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D.C. Madam's Mother Sues To Stop Release Of Photos

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 7, 2008

Updated: 08/07/2008 01:46 pm

TARPON SPRINGS - Blanche E. Palfrey, the mother of the woman known as the "D.C. Madam," has filed a lawsuit to stop the release of photographs of her daughter that were taken by police after she hanged herself May 1 in a shed at her mom's home.

Deborah Palfrey was waiting to be sentenced for money laundering and racketeering. A federal jury convicted her of those charges after she was accused of running a Washington prostitution service that catered to the rich and powerful.

Tarpon Springs police took photographs of her body in the shed. The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office also took photographs of her body as part of an autopsy.

In Blanche Palfrey's lawsuit, which she filed Tuesday, she says there has been "consistent media attention" of her daughter's death but that releasing the photographs would be inappropriate and would cause her "severe emotional distress."

The lawsuit also states that the photographs would have a destructive effect on any children who might see them.

Publishing the photographs would not serve any legitimate purpose as far as keeping the public informed, the lawsuit states.

"The only media or public interest in said photographs flows from a morbid exploitation by some members of the public and the pursuit of sensationalism by some members of the media," the lawsuit states.

As of today the only entity that has requested the photographs is SmokingGun.com, said Capt. Jeff Young of the Tarpon Springs Police Department.

The department has not released any photographs or police reports on Deborah Palfrey's suicide because the investigation isn't finished, but it should be in a matter of days, authorities say.

When that day comes, the agency is expected to release whatever documentation it is obligated to under Florida public records laws, said Jim Yacavone, the attorney for Tarpon Springs.

"We really don't have a dog in this fight, other than we are going to follow the law," Yacavone said. "We will release them upon receipt of an appropriate public records request unless ordered not to by the court."

The case has been assigned to Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Linda Allan. No hearing date has been set.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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