Police are looking to talk to the above man in regards to the death of Chelsea fixture John Laubach, who was found lifeless, bound and gagged in his West 22nd Street apartment on Friday. Yesterday police spent some time questioning a man seen in elevator footage about the murder but eventually cut him loose. The above person of interest was photographed at a Chase ATM trying to use to the late floral designer's bank card.
The man in question was also reported to have attempted to use the card at a Bronx diner Sunday night. He was unable to use the card either time. NBC New York reports, "Earlier Monday, police questioned a 24-year-old man but released him after interviewing him. Law-enforcement sources told NBC New York that they were led to the man after using facial recognition software on a still photo taken from a surveillance camera. The search turned up a possible hit -- an old mugshot for the 24-year-old man."
According to his neighbors Laubach, who was noted for the white cockatoo, Bolo, he often had on his shoulder, was seen regularly bringing young men home with him. Because of that fact the Post speculates that "The ill-fated florist may have entered into a 'financial relationship' with the young men and they would visit his apartment, the source said." Until, that is, something went very wrong. Police are also working with a neighbor on sketches of some suspicious men in the lobby.
Laubach was found Friday night, wearing nothing but a white shirt, bound by an electrical cord and gagged with a towel over his head by a friend who had could not reach him that day. His apartment had reportedly been ransacked and his laptop was gone. If you know anything that might help solve the case, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
