Normal view
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Luxury Florida mall's string of murders and kidnapping have one thing in common: retired FBI agent
Luxury Florida mall's string of murders and kidnapping have one thing in common: retired FBI agent
It’s been 18 years since a South Florida community was rocked by a series of murders and a kidnapping at a local mall, and a retired FBI agent who worked on the cases for over a decade believes the crimes are connected and that the killer may still be "out there."
After shopping at the Boca Raton Town Center Mall, mother of two Randi Gorenberg and Nancy Bochicchio and her 7-year-old daughter Joey were murdered, and another mother known as Jane Doe was kidnapped with her 2-year-old son, all within a nine-month timeframe in 2007.
"I heard about them just like everybody else on the news, and it was just horrible," retired FBI Agent John MacVeigh, who investigated the three cases for 10 years, told Fox News Digital. "We contacted Boca Police Department, knowing that it was something that, you know, we could possibly assist."
Gorenberg, 52, was last seen on surveillance video walking out of the Town Center Mall in the early afternoon of March 23, 2007. About 45 minutes later, someone called 911 from a park about five miles away, claiming to hear gunshots and seeing someone being pushed out of a vehicle. Authorities soon found Gorenberg's body at Governor Lawton Chiles Memorial Park.
"It does appear that she resisted at some point," MacVeigh said of Gorenberg. "She was shot and basically thrown out the car while the suspect drove away."
Less than five months later, Jane Doe and her young son were kidnapped from the parking lot at the same mall. MacVeigh described the harrowing incident as Jane Doe got into her SUV Aug. 7, 2007.
"She puts her son from the passenger side into the center car seat. She walks around to the trunk," MacVeigh said. "She opens the trunk. She puts the stroller in. She walks back around. As she opens the door to get in the driver's seat, the suspect had already jumped in the back passenger seat. Now, you're talking seconds … so he had to be extremely close to her."
The suspect forced Jane Doe to drive to an ATM and take out $600.
"Just terrified. I mean, she's in the car with her 2-year-old, and this man has got a gun on her and threatening her," MacVeigh said.
Unusually, the perpetrator seemed to be "a little bit sympathetic" toward the mother and son, the retired FBI agent added. The gunman decided to drive them back to the mall, where he put blacked-out swim goggles over her eyes and handcuffed her wrists before fleeing.
MacVeigh said, to escape, Jane Doe "took the handcuffs and went up under her feet around to get out from behind her back" and then drove to the valet and reported the attack.
"It was just so blatant and bizarre because you just wouldn't think that somebody would be accosted in the middle of the day — handcuffed, blindfolded — forced to go to an ATM and then brought back to the same location and dropped off," he said. "It wasn't the norm."
'DATING GAME KILLER' KEPT 'TROPHIES' THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO HIS DOWNFALL: DETECTIVE
Four months later, 47-year-old Bochicchio and her young daughter Joey went shopping at the Boca Raton Town Center Dec. 12, 2007. And, just like in the case of the abduction, authorities believe they were attacked as they were trying to leave the mall's parking lot.
Investigators believe they were abducted and taken to an ATM, where they were forced to withdraw $500 and that the suspect used duct tape, plastic ties, handcuffs and goggles to bind and control Bochicchio and her daughter, according to the Boca Raton Police Department's website.
"Nancy resists. She breaks her handcuffs. We do believe that she tried to get Joey out of the car, and then he turned around and shot both of them," MacVeigh said.
Officers found the mother and daughter dead shortly before midnight in their vehicle in the mall's parking lot with the car's engine still running, police say.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Now a private investigator, MacVeigh observed an similar theme in all three attacks tied to the local mall.
"The suspect was trying to control women," he explained. In both the Jane Doe and Bochicchio cases, the suspect used a pair of blacked-out swim goggles, as well as other material, to bind and control the victims.
MacVeigh said another repeated detail was the time of day. All three crimes took place in "broad daylight" and "right around the same time."
"It's not a small little coincidence. There's not … one or two small things. This is an accumulation of things," he added, referring to the related details among the cases.
NEWS ANCHOR'S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE WAS CRIME OF ‘JEALOUSY’: PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
Detectives with the Boca Raton Police Department and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office created a task force in January 2007 to work together on solving the Gorenberg and Bochicchio murders, according to the Boca Raton Police Department website. However, the task force later disbanded, and both departments continued working on the individual cases with the FBI's assistance, MacVeigh said.
Investigators collected several hundred pieces of evidence from the Bochicchio crime, including DNA samples, and "a massive investigation involving resources from around the country" unfolded, the Boca Raton police website added. Detectives went through hours of surveillance video, searched various locations and followed up on leads.
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
"We sent agents to the mall because they were interested in trying to find out if maybe it was somebody that had worked there," MacVeigh said. "We issued subpoenas, and we went door to door. It was pretty overwhelming because you don't realize how many people work at that mall. And I think the number when we were done was somewhere in the neighborhood of 14,000."
After her abduction, authorities spoke with Jane Doe about the individual who attacked her and created a composite sketch to try to determine his identity.
"You and I could both be that composite. I mean, it's just you have a hat on with glasses and all you're seeing is the bottom part of the face," MacVeigh explained about the drawing's details.
