrested for the murders of her husband and mother-in-law in July 2010, three days shy of a year after her husband's death. Lauderdale. After learning Novack was planning to divorce his wife and that she would have beenbarred from the Novack family's multimillion-dollar estate due to a prenuptial agreement police began investigating her possible involvement in the murder. Love, money, death, strippers. If he died, however, his entire $10 million estate would be bequeathed to her, according to the Associated Press. JPMorgan equity research analysts predict that the airline industry alone will need many years to recover to 2019 levels. Bernice . He was bound with duct tape and his eyes were gouged out. Items included in the Television News search service. Narcy Novack was said to be at least somewhat involved in her husband's business affairs, although Abad told the Miami Herald it was she, not her mother, who helped run Convention Concepts Unlimited. Please enter valid email address to continue. More than five years after Bens death, the fight for his fortune still continues. westchester. Abad's mother, Narcy Novack, was accused in federal court last summer of hiring people to kill her husband, Ben Novack Jr., 53, a wealthy Fort Lauderdale businessman whose family once owned Miami . The story of Ben Novack, the heir to famed Fontainebleau hotel who was brutally murdered by his wife, Narcy Novack, has received widespread media coverage and resulted in multiple and protracted litigations. She denied having anything to do with them. I compiled binders full of evidence, photographs showing blood splattered all over home; the autopsy report that said she had massive head injuries, a broken jaw and finger. (CBS/AP) WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - A hit man was sentenced Thursday to more than 17 years behind bars for killing Ben Novack Jr., a Florida millionaire, and his mother, Bernice Novack, under the direction of the millionaire's wife. The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is featured in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, in the sweeping aerial shot that follows the opening credits and accompanies composer John Barrys big-band track Into Miami. She testified that Narcy Novack said: If she couldn't have him, no other woman was going to have him.. Bliss, 40, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., testified that they began . [] He was face-down in a pool of blood. ', From a prison cell to driving Rolls-Royces and hanging out with movie stars: How the Wolves of Wall Street are on top of the world after being released from prison over $200million fraud, Mother 'watched as her boyfriend smothered their baby then they put limp infant back in playpen and had sex', Former high school librarian and prison chief arrested in plot to 'kidnap, cook and EAT women and children', 'If it can happen to my daughter it can happen to anyone': Mother of Audrie Pott who committed suicide after alleged sexual assault bravely speaks out for the first time about her death. He appeared to be hit over the head with some sort of an object. To find out more about how Narcy was finally caught, watch "Dying to Belong" on Oxygen. Novack grew up in the hotel, which was a celebrity playpen in the 1950s and `60s and appeared . 8. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Mary Jane Fine. in New York. Her brother was also found guilty of arranging the murders and is serving life in jail. It was just a complete mess,"said Sgt. He had his own suite at the hotel. It worked. "It was a brutal scene. Narcy Novack's lawyer Howard Tanner did not return voicemail or e-mail messages seeking comment but has said previously that his client was not involved in her husband's murder and that she has been cooperative with police. When detectives questioned her, Narcy denies hitting May with a crowbar. Asked by: Enola Dickens DDS. Police learned from Ben Novack's wife, Narcy Novack, that she and her husband were at the hotel all weekend, running a large Amway convention.