The Herald Towers/ CBS 2 Video Still
NEW YORK (CBS 2/1010 WINS) — Following the death of 17-year-old Nicole John, the daughter of Sophia John and Eric John — the U.S. ambassador to Thailand since 2007 — all signs seem to point to the tragedy being an accident.
John died Friday morning after falling several stories from a midtown Manhattan apartment building.
Ilan Nassimi, 25, who rents the apartment and is accused of providing alcohol to John, was arrested and arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of contributing alcohol to a minor, police said.
Nassimi walked out of court Friday night sullen faced, wearing a black button down shirt and surrounded by family with nothing to say about John’s death, CBS 2′s Hazel Sanchez reported.
LISTEN: 1010 WINS’ Al Jones reports
Nicole John and her friends had apparently been partying at a club called Tenjune in the Meatpacking District before going to an apartment on the top floor of the 25-story Herald Towers at 34th and Broadway just before 4 a.m.
About 15 minutes later, the victim apparently took off her shoes and stepped out onto the ledge of the apartment before plummeting more than 20 stories to her death, police said. Her body was found on a third-story ledge with severe trauma.
Police said a camera was found near her body and believe she may fallen while trying to take a picture.
John’s colorful blog expressed her interests in reading, partying and heights, Sanchez reported.
She appeared to have a passion for photography, which police believe may have lead her onto the apartment ledge.
Nassimi’s attorney, Matin Emouna, offered condolences to the ambassador’s family and called John’s death “a tragic accident.” Nassimi was released on his own recognizance. His case is scheduled to go before a grand jury on November 4.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the victim was carrying a fake ID from Brazil which listed her as 23-years-old. He added the apartment may have been cleaned up by the time investigators arrived.
John was an incoming freshman at the Parsons The New School for Design and lived in the East Village.
The medical examiner was scheduled to perform an autopsy and toxicology tests Saturday.
22 Comments
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A 17 year old with a fake ID saying she is 23 out partying until 4 a.m. and someone is charged with her murder! She has nobody to blame but herself. I’m sure she had plenty of alcohol before she got to the 25th story apartment
August 28, 2010 at 6:32 pm
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Yeah, it was a “tragic accident” alright. An accident of parenting.
And now some poor guy, who probably thought she was of age because she got inside the club, is in trouble and has to spend thou$and$ on lawyers. And who’s going to pay for cleaning up that mess anyway?
Here’s a pic of her. Would YOU know she’s underage? http://abcnews.go.com/US/ambassadors-daughter-dies-highrise-plunge/story?id=11497074
August 28, 2010 at 12:09 pm
It always at that young age comes down to parental controls
I guess at 17 her folks left her out on her own all night?
August 28, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Humpty Dumpty had too much to drink.
RIP
August 27, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Drinking and doping may have been the culprits here but personal responsibility remains at the core of this deadly fall..
August 27, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Are you all serious? The girls age doesnt matter…she was out partying, big deal. If she didnt drink at the club she would of drank somewhere else. Her parents let her out at that age, and? What is she was a trustworthy girl, never up to no good. Few drinks with friends? Being 17 or 21 not a big alcohol tolerance difference for women.. Her slipping off a ledge is just fate at its best. Not the apartment owners fault for having the place…not the builders fault for making the building too high…not the clubs fault for not staring at her I.D for more then 6 seconds out of the hundreds of people. Enough with the scapegoats. Its her fault. But still, rest in peace.
August 27, 2010 at 5:24 pm
I’m not sure about that “rest her soul” bit. According to most religions, certain behaviors does not equate to going to a “restful place”.
That said. Too bad about the fun girl though. All that fun still to be had … sigh.
August 27, 2010 at 4:13 pm
A 17 year old using fake ID, okay. But where are the parents??? The parents are ultimately at fault. The club was presented fake ID and the apartment renter could have been misled also. I guess we will wait for the facts if there is a follow up.
August 27, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Sally you are right on!!!
August 27, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Thqnks Carl!
August 28, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Best comment yet – covered all the bases – a perfect home run
August 28, 2010 at 2:08 pm
The club should not be held responsible!!! My gosh people wake up and smell the “be accountable for you self”
The parents should have had her at home where she belonged. Her fault too for being out at 4 am!!
Please, people make me sick with throwing the obvious right out the window! Sorry for the pun. I am not trying to be funny.
It was an accident.
August 27, 2010 at 3:34 pm
what kind of idiots dont realize that girl did not look 23
but im not surprised about stupidity of those from the club
couple of weeks ago i was buying a pack of cigarettes at duane reed and i was asked for id – im 50 yrs old!!!!!
so, we are sorrounded by STUPIDITY
August 27, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Why was a 17 year old out at 4 am? Young women today look as old or as young as they want to. How can a club or another individual be responsible for not being able to ascertain the real age of a person who presents a fake ID? This is certainly a tragedy but a parent has the responsibility to know where their teenager is going as well as with whom. And how about a curfew? Sometimes a a child is truly privileged when they have a little less freedom and a few more limits on their behavior. No one can argue that this girl showed mature and good judgment. She should have been protected like the child that she was.
August 27, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Sad story,but the club should be held respncible for serving a 17 year old alcohol,and the apartment renter,should be held equally liable….tragic,but avoidable
August 27, 2010 at 2:37 pm
may her soul rest in peace and may her parent be comfortedby the holy spirit AMEN
August 27, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Do people have common sense anymore?
August 27, 2010 at 1:56 pm
We say sorry to a tenager but its wrong for a 17 yr old chic to go to a club. May her soul rest in eternal peace
August 27, 2010 at 1:47 pm
What is a 17 year old doing at a club like Tenjune?
August 27, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Fake ID. Not hard for teens to do. Didn’t we all do it and get away with it?
My heart breaks for her parents.
Maybe the only thing that hurts worse than saying goodbye is not having the chance to say it.
August 27, 2010 at 2:26 pm