COP WHO SURVIVED SERIAL KILLER AS A TEEN IS NOW ON TRACK TO BECOME A DETECTIVE
Despite two people of interest being initially identified in the Bochicchio case, according to police, all three cases remain unsolved, and MacVeigh believes the crimes are all connected.
"It's just so hard to believe that it's not the same person," MacVeigh said. "Three of these incidences … in the same area, and very similar. Here you have a very affluent mall … and, you know, you are targeting people that you suspect have money.
"While there is presently no physical or forensic evidence directly linking this case to any other investigations, there are enough similarities to lead Boca Raton investigators to believe this case is related to the August 7, 2007 Town Center Mall carjacking incident," the Boca Raton Police Department states on its website, referring to the Bochicchio murders being related to the Jane Doe abduction.
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
MacVeigh said he continues to get calls from investigators who are still tracking down new leads and working on the case today.
"As technology changes and evolves regarding DNA testing, this case is continuously being reevaluated. We remain optimistic that technological advances will lead our investigators to a breakthrough in the investigation," Jessica Desir, a spokesperson for the Boca Raton Police Department, told WPTV last month regarding the Bochicchio murders.
MacVeigh explained that although the Boca Raton Town Center Mall might have more security measures in place today, a killer is still "out there probably committing other crimes."
"You want to feel safe going to the mall," MacVeigh added, stressing the importance of finally solving the cases and getting justice for the Gorenberg and Bochicchio families.
The Boca Raton Police Department, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Boca Raton Town Center Mall did not immediately respond for comment.
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Alexander brothers' alleged victims recount terrifying attacks in impact statements
Alexander brothers' alleged victims recount terrifying attacks in impact statements
Prosecutors released footage this week of alleged victims detailing their claims of sexual assault by the Alexander brothers, accused of drugging and then sexually assaulting and raping dozens of women across multiple states.
Miami-Dade prosecutors released the videos on Tuesday as part of the state's cases against Oren and Alon Alexander, according to NBC6.
Tal, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, two prominent jet-setting brokers in New York and Miami, and their brother Alon Alexander, Oren's identical twin, were arrested in Miami Beach on Dec. 11 and have since been taken into federal custody.
"I was scared for my life, just because of what I just experienced," one woman whose identity was concealed said in the footage. "Not only the rapes, but just, like, how they were."
WEALTHY FLORIDA REAL ESTATE BROTHERS' 'TROPHIES' UNCOVERED AS JUDGE DENIES BAIL: FEDS
On Dec. 31, 2016, she thought she was meeting Alon Alexander for a barbecue at a Miami Beach condo. But unexpectedly, she said, his twin brother Oren and a third man, Ohad Fisherman, were waiting for her arrival.
"[Fisherman] just pushed me down and had his knees and hands on my shoulders holding me down," she recalled in the video, according to NBC6. "I was crying, and I know the whole time I was asking them not to do it . . . I was just like 'Please no, please no.'"
The woman claimed that Alon and Oren took turns raping her while Fisherman held her in place, according to her interview with investigators. All three men face sexual battery charges and are awaiting trial; Fisherman is not accused of raping the woman.
The woman confided in family and friends about the terrifying ordeal but said she was too frightened of the men to report the attack at the time, NBC6 reported.
"They just had this weird presence about them," she said. "It was just very, very, very scary."
In October 2021, Oren allegedly invited another woman to his Flamingo Drive home. What was initially a flirtatious encounter devolved into assault, she said.
"I start pulling away and as I pull away, he starts getting aggressive, kissing me, holding me firmly. He ripped the top of my dress," the second woman said in footage released this week. "He pushed me onto his bed, and I laid there stiff and in shock, and he got on top of me."
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
Joel Denaro and Edward O'Donnell IV, attorneys representing Oren and Alon, told NBC6 that the accusers' stories "will collapse not only under their own weight but with evidence that will prove they are not believable."
"Aside from the obvious financial reward they are seeking after eight years of not reporting to law enforcement, we will show evidence, witnesses, and motivations contradicting their stories," he told the outlet.
Fisherman's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Currently, Oren, Alon and Tal are in federal custody in New York. There, they are facing sex trafficking charges, but they deny allegations against them.
Law enforcement officers have interviewed over 40 women, who reported "being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander Brothers," according to a recent letter by the prosecution, obtained by Fox News Digital.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
In many of these alleged instances, "one or more of the Alexander Brothers drugged their victim prior to the rape," prosecutors wrote in the letter addressed to U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni.
Each of the brothers has separately been accused by at least 10 women of forcible rape between 2002 or 2003 and 2021, according to the letter.
'DIDDY' MAKES 3RD BAIL ATTEMPT AFTER PROSECUTORS ALLEGE HE BLACKMAILED VICTIMS FROM BEHIND BARS
Authorities executed a warrant on Dec. 11 to search Tal Alexander's apartment inside a skyscraper on Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row." During the search, multiple hard drives were discovered and seized, including one with a large quantity of sexually explicit videos and pictures, according to the letter and prosecutor's statement during a hearing earlier this month.
The apartment was previously shared by Oren and Tal Alexander, the letter continues, adding that the photos and videos were found on a hard drive in a closet that appeared to include items belonging to Oren.
