Joseph Brooks suicide
Joseph Brooks suicide. Joseph Brooks, the Oscar-winning songwriter awaiting trial on sex crime charges, was found dead Sunday of an apparent suicide in his New York City apartment, police say. He was 73 years old. His body was found in his Upper East Side apartment with a plastic dry cleaning bag around his head and a towel around his neck. His body was near a helium tank with a hose on it and a suicide note.
He allegedly lured the women to his apartment to audition for movie roles. He was indicted on June 23, 2009. He was being tried by Manhattan’s state Supreme Court for 91 counts and charged with rape, sexual abuse, criminal sexual act, assault, and other charges
According to the Associated Press, the 73-year-old’s body was discovered on a couch in his Upper East Side apartment by a friend on Sunday afternoon. In October 1977 “You Light Up My Life” reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 popularity charts where it held the top position for 10 consecutive weeks, which was then the longest run at #1 in the chart’s history. With sales of over four million copies in the United States alone, the song ultimately became the biggest hit of the 1970s.
He pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual abuse and other charges in 2009—was charged in the death of his former girlfriend in a separate case. Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal said she has a dozen “uncharged” victims when Solomon asked about what witness information will be turned over to Brooks’ lawyer before trial.
According to the New York Daily News, Brooks had been charged two years ago in the alleged rapes of 11 women. “A father is accused of the sexual abuse of so many different women and the son is jailed on murder charges – it’s just a horrible mess,” Susan Karten, lawyer for the Cachay family said.