Millennium Biltmore Hotel

America’s Got Talent Production Company Subpoenaed In Murder Mystery


Posted on Jun 08, 2011 @ 03:25PM - Add a comment

By Alexis Tereszcuk
Radar Staff Reporter

Joe Finley is determined to find out who killed his wife.

Joe Finley is determined to find out who killed his wife.

The day Finley auditioned for the talent show America’s Got Talent in the fall of 2010 his wife Laura went missing, and was found dead in the Los Angeles hotel where they were staying and where he tried out for a coveted spot on the reality show.

EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTS: America’s Got Talent Production Company Subpoenaed In Coonection With Murder

Despite an intensive investigation, police have not arrested anyone to date in connection with Laura’s murder.

In a new legal move, Finley’s high profile attorney Sean Macias has subpoenaed the show’s production company, asking for all video and photos of the day for all of the contestants, according to the documents obtained exclusively by RadarOnline.com.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: 'My Wife Was Raped, Robbed & Murdered', Says America's Got Talent Contestant


Posted on Dec 07, 2010 @ 06:00AM - 2 comments

The America's Got Talent contestant whose wife was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel says she was brutally raped, strangled and robbed before her body was moved to the bottom of a staircase to appear like she fell.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

The America's Got Talent contestant whose wife was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel says she was brutally raped, strangled and robbed before her body was moved to the bottom of a staircase to appear like she fell.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

Speaking exclusively to RadarOnline.com, a devastated Joe Finley said he was convinced Laura, 48, was murdered after being sexually assaulted at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on October 23.

He said there's yet-to-be-released evidence that will prove his stunning claims, including DNA found under Laura's fingernails from when she scratched the killer during the rape.

AUDIO: America's Got Talent Death -- The 911 Call

"It's obvious that she was murdered," Joe told RadarOnline.com, breaking his six-week silence on the mysterious case.

"I believe she was raped, killed and her body was moved, (to the bottom of the staircase) and the scene was staged to make it look as though she'd fallen to her death."

PHOTOS: Celebs Who Have Been Involved In Murder

The mother-of-three vanished while her rocker husband was waiting in line to audition for the hit NBC show.

Her body, clad in just her underwear, was found at about 8 a.m. and investigators initially believed she'd plunged eight stories to her death.

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Joe, a singer/guitarist who went ahead with his audition in front of judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel, said he learned of his wife's death when police showed him a graphic photo.

"I believe she was strangled," he said. "As soon as I saw the photo, I said, 'Someone strangled my wife' because I could tell, from looking at her.

"I kissed her on the lips on the piece of paper and then they took it from me."

Joe also revealed Laura was found without three expensive diamond rings when she was discovered.

"She was wearing three expensive solitaire diamond rings all stacked on one finger and those rings were missing, I believe stolen, when she was found," said Joe.

"But I don't believe that was the motive, I believe the motive was rape and she was fighting to save her life. This was a rape that went too far."

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In a case that has baffled Hollywood, Joe said he has been forced to launch his own investigation and has employed private investigators to find out how his wife of 26 years died, because "police are not telling us anything."

Cops believe the case is a tragic accident, but unconvinced, the musician has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.

"It's impossible that she fell down the stairs or over a railing," Joe told RadarOnline.com.

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"One, Laura would not be using the staircase if there was an elevator right there, and two, if you fall over a rail you're going to the bottom, not ending up on another floor.

"Thirdly, one thousand deaths a year are caused by falling down stairs and the highest percent of that are elderly people. You know what percentage that put this case in; you don't have to do the math to figure it out."

Joe - who described himself as a "broken man with a family that is suffering hour-by-hour" - also accused cops of destroying the crime scene at the historic downtown Los Angeles hotel, where he and Laura had been staying after celebrating his AGT try-out.

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"The police were wasting precious time and destroying a crime scene by allowing loads of people access the hotel," he said.

"They should have closed the hotel down and disallowed anyone from leaving the hotel."

Instead, Joe added, even his own son was able to collect his mother's belongings from their room, while the hotel continued to operate as normal.

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"My son and nephew walked out with clothes we were wearing the night before," Joe said.

"I pray every day that the investigators haven't botched this and they're just not saying anything because they have not come up with a solution as to what happened to Laura."

Joe, who was named a person of interest in the death, said cops interrogated him for nearly seven hours, all while he was handcuffed to a chair and wearing nothing but underwear.

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"The police made me strip down because they were looking for scratches on my body, probably looking for marks that could have indicated there was some sort of struggle," Joe said.

"There wasn't any... God knows how many hours I was stripped down to my underwear, handcuffed to a f**king chair, in pain and screaming for help, to have the cuffs loosened.

"If I am a person of interest, I am ok with that given it is a general rule of thumb in investigations like these. However, all this time, the killer is still out there.

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"I was even threatened by the police if I was seen on surveillance video that I could do 20-years-to-life and my response was:'f**k you'."

Joe said his offer of a polygraph was rejected.

He added, "I'm tired of it...it is not our style to remain silent. Laura and I fought for what we believe in. I just wish someone would look into this as I am spending my life savings on trying to figure out what happened to my wife."