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
The seized photos and videos depict "at least Oren, Alon, and several third parties recording or photographing themselves with women in states of intoxication and undress," and in multiple videos, "the women appear initially unaware that they were being recorded and became upset and attempted to hide or flee from the camera after realizing they were being filmed," prosecutors wrote.
All three brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking of one woman by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, Tal Alexander was charged with the sex trafficking of a second victim.
Earlier this month, Judge Caproni denied bail, finding that the Alexander brothers pose a flight risk and a risk to the community. She said the evidence is strong, adding that the men pose a danger to unsuspecting women.
Alon Alexander appealed that decision on Tuesday, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
Oren and Tal Alexander co-founded the real estate firm Official, which offers luxury listings in places like New York City, the Hamptons, Miami and Los Angeles, in 2022 after rising through the ranks at Douglas Elliman, one of the largest real estate brokerages in the country, according to prosecutors.
Their past clients include Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher and Lindsay Lohan, according to CBS News.
Fox News Digital's Mollie Markowitz contributed to this report.
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Bodycam footage shows moment Florida officers' attempt to restrain suspect goes horribly wrong
Bodycam footage shows moment Florida officers' attempt to restrain suspect goes horribly wrong
Newly released body camera footage shows the moment a Miami Beach Police officer shot a fellow officer in the leg while struggling with a man on a busy Florida roadway.
Officer Shenaqua Stringer was responding to a 911 call reporting a suspicious person possibly carrying a gun while walking on Venetian Causeway shortly before 12:30 p.m. March 2, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
The suspect reached into his pocket to grab an "unknown object" as Stringer approached him, investigators said.
Stringer drew her gun and began struggling with the man, ordering him to the ground as fellow officer Fabio Balanos arrived. Balanos ran toward the struggle, and Stringer accidentally fired, striking Balanos in his left leg.
AMERICAN DEPUTY KILLED BY STRAY BULLET ON TURKS AND CAICOS VACATION
Stringer’s body camera was not rolling at the time of the shooting, which was not directly recorded on Balanos' camera. But, moments later, a growing puddle of blood appeared beneath him.
"Why’d you do that?" the man can be heard asking as he is wrestled to the ground. "Ain’t nobody do nothing. You f---ed up his leg. He’s bleeding a lot."
Stringer then handcuffed the suspect as she called for help.
"Hurry up, because I need a tourniquet," Balanos said.
GOOD SAMARITAN GROCERY SHOPPER, DAD KILLED WHILE TRYING TO STOP TEEN ROBBERY SUSPECTS
Balanos’ bodycam captured the moment more officers arrived and wrapped a tourniquet around his leg as he wailed in pain and they loaded him into the back of a police cruiser.
During the ride to the hospital, Balanos asked another officer if he could borrow a phone to call his wife.
"I’m OK," Balanos told her. "I got shot in the leg. I'm OK though. They’re taking me to Ryder Trauma right now. I’m OK, though. All right, babe? I love you."
The bodycam continued rolling as Balanos arrived at the hospital, showing officers frantically banging on the doors to alert medical staff that they needed help.
"Open up, let's go," one officer can be heard yelling as they knocked on the hospital doors.
FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY CLIMBING OVER WALL AT TRUMP'S MAR-A-LAGO ESTATE
As Balanos was being treated for his injuries at a hospital, officers discovered the suspected handgun the man reached for was a metallic cigarette lighter.
The man was not charged with a crime, and authorities determined he was a missing person from nearby Collier County.
The situation remains an active internal investigation, and Stringer is still employed by the agency, the Miami Beach Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The district attorney determined there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Stringer.
The South Florida Police Benevolent Association did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Balanos, a Coast Guard veteran with a combined 18 years of experience working as a law enforcement officer, has made a full recovery and returned to work, according to reports.
Comatose and Washed Up, 1,000 Endangered Sea Turtles Are Rescued in Florida
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- DeSantis signals veto of immigration bill passed by Florida GOP lawmakers: 'Fails to meet the moment'
DeSantis signals veto of immigration bill passed by Florida GOP lawmakers: 'Fails to meet the moment'
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Wednesday he will veto a state Republican-sponsored immigration bill he said would weaken illegal immigration enforcement.
The threat of a veto comes as DeSantis continues to feud with state Republican lawmakers, saying they passed a watered-down immigration bill.
"We must have the strongest law in the nation on immigration enforcement. We cannot be weak," DeSantis wrote on X. "The bill that narrowly passed the Florida legislature last night fails to honor our promises to voters, fails to meet the moment, and would actually weaken state immigration enforcement."
‘THANK YOU RON’ - TRUMP PRAISES DESANTIS IMMIGRATION PUSH IN FLORIDA
This week, the GOP-dominated Florida legislature gaveled out a special session called by the two-term governor to take up a series of proposals to help with President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Instead, state lawmakers held their own special session, where they passed other immigration bills and overrode a DeSantis budget veto, the first time in 15 years the legislature has overturned a Florida governor's veto.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVES QUICKLY ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
Hours after lawmakers passed the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy Act, or TRUMP Act, DeSantis said, "The veto pen is ready."
He called the bill a weak effort to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, specifically those with criminal records.
