DOUBTERS SAY D.C. MADAM'S DEATH NOT SUICIDE
RITA FARLOW
Conspiracy theorists nationwide say Deborah Jeane Palfrey was actually a murder victim.
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Tampa Bay Times
The speculation began as soon as news broke that the woman known as the D.C. Madam had committed suicide.

While Tarpon Springs police say the evidence shows Deborah Jeane Palfrey hanged herself Thursday in the shed behind her mother's Tarpon Springs home, that hasn't stopped people nationwide from speculating that she was murdered.

The prevailing theory: Palfrey was silenced to keep her from releasing the names of her escort service's high-profile, inside-the-Beltway clients.

On Friday, the conspiracy theory was gaining ground on blogs and postings by readers on mainstream media sites.

Much of it centers around comments Palfrey made during a March radio interview on The Alex Jones Show. When asked by the host if she was considering suicide, Palfrey replied:

"No, I'm not planning to commit suicide. I'm planning to go into court on April 7...and I plan on defending myself vigorously," she said.

Palfrey was convicted April 15 of racketeering and money laundering while running a prostitution service. She was expected to receive about six years in prison when sentenced July 24.

Some St. Petersburg Times readers posted comments on the newspaper's Web site, tampabay.com:

"Did she really kill herself?" one post read. "Looks like a set up to me."

The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office performed Palfrey's autopsy Friday, said Bill Pellan, director of investigations.

Pellan would not disclose any findings, and said toxicology results could take from 30 to 90 days. A final cause of death could be released much sooner, possibly within days.

Tarpon police Capt. Jeffrey Young said suicides are investigated as suspicious deaths, and each piece of evidence will be thoroughly reviewed before a final report is released, he said.

But Young reiterated there was no foul play.