From: NewNowNext
The owner of a New York gay club was found strangled to death in his home, police report.
The body of Savyon Zabar, owner of Escuelita, was discovered by his roommate in their Upper West Side apartment Wednesday morning. Zabar, 54, was found in his bed.
Police are calling the death a homicide and are looking to question Zabar’s masseuse.
Before it closed last year, Escuelita was a popular destination for New York’s Latin gay community—home, as New York magazine described, “dieseled-out hip-hop gays, sweet cocoa go-go boys, and a handful of blanquitos, all of whom stick around for the truly fierce after-midnight drag competition.”
It was also one of the few places in Manhattan where ball culture thrived. Zabar even welcomed Rihanna for a surprise birthday party for ballroom MC Jack Mizrah.
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Rest In Peace Big Ben! I could never get you to take a photo but my birthday night with Rihanna you didn't mind. I'm going to miss you and your crazy ways,the drama, the gossip and dinners, so much to say wish I had time but you knew I loved you! Thank you for the memories #bigbenfamily #escoscrew#rumbleballlegacy |
“[Savyon] was a huge figure in the gay community,” former employee Fernando Munizaga told the Daily News. “He gave us a voice. He gave us opportunity. He gave a platform to the gay Latin community.”
Neighbors say Zabar often had an entourage of young men at his apartment. “Really handsome guys, well built, lots of tattoos,” neighbor Vinnie de Angelis recalled. “They were crashing [in his apartment].”
He had been robbed before, but authorities don’t think robbery was a motive in his murder: In 2012, a man pistol whipped Zabar on the street and stole $8,000 in cash and his iPhone. That same year, a burglar forced his way into Zabar’s apartment and made away with $4,700 in cash.
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