"The removal of illegal aliens residing in our state requires strong legislation that will guarantee state and local deportation assistance, end catch and release, eliminate magnets such as remittances, and adopt supporting policies that will protect Floridians from the scourge of illegal immigration," he wrote.
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Florida Democratic Party official and 'LGBTQ+ rights activist' arrested on child porn charges
Florida Democratic Party official and 'LGBTQ+ rights activist' arrested on child porn charges
Authorities arrested a Florida Democratic Party official and prominent LGBTQ activist on child pornography charges this month after he allegedly shared content with an undercover officer.
Matthew Inman, 39, served as treasurer for the Orange County Democratic Party and also as president of Rainbow Democrats, an LGBTQ activist group. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the middle district of Florida charged Inman with the transportation of child sexual abuse material. Authorities say Inman received and saved several videos "depicting adults sexually abusing young children."
"In October 2024, Inman traveled to Las Vegas and began talking online with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the father of a 9-year-old boy. During this conversation, Inman expressed interest in meeting and sexually assaulting the purported child. He also sent [child sexual abuse material] videos to the undercover officer," the attorney's office added.
The FBI soon obtained a search warrant for Inman's house, and authorities say the suspect tried to delete videos from his phone as he hid from officers in the attic of his home.
INDIANA JUDGE RULES PRISON MUST PROVIDE TRANSGENDER SURGERY FOR INMATE WHO KILLED BABY
Rainbow Democrats issued a public statement on social media just days after Inman's arrest, saying they were "shocked."
"We offer our condolences to any victims of child sexual abuse and hope justice will be served to the fullest extent of the law," the organization's board of directors wrote. "We have suspended Mr. Inman from the Caucus. He has no acting role in any capacity with the organization as of now. He will be officially removed at our next general meeting."
SON OF SUSPECTED WOULD-BE TRUMP ASSASSIN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORN CHARGES
"The Rainbow Democrats are working to move beyond this horrible incident to continue our service to the community," the statement finished.
An X account appearing to belong to Inman identified him as an "LGBTQ+ rights and civil rights activist." The account also notes his roles with Rainbow Democrats and Orange County Democrats.
Orange County Democrats also released a statement regarding Inman's arrest, and has since elected a new treasurer.
"We are deeply appalled and horrified by the news that Matthew Inman has been arrested on charges of sexual abuse involving a minor. We unequivocally condemn child sexual abuse in the strongest possible terms and hope that any victims involved receive the support and resources they need moving forward," the party wrote.
"After learning of the allegations against Mr. Inman, the Orange County Democratic Party acted swiftly to suspend him from all voluntary roles and responsibilities. We will continue to uphold the highest standards of accountability and integrity," the statement continued.
Inman was booked by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 16 and remains in custody at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility, according to state records.
-
Latest Political News on Fox News
- DeSantis faces GOP resistance to special legislative session on immigration that starts today
DeSantis faces GOP resistance to special legislative session on immigration that starts today
A special legislative session called by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to take up a series of proposals to help implement President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown gets underway on Monday.
However, with pushback from top Republican lawmakers who call the session "premature," it is unclear if any measures will be considered.
DeSantis wants lawmakers to pass bills that would support the president's flurry of immigration and border executive orders, signed since last Monday's inauguration, and Trump's plans for mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
‘THANK YOU RON’ - TRUMP PRAISES DESANTIS IMMIGRATION PUSH IN FLORIDA
The governor wants to mandate that Florida's counties and cities participate in the federal deportation program and wants the power to suspend officials who do not comply. He is also proposing to make it a state crime to enter the nation illegally, and he wants to mandate that people show identification and their immigration status before sending money back home.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVES QUICKLY ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
"We've got to make sure that we are working hand-in-hand with the Trump administration," DeSantis emphasized last week in an interview on Fox News' "Ingraham Angle."
He added that the special legislative session would help "to facilitate the Trump administration's mission."
Eleven bills were filed on the eve of the special session by Florida lawmakers. Among them are measures to create a state immigration czar and to allow the governor to activate the national and state guards for immigration enforcement.
Under Florida's constitution, if the governor calls for a special session, lawmakers are obligated to show up at the capitol in Tallahassee. However, the top Republicans in the state House and Senate say that while they support Trump's immigration efforts, the special session is unnecessary with the regularly scheduled legislative session scheduled for early March.
"It's not premature," DeSantis told Fox News. "We've been waiting four years to have a partner in Washington, D.C., on this issue. We have a sense of urgency. We have to get the job done. No more dragging your feet."
DeSantis, who waged a bitter and unsuccessful primary challenge against Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was praised by the then-president-elect earlier this month.
"Thank you Ron, hopefully other governors will follow!" Trump wrote in a social media post after DeSantis announced the special session.
However, the pushback by GOP state lawmakers over the calling of the special session is a dramatic turn of events for DeSantis, who long enjoyed massive influence over the Florida legislature, especially after his nearly 20-point re-election in 2022.
Following his unsuccessful 2024 White House bid, the lame duck governor does not appear to have the same clout over lawmakers that he once enjoyed.
Pushing back against opposition to his plans, DeSantis has warned that any lawmaker who stood in his way over the special session would pay a political price.
