Deborah Jeane Palfrey (March 18, 1956 – May 1, 2008) (dubbed the D.C. Madam by the news media) operated Pamela Martin and Associates, an escort agency in Washington, D.C.. Although she argued that the company’s services were legal, she was convicted on April 15, 2008 of racketeering and money laundering. Slightly over two weeks later, facing a long prison sentence, she was found dead. Authorities have described her death as a suicide. However, concerns have been raised about possible foul play.
On May 1, 2008, Palfrey died in Tarpon Springs, Florida, from what authorities have called a suicide. She was staying with her mother at the time. Palfrey’s body was found in a small storage shed attached to her mother’s mobile home. She had apparently hanged herself from a beam inside the shed. Tarpon Springs police reported finding handwritten suicide notes near the body. According to Palfrey biographer Dan Moldea, “She wasn’t going to jail, she told me that very clearly. She told me she would commit suicide." Palfrey had appeared on the Alex Jones radio show in July 2007, saying "No, I’m not planning to commit suicide. I’m planning on going into court and defending myself vigorously and exposing the government