RELATED STORIES:

EXCLUSIVE: Body Of 'America's Got Talent' Contestant's Wife 'Put In The Stairwell' Says Family

Sister of AGT Contestant's Wife: My Sister Was 'Murdered'

EXCLUSIVE: Talent Contestant Reveals Wife Was Found Dead In Underwear

EXCLUSIVE: Wife Of America's Got Talent Contestant Found Dead In Hotel Stairwell

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EXCLUSIVE: Private Investigators Probing Death Of AGT Contestant's Wife


Posted on Nov 26, 2010 @ 02:30AM - Add a comment

The family of a woman found dead at a Los Angeles hotel -- the wife of a contestant on the talent show America's Got Talent -- has launched its own investigation to find out how she died, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Laura Finley, 48, a guest at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, was found at the bottom of a stairwell in late October.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

The family of a woman found dead at a Los Angeles hotel -- the wife of a contestant on the talent show America's Got Talent -- has launched its own investigation to find out how she died, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Laura Finley, 48, a guest at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, was found at the bottom of a stairwell in late October.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

Her husband, Joseph, who was scheduled to perform a musical number on the show, reported his wife missing before his audition, but that was several hours after her body had been found.

Speaking exclusively to RadarOnline.com, Laura’s step-mom Elba Sutterlin said: “The family is doing our own investigation and we’ve been asked to not say anything.”

RadarOnline.com has learned the family has hired private investigators in a desperate bid to establish what happened.

PHOTOS: Celebs Who Have Been Involved In Murder

Laura vanished after partying and indulging in party drugs with Joseph.

According to the rock singer and guitarist, Laura left the room around 3 a.m., headed for the hotel's ice machine, but never came back.

AUDIO: America's Got Talent Death -- The 911 Call

Finley is being called a "person of interest" in the death, according to cops.

Sutterlin previously told RadarOnline.com Laura’s body was moved to the foot of the hotel’s stairs, in what she believes was a deliberate decision by the person who "murdered" her.

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"Because of the way the stairway has been shown in photos in the media there was no way that the way her body was found with no visible trauma," Sutterlin said.

"The coroner said he's thinking supposedly they're ruling it an accident, according to the media, but there's no possible way to fall that kind of a distance and (not) have more trauma to your body.

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"That's why the murder aspect is being considered by our family… somebody put her there... after someone, yes, [killed her.]"

RELATED STORIES:

EXCLUSIVE: Body Of ‘America’s Got Talent’ Contestant’s Wife ‘Put In The Stairwell’ Says Family

Sister of AGT Contestant's Wife: My Sister Was 'Murdered'

EXCLUSIVE: Talent Contestant Reveals Wife Was Found Dead In Underwear

EXCLUSIVE: Wife Of America's Got Talent Contestant Found Dead In Hotel Stairwell

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AUDIO: America's Got Talent Death -- The 911 Call


Posted on Nov 17, 2010 @ 11:45AM - Add a comment

The frantic 911 call regarding the mysterious death of the wife of an America’s Got Talent contestant has been obtained by RadarOnline.com

Laura Finley, 48, was found at the bottom of a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on October 23, 2010.  Her husband Joe Finley was at the hotel auditioning for the television show America’s Got Talent when her body was found.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

Joe has denied any involvement in his wife’s death but confirmed exclusively to RadarOnline.com that she was found in just her underwear.

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EXCLUSIVE: Body Of 'Talent' Contestant's Wife Was 'Put In Stairwell,' Says Family


Posted on Oct 28, 2010 @ 06:30AM - 4 comments

The mystery has deepened surrounding the shocking death of a woman whose husband was an America's Got Talent contestant, RadarOnline.com is reporting.

Laura Finley, 48, was found at the bottom of a staircase at a Los Angeles hotel on Saturday morning.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

The mystery has deepened surrounding the shocking death of a woman whose husband was an America's Got Talent contestant, RadarOnline.com is reporting.

Laura Finley, 48, was found at the bottom of a staircase at a Los Angeles hotel on Saturday morning.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

It had been suggested the woman, married to AGT hopeful Joe Finley for 26 years, had plunged down eight flights of stairs, to her death.

But according to Laura's step mom, who spoke exclusively to RadarOnline.com, her daughter's body was moved to the foot of the stairs, in what she believes was a deliberate decision by the person who "murdered" her.

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Sister of AGT Contestant's Wife: My Sister Was 'Murdered'


Posted on Oct 26, 2010 @ 05:20PM - Add a comment

The sister of Laura Finley, who was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel last weekend while her husband was trying out for America’s Got Talent, is proclaiming she was murdered.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

Jill Sutterlin took to her Facebook page claiming her sister’s death wasn’t an accident and funeral services are pending.

The sister of Laura Finley, who was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel last weekend while her husband was trying out for America’s Got Talent, is proclaiming she was murdered.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

Jill Sutterlin took to her Facebook page claiming her sister’s death wasn’t an accident and funeral services are pending.

“Laura Louise Sutterlin Finley born 5-31-1962 Died 10-23-2010.. She was MURDERED we dont have all the details..Will post her services when arrangments have been made .. IN LOVING MEMORY ... SISTERS ARE FOREVER.. I LOVE YOU LAURA !!!” the post read.

Laura, 48, died after falling to the bottom of a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on October 23.

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EXCLUSIVE: 'America's Got Talent' Death - See The Crime Scene Photos Here


Posted on Oct 26, 2010 @ 11:00AM - 7 comments

Specks of blood still stain the corridors of the Los Angeles hotel where the wife of an America's Got Talent contestant plunged to her death, and only RadarOnline.com has the exclusive photos from the gruesome crime scene.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

Specks of blood still stain the corridors of the Los Angeles hotel where the wife of an America's Got Talent contestant plunged to her death, and only RadarOnline.com has the exclusive photos from the gruesome crime scene.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: See The Crime Scene

Laura Finley, 48, died after falling to the bottom of a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on October 23.

Laura's husband, musician Joe Finley, is considered a person of interest in her death, according to cops.

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