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Florida man arrested for allegedly calling for Trump assassination on Facebook; Secret Service investigating
Florida man arrested for allegedly calling for Trump assassination on Facebook; Secret Service investigating
The Secret Service is investigating after a Florida man was arrested in West Palm Beach and charged with calling for the assassination of President Donald Trump on Facebook.
Shannon Depararro Atkins, 46, of West Palm Beach, was arrested after allegedly threatening the life of the president, West Palm Beach Interim Police Chief Tony Araujo confirmed during a press conference Saturday.
Atkins is charged with felony intimidation, drug possession and smuggling contraband in a county detention center, according to jail records.
A tip was called in to the FBI National Threat Operations Center late Sunday, reporting Atkins was making violent threats against the president on Facebook.
A Palm Beach detective began working the case Monday and found "disturbing" posts, according to Araujo.
Some of the posts included, "Lincoln, JFK, Reagan, Martin Luther King and Trump - unfortunately, one is still alive"; "Bullets, please. Jesus, save America"; and "I've been banned from X because I said 'I hope and pray someone kills him. We haven't had an assassination in years.'"
The department secured a probable cause warrant and began surveillance, arresting Atkins near one of his homes at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Officers found three bags of cocaine in Atkins' pocket at the time of the arrest, according to Araujo.
While being interviewed, he admitted to writing the Facebook posts but said he was joking, authorities said.
"Folks, this is not a joke. Nothing of that sort is a joke," Araujo said during the press conference.
The threats came after two assassination attempts on Trump in July and September.
TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
The Secret Service was notified and is reviewing the case to determine whether there will be federal charges, the department said.
"The U.S. Secret Service does not comment on matters involving protective intelligence," the agency wrote in an email to Fox News Digital Saturday. "What we can say is that the Secret Service investigates all threats against our protectees."
Authorities confirmed the FBI was also involved in the investigation.
Araujo said, in today's climate, people cannot make threats, even jokingly.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"We have incident after incident, example after example, of when these threats become real, and we take these very seriously," he said. "Did we avert something? You never know. I do know that we developed probable cause, we arrested Mr. Atkins and he's going to have to answer the charges."
Atkins' bond was set at $5,000 for the drug charges, but bond was denied for the threats against Trump, according to jail records.
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Wife of wealthy Florida real estate brother files for divorce as husband is denied bail in alleged sex scandal
Wife of wealthy Florida real estate brother files for divorce as husband is denied bail in alleged sex scandal
The wife of Tal Alexander, a high-profile real estate agent accused last month with his two brothers of drugging and then sexually assaulting and raping dozens of women in multiple states, has reportedly filed for divorce amid the scandal.
Tal, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, two prominent jet-setting brokers in New York and Miami, and their brother Alon Alexander, Oren's identical twin, were arrested in Miami Beach Dec. 11 and have since been taken into federal custody.
"I will continue to provide my young baby with love and support as I leave my husband," Tal Alexander's wife, Arielle Kogut, who recently welcomed a baby with her husband, told the Real Deal in a statement via her attorney confirming the split.
"This commitment to my child’s best interests and well-being will remain my highest priority."
WEALTHY FLORIDA REAL ESTATE BROTHERS' 'TROPHIES' UNCOVERED AS JUDGE DENIES BAIL: FEDS
Prosecutors allege the Alexander brothers "worked together, and with others known and unknown to repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault, and rape" victims in New York, Miami and elsewhere, according to a federal indictment filed in December.
According to the charges in the indictment, the three wealthy brothers had conspired in the sex trafficking scheme since at least 2010, but prosecutors have alleged that their sexual violence against women spans more than 20 years, dating as far back as when the men were in high school in Miami.
Law enforcement officers have interviewed over 40 women who reported "being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander Brothers," and each of the brothers has separately been accused by at least 10 women of forcible rape between 2002 or 2003 and 2021, according to a recent letter by the prosecution.
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
Investigators say they uncovered "trophies" during a search at Tal Alexander's apartment on Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row," including sexually explicit photos and videos showing "women in states of intoxication and undress."
Other videos found allegedly show Alon and Oren Alexander and other men engaged in sexual contact with women "who are visibly under the influence of alcohol or other substances," the letter continues. In some cases, it added, at least one of the brothers and another man "physically manipulated the women’s bodies in order to have sex with them while the women did not actively participate in the sexual activity or turned away."
"The fact that video versions of trophies of the defendants’ criminal conduct were found in Tal Alexander’s residence as recently as last month also suggests that the defendants have not closed the door on their criminal conduct," prosecutors have argued.
The skyscraper apartment was previously shared by Oren and Tal Alexander, and the photos and videos were found on a hard drive in a closet that appeared to include items belonging to Oren.
All three brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking of one woman by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, Tal Alexander was charged with the sex trafficking of a second victim.
As part of their alleged sex trafficking conspiracy, the Alexander brothers "engaged in a persistent pattern of rape and sexual assault, which included both pre-planned trips and events for which the defendants recruited women to attend and then raped and sexually assaulted them, as well as opportunistic rapes and sexual assaults of numerous victims who they encountered by chance," prosecutors say.
