LA Sheriff’s Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau investigators arrested a suspect on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 who had portrayed himself as a witness to a murder for hire plot. He is the second suspect to be arrested in this case.
LA Sheriff’s Cyber Crimes detectives allege that 28-year old Suspect Edward Feinstein had a conflict with Dawn DaLuise (the other arrested suspect), whom he claimed to be friends with. Starting in July 2013, Feinstein allegedly created and began distributing paper flyers that were sexually explicit and included a photo of (Suspect) Dawn DaLuise’s face. He posted Craigslist ads pretending to be Dawn DaLuise, and requesting males to act out a “rape fantasy.” The ads included the home address, phone number, and a photo of Dawn DaLuise.
After the ads were brought to the attention of DaLuise, she believed the person responsible was a skin care business competitor in West Hollywood. She then began communications by text and phone calls with more than one person, in an effort to hire someone to kill the person she believed was trying to solicit rape against her and threaten the safety of her daughters.
“She is culpable for soliciting someone to kill the victim,” said Captain Shaun Mathers of the Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “She believed it would be carried out.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators arrested her before anyone was physically hurt.
Evidence led investigators to believe that Feinstein was actually the person who had created and distributed the flyers, sent mass emails, and posted the Craigslist ads, soliciting DaLuise to be raped. He also utilized various forms of media and photographs to make DaLuise believe that her adult daughters were in danger. DaLuise stated that she feared for the safety of her daughters. When the investigation began, at least one news media outlet published possible evidence that was reportedly given to them by Feinstein.
A search warrant was served by investigators at Feinstein’s West Hollywood apartment on Monday, March 10, 2014. They discovered he had moved out the Thursday prior. Investigators continued to follow leads and located Feinstein in Studio City. A search warrant was served at Feinstein’s new home on March 12, at approximately 10:00a.m. Investigators arrested him for Stalking 646.9(a)P.C., and he was booked at West Hollywood Station, Booking #3891477, with a bail of $150,000.00. Feinstein bonded out of jail. He is scheduled to appear at Airport Court in Los Angeles, on May 14, 2014.
The investigation is still ongoing concerning people allegedly contacted by DaLuise to carry out the murder for hire. There is presently no evidence that anyone acted to carry out the murder. Meanwhile, an additional male is under investigation as a possible additional suspect in the cyber stalking of DaLuise. Almost 20 warrants have been written and served in this case, seven were for locations. Large amounts of evidence have been collected and are currently being processed.
The investigation first began when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies received information about the West Hollywood area Cyber Stalking case on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. While investigating the Cyber Stalking allegation, separate information was obtained regarding alleged solicitation for murder. LA Sheriff’s Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau investigators, following up on leads, served several warrants in the Los Angeles County area on the morning of March 5, 2014. Suspect Dawn DaLuise, was arrested and booked at West Hollywood station. DaLuise has been in custody since March 5, 2014. Her bail is $1 million dollars. She was arraigned at Airport Court in Los Angeles on Friday, March 7, 2014.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau at (661) 287-4096.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to crimes (274637), or by using the website https://lacrimestoppers.org.
source: LAPD news release
