Police are investigating the apparent murder of a 57-year-old man in his Chelsea apartment. According to the Post, the "business executive was found slain... at 7:53 p.m. [last night] in his home at 212 West 22nd Street, police said."
The Post adds, "It wasn't immediately clear how the man was killed but his hands were bound with duct tape, sources said." NBC New York also mentioned that the man's mouth was covered with duct tape as well.
A friend of the victim reportedly went to his apartment yesterday, because they were supposed to go out; the friend then called 911 when finding him unconscious. The Post also reports, "The man's name was not released, but sources believe he was a CEO of a major firm and had business and personal interests overseas."
Update: "Sources say the man's hands were tied to a bed, his hands, feet, and mouth were bound with duct tape, and there was a towel over his face. However there were no signs of trauma," per NY1. One said of the death, "That's terrible. He was pretty friendly with everyone in the building."
The Post identifies the victim as John Laubach: "Sources believe Laubach, a Maryland native who moved to West 22nd Street after selling his Fifth Avenue apartment about 18 months ago, was formerly a company CEO and had business and personal interests overseas." Another neighbor said, "I always saw him walking around with a parrot on his shoulder. He looked like Mel Brooks — just better looking.”