'DIDDY' MAKES 3RD BAIL ATTEMPT AFTER PROSECUTORS ALLEGE HE BLACKMAILED VICTIMS FROM BEHIND BARS
Defense attorneys for the three brothers have argued the brothers committed no sexual assaults, and that their relationships with the alleged victims were consensual, according to court records.
A judge last week said the Alexander brothers will likely be housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center, the same prison where Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried are being held. The next status conference in the case is scheduled for Jan. 29.
Tal Alexander's attorney and his wife's attorney did not immediately respond for comment.
Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
-
Latest Political News on Fox News
- DeSantis pushes Florida lawmakers to take action on illegal immigration, warns of consequences for defiance
DeSantis pushes Florida lawmakers to take action on illegal immigration, warns of consequences for defiance
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday pushed Republican state lawmakers to take urgent action on illegal immigration, voting to fight like a "junkyard dog" and warning of political consequences for defiance.
The governor leaned on the Florida legislature ahead of a special session next week, during which he wants legislators to pass new bills to crack down on illegal immigration in sync with President Donald Trump's administration at the federal level. But GOP leaders have called the session "premature" and signaled that they may gavel out without taking action on the governor's agenda items.
DeSantis warned that would be a costly mistake. "It would be very, very hazardous politically," he told reporters during a roundtable discussion at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. He also suggested that he would call for another special session of the legislature if GOP leaders delay action.
BORDER ENCOUNTERS DROP SHARPLY AS TRUMP LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
"I have my constitutional authority to wield in this process and I will continue to wield it as appropriate so that we're able to get the job done," he said, adding that he would fight like a "junkyard dog" to get his immigration policies enacted.
"You don't let go."
DeSantis wants Republicans to enact laws that would require state and local officials to comply with the new immigration orders issued by the White House and provide funding for them to do so. He has also called for legislation that would penalize state and local officials who violate Florida's "anti-sanctuary policies," WPTV reported.
The governor also directed lawmakers to consider additional hurricane aid, crack down on ballot initiative signature fraud and address rising HOA fees.
DESANTIS CITES ‘GULF OF AMERICA’ IN WINTER STORM ORDER AFTER TRUMP REBRANDING
House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton reacted coolly when the governor called for a special legislative session starting on Jan. 27. In a joint statement on Jan. 13, they called it "irresponsible" for the legislature to act ahead of any announcements Trump may make on immigration and criticized DeSantis, stating the governor had offered only "fragmented ideas" and had not released any bill language or details for legislators to consider.
Lawmakers "will decide when and what legislation we consider," the Florida House and Senate leaders said.
Trump has already issued a flurry of executive orders to begin the promised "mass deportations" of illegal immigrants present in the U.S. On Monday, Trump declared an emergency at the southern border, deployed 1,500 soldiers to the border and ended the Biden administration's CBP One app program to process migrants at ports of entry via humanitarian parole.
His administration then launched a mass deportation operation, with ICE agents active in multiple cities and states across the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also issued memos rescinding limits placed on ICE by the Biden administration, ordering a review of parole and expanding the use of expedited removal for recently-arrived illegal immigrants.
And Trump’s administration has moved to restore border wall construction and reinstate the Remain-in-Mexico policy, which requires migrants to stay in Mexico for the duration of their asylum cases.
These combined policies have resulted in a sharp 35% drop in illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border, multiple DHS sources told Fox News Digital.
DeSantis rejected the concerns of the legislature, telling reporters on Thursday that "we've been waiting years for this moment. It's not premature."
"We can't drag our feet. We can't wait for something to go into effect in July. We need something immediately and we need to get everything moving, and we need to do what we told the people that elected us that we would do."
Network of Florida Maternity Homes Growing Amid Abortion Restrictions
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Florida man arrested after allegedly climbing over wall at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate
Florida man arrested after allegedly climbing over wall at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate
A man has been charged with jumping over an outter wall at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida this week.
Bijan Arceo, 32, was charged with trespassing with the intent to commit an offense. Palm Beach police officers responded to the club just after 6 p.m. Tuesday to assist Secret Service agents who detained someone on the property, a police affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital states.
‘PROMPT REMOVAL’: TRUMP DHS EXPANDS EXPEDITED DEPORTATION POWERS AS OPERATIONS RAMP UP
Police said Arceo got inside the resort from South Ocean Boulevard by the north service gate, police said.
Arceo had not entered the sweep area or had been granted permission to enter the protected site, the Secret Service said.
"While the incident had no impact on our protective operations, we take these matters extremely seriously," the agency said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This arrest is being handled at the local level and we remain thankful to the Town of Palm Beach Police Department for their quick response and partnership."
Around the property were numerous signs that state "No Trespassing," with tall gates that remain closed when not in use, authorities said.
Arceo is being held in the Palm Beach County jail on a $20,000 bond, according to jail records.
In July, Zijie Li was arrested for trespassing at Mar-a-Lago. Li, a California resident, tried to gain access to the club multiple times over several months, authorities said.
After His Jan. 6 Case Was Dropped, a Florida Man Is Arrested on a Gun Charge
Winter Storm Brings Snow to Texas and Louisiana
DeSantis Adopts ‘Gulf of America’ Language Even Before a Trump Order
-
Latest Political News on Fox News
- Mayor Eric Adams, President-elect Trump meet in Florida; Adams says they didn't discuss his legal case
Mayor Eric Adams, President-elect Trump meet in Florida; Adams says they didn't discuss his legal case
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and President-elect Trump met in Palm Beach, Florida, Friday, three days before Trump's return to the White House.
"President Trump and I had a productive conversation about New York’s needs and what’s best for our city and how the federal government can play a more helpful role in improving the lives of New Yorkers," Adams said in a statement shared by his spokesperson, Fabien Levy.
"While we briefly touched on a number of issues, we specifically focused on the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas and how it will have a positive impact on public safety in our country; how we can bring manufacturing jobs back to New York, particularly in the Bronx; and how we can continue to make federal investments in New York City, especially when it comes to infrastructure."
The Democratic mayor, who is awaiting trial on federal corruption charges in April, said the pair didn’t discuss his legal issues in the meeting.
As president, Trump would have the power to pardon Adams.
Adams faces charges he accepted luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals in exchange for corrupt acts.
Trump, who was convicted in a New York court last year for falsifying business records, has defended Adams in the past, claiming the charges against the mayor may have been brought because he criticized President Biden over the border.
Trump said he would consider a pardon for Adams.
"To be clear, we did not discuss my legal case, and those who suggest the mayor of the largest city in the nation shouldn’t meet with the incoming president to discuss our cities' priorities because of inaccurate speculation or because we’re from different parties clearly care more about politics than people," Adams said.
"Like I’ve always done, I will take every opportunity possible to advocate for New Yorkers and our city. And, after our discussion, I strongly believe there is much our city and the federal government can partner on to make New York City safer, stronger and more affordable. I thank President Trump for his time and attention and look forward to working with him to benefit all New Yorkers."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Trump for comment.
FBI RAIDS HOMES OF TOP AIDES FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS
Adams had been criticized by other New York politicians for the meeting.
"The Trump agenda is not going to help move our city or the country forward. This pilgrimage is clearly about something else," state Sen. Zellnor Myrie wrote on X this week.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander wrote on X that "Eric Adams should state immediately that he will not seek or accept a pardon from Donald Trump. New Yorkers deserve to know that their Mayor is putting their interests ahead of his own — and whether our tax dollars, or Turkish Airlines, will be financing his trip to Florida."
"Who is this meeting for, New Yorkers or Eric Adams? Our city has too many problems right now for us to worry about if he's fighting for New Yorkers or a hypothetical pardon for himself," Scott Stringer, the former city comptroller, posted on X.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Lander and Stringer are running for mayor against Adams.
-
Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
- Wealthy Florida real estate brothers' 'trophies' uncovered as judge denies bail: feds
Wealthy Florida real estate brothers' 'trophies' uncovered as judge denies bail: feds
Three wealthy brothers were accused last month of drugging and then sexually assaulting and raping dozens of women in multiple states, and authorities say new video evidence in the case shows the "depraved" nature of their alleged crimes.
Tal, 38, and Oren Alexander, 37, two prominent jet-setting brokers in New York and Miami, and their brother Alon Alexander, Oren's identical twin, were arrested in Miami Beach on Dec. 11 and have since been taken into federal custody.
Law enforcement officers have interviewed over 40 women, who reported "being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander Brothers," according to a recent letter by the prosecution, obtained by Fox News Digital.
In many of these alleged instances, "one or more of the Alexander Brothers drugged their victim prior to the rape," prosecutors wrote in the letter filed last week and addressed to U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni, the New York judge who presided over a hearing in the case on Wednesday.
Prosecutors on Wednesday argued against setting bail for the brothers, whose "incentives to flee are through the roof," they said, arguing that the Alexanders have significant foreign connections.
After hearing arguments for three hours, Judge Caproni denied bail, finding the Alexander brothers pose a flight risk and a risk to the community. She said the evidence is strong, adding that the men pose a danger to unsuspecting women.
Each of the brothers has separately been accused by at least 10 women of forcible rape between 2002 or 2003 and 2021, the letter continues.
Authorities executed a warrant on Dec. 11 to search Tal Alexander's apartment inside a skyscraper on Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row." During the search, multiple hard drives were discovered and seized, including one with a large quantity of sexually explicit videos and pictures, according to the letter and prosecutor's statement during Wednesday's hearing.
The apartment was previously shared by Oren and Tal Alexander, the letter continues, adding that the photos and videos were found on a hard drive in a closet that appeared to include items belonging to Oren.
The seized photos and videos depict "at least Oren, Alon, and several third parties recording or photographing themselves with women in states of intoxication and undress," and in multiple videos, "the women appear initially unaware that they were being recorded and became upset and attempted to hide or flee from the camera after realizing they were being filmed," prosecutors wrote.
Other videos found in Tal Alexander's apartment show Alon and Oren Alexander and other men engaged in sexual contact with women "who are visibly under the influence of alcohol or other substances," the letter continues, adding that in some cases, at least one of the brothers and another man "physically manipulated the women’s bodies in order to have sex with them while the women did not actively participate in the sexual activity or turned away."
Prosecutors explained that the new evidence reveals the "depraved nature" of the brothers' actions, as well as the "immense danger" they present.
"The fact that video versions of trophies of the defendants’ criminal conduct were found in Tal Alexander’s residence as recently as last month also suggests that the defendants have not closed the door on their criminal conduct," the letter continues.
'DIDDY' MAKES 3RD BAIL ATTEMPT AFTER PROSECUTORS ALLEGE HE BLACKMAILED VICTIMS FROM BEHIND BARS
Prosecutors allege that the Alexander brothers "worked together, and with others known and unknown to repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault, and rape" victims in New York, Miami and elsewhere, according to a federal indictment filed in December.
All three brothers were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking of one woman by force, fraud or coercion. In addition, Tal Alexander was charged with the sex trafficking of a second victim.
As part of their sex trafficking conspiracy, the Alexander brothers "engaged in a persistent pattern of rape and sexual assault, which included both pre-planned trips and events for which the defendants recruited women to attend and then raped and sexually assaulted them, as well as opportunistic rapes and sexual assaults of numerous victims who they encountered by chance," prosecutors say.
According to the charges in the indictment, the three brothers had conspired in the sex-trafficking scheme since at least 2010, but prosecutors have alleged that their sexual violence against women actually spans more than 20 years, dating as far back as when the men were in high school in Miami.
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
Defense attorneys for the three brothers have argued that they committed no sexual assaults, and that their relationships with the alleged victims were consensual, according to court records.
Attorneys for Tal Alexander wrote a responding letter to Judge Caproni this week, arguing that the prosecution "fails to detail when the videos were taken, how many videos, if any, the defendants are in, whether the purported participants have been identified, or whether the videos even depict non-consensual sexual activity."
At Wednesday's hearing, Judge Caproni said the women in the videos appear visibly incapacitated, adding, "In my view, that is rape."
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Oren and Tal Alexander co-founded the real estate firm Official, which offers luxury listings in places like New York City, the Hamptons, Miami and Los Angeles, in 2022 after rising through the ranks at Douglas Elliman, one of the largest real estate brokerages in the country, according to prosecutors.
Their past clients include Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Liam Gallagher and Lindsay Lohan, according to CBS News.
Alon Alexander, 37, did not work in real estate, but he socialized with them.
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
The Alexander brothers are still in custody in Florida and will be moved to New York next week, the judge added. They will likely be housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), the same prison where Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried are being held.
The next status conference in the case is scheduled for Jan. 29.
-
Latest Political News on Fox News
- Thousands of left-wing demonstrators descend on Washington to protest Trump inauguration
Thousands of left-wing demonstrators descend on Washington to protest Trump inauguration
Thousands of mainly female protesters descended on Washington, D.C. to protest President–elect Trump’s inauguration on Monday. However, the crowd is only a tenth of the half a million who turned out for the "Women’s March" in 2017.
Saturday’s march, rebranded as the "People’s March," is taking place at three different locations with demonstrators advocating for a wide range of left-wing causes and showcasing a united front to the new administration.
This morning, a kickoff event took place in Franklin Park for "gender justice" and bodily autonomy, and then demonstrators walked downtown before making their way towards the Lincoln Memorial for the day's main event.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S 1ST INAUGURATION DAY; WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MONDAY
"It’s really healing to be here with all of you today in solidarity and togetherness, in the face of what’s going to be some really horrible extremism," Mini Timmaraju, the head of advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for All, told the crowd as events kicked off.
Other protesters gathered at two other parks also near the White House, with one group focused on democracy and immigration and another on local Washington issues,
Vendors hawked buttons that said #MeToo and "Love trumps hate," and sold People's March flags for $10. Demonstrators carried posters that read "Feminists v. Fascists" and "People over politics."
Lillian Fenske, 31, drove six hours from Greensboro, North Carolina, to participate. Her signs expressed concern over oligarchs and the disunity. "America is not for sale," said one, while another said simply, "Divided We Fall."
WHO IS SEAN CURRAN? HEAD OF TRUMP'S PERSONAL DETAIL TO BE NOMINATED FOR SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR
There is a heavy police presence, although law enforcement is not expecting a repeat of the violent scenes seen across the city ahead of Inauguration Day in 2017, where protesters shattered glass storefronts and torched cars, with police arresting more than 200 people in demonstrations that spanned several days.
The enthusiasm behind the so-called resistance movement to Trump has waned somewhat, with many progressive voters expressing feelings of exhaustion and disappointment following Trump’s landslide win in November. He dominated both the Electoral College and the popular vote to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris after a historic campaign cycle.
The 2017 Women’s March took place on the day after Trump’s inauguration. Celebrities like America Ferrera, Madonna, Ashley Judd, Cher, Katy Perry, Amy Schumer, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Michael Moore, Debra Messing, Patricia Arquette and others attended the march.
President-elect Trump is expected to leave Mar-a-Lago later today and head to Washington.
Trump’s advisers have not detailed how he will spend the first part of the day, and the only public event on Trump’s schedule is an evening reception and fireworks show at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.
On Sunday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and a "Make America Great Again" rally, at which Trump will deliver remarks, followed by a candlelit dinner.
Monday is Inauguration Day when Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will participate in the swearing-in ceremony, which has been moved indoors due to the forecasted frigid temperatures.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.