The true crime docuseries Homicide: New York on Netflix has gripped audiences with its unflinching look at some of the city’s most harrowing murder cases. The premiere episode, titled “Carnegie Deli Massacre,” dives into a particularly chilling crime: the murder of Jennifer Stahl, a woman whose life took a tragic turn after a brief stint in Hollywood, including a minor role in the iconic film Dirty Dancing. This episode unravels the layers of a crime driven by desperation and drugs, leaving viewers to contemplate the fragility of life and the dark underbelly of fame and fortune.
Dick Wolf, renowned for his extensive universe of crime dramas like Law & Order, ventures into the realm of true crime documentaries with Homicide: New York. This five-part miniseries, a Netflix original, sets itself apart by providing intimate access to the investigators, prosecutors, and individuals connected to these grim New York City homicides. While Wolf has previously produced true-crime shows such as Cold Justice and Criminal Confessions, Homicide: New York marks his first foray into the genre for the streaming giant. The opening episode immediately plunges into darkness with the “Carnegie Deli Massacre,” a triple homicide that shook the city and brought the life and death of Jennifer Stahl, the Dirty Dancing actress, into stark focus. Stahl, leading a complex life in an apartment above the famous Carnegie Deli, became the victim of a brutal crime that exposed the hidden struggles behind a veneer of artistic aspiration.
Jennifer Stahl: From Dirty Dancing to Downtown Tragedy
A Dancer in the Spotlight, A Life in the Shadows
Jennifer Stahl’s journey began in Titusville, New Jersey, before she set her sights on the dazzling lights of New York City, dreaming of an acting career. While she landed minor roles in films like Firehouse and Necropolis, it was her fleeting appearance in the 1987 blockbuster Dirty Dancing that etched her into pop culture memory. As one of the exuberant background dancers in the film, she shared screen space with Patrick Swayze, a moment that would become a highlight in a career that ultimately faced headwinds. However, as acting opportunities dwindled, Stahl’s path diverged. Turning to alternative avenues to sustain her artistic lifestyle, she explored singing and, as detailed by The New York Times, became involved in selling marijuana. This wasn’t a large-scale operation; rather, it was described by DenOfGeek as a “boutique service” catering mainly to friends, including some from Saturday Night Live, to supplement her artistic pursuits.
| Jennifer Stahl’s Filmography |
|---|
| Title |
| Necropolis (1986) |
| Dirty Dancing (1987) |
| Firehouse (1987) |
| Identity Crisis (1989) |
| I’m Your Man (1992) (video game) |
The New York Times profile of Stahl, published in the year of her death, portrays her as someone who defied expectations, perhaps stemming from her upbringing in a wealthy family. This rebellious streak led her to challenge familial norms, eventually leaving the Actors Equity union, experiencing a brief marriage and divorce, and navigating strained relationships with relatives. Music became a creative outlet, supported in part by the income from her discreet marijuana business.
Stahl’s apartment, located a few stories above the iconic Carnegie Delicatessen in Midtown Manhattan, became her sanctuary. Below, tourists thronged, captivated by the deli’s legendary pastrami and walls adorned with celebrity photographs. Upstairs, in her makeshift studio, Stahl immersed herself in music, often surrounded by friends. On the fateful evening of May 10, 2001, she was enjoying wine and company with Charles “Trey” Hillewell and his girlfriend Rosemond Dane, who were visiting. Anthony Veader, her hairdresser, was also present, trading a haircut for marijuana, and Stephen King was acting as a doorman, highlighting the informal, almost bohemian atmosphere of her life.
The Chilling Events of May 10, 2001: A Night of Terror
Dirty Dancing Actress Murdered in Carnegie Deli Massacre
The tranquility of that evening shattered when two men ascended the five flights of stairs to Stahl’s apartment. Sean Salley and Andre “Dre” Smith made no attempt to conceal their identities as they approached Stahl’s door. Stephen King, acting as doorman, seemed to recognize them, suggesting they were known to Stahl, possibly as customers. The atmosphere instantly turned menacing as guns were drawn. Stahl, displaying a tragic understanding of the situation, reportedly told the intruders they could take whatever they wanted. However, the situation escalated rapidly. While Stahl’s guests were being bound, witnesses recounted that Stahl was suddenly shot. The violence didn’t end there. The other four individuals in the apartment were also bound and subsequently shot.
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Salley and Smith fled the scene, escaping with a meager haul of $800-$1,000 and approximately half a pound of marijuana. Hillewell and King succumbed to their injuries instantly. Dane and Veader, though critically wounded, survived. Veader, in a desperate move, managed to call 911. First responders arrived, providing crucial aid that saved Veader and Dane, but Jennifer Stahl, the Dirty Dancing actress, died from her gunshot wound at the hospital. Security footage from the building revealed the brutal efficiency of the crime – Salley and Smith were in the apartment for less than six minutes, leaving behind a scene of devastation and unanswered questions.
Justice for Jennifer Stahl: Conviction and Aftermath
Salley and Smith Face Justice for Dirty Dancing Actress Murder
The fact that Stephen King and Jennifer Stahl appeared to recognize Sean Salley pointed investigators towards the likely motive. It suggested that Salley and possibly Dre Smith were indeed customers of Stahl, giving them knowledge of her drug dealing and potential cash stash. The brazen nature of their entry and exit, captured on surveillance video – no attempt to hide faces or wipe fingerprints – indicated a lack of meticulous planning. This reinforced the theory that the crime was primarily driven by robbery, with the killings possibly an unplanned and brutal escalation.
This theory is supported by a senior investigator’s account, revealing that after Stahl was shot, one of the perpetrators questioned the other, “Why did you have to shoot her?“. The subsequent shots fired at the remaining victims seemed rushed and impulsive, suggesting a crime spiraling out of control rather than a cold, premeditated execution. Similar to another case featured in Homicide: New York, the murder of Michael McMorrow, investigators moved swiftly to identify Salley and Smith.
Video surveillance and fingerprints lifted from the duct tape used to bind the victims quickly led detectives to Salley and Smith. Smith surrendered to police two weeks after the shooting. Initially uncooperative, he eventually confessed after being confronted with fingerprint evidence. Smith implicated Salley as the mastermind, claiming Salley proposed the robbery, portraying it as a simple in-and-out operation that wouldn’t necessitate violence. According to Smith, it was Salley who fired the fatal shot that killed Stahl.
Salley, however, evaded immediate capture, becoming a fugitive across New York and New Jersey.
When Smith reportedly questioned Salley’s actions, Salley’s chilling response was, “They knew me.” Salley’s flight ended when the case was featured on America’s Most Wanted. Tips poured in, leading to his apprehension in Miami. Salley admitted to planning the robbery but claimed the initial shot that killed Stahl was accidental. He then shifted blame to Smith for shooting the other victims. With each defendant blaming the other, two separate trials became necessary to untangle the truth.
The trials, held concurrently in the same courtroom, featured testimony from survivors Veader and Dane.
The legal proceedings faced delays due to the 9/11 attacks, but eventually, the case moved forward, with both Salley and Smith pointing fingers at each other. On June 2, 2002, the jury reached a verdict. Unable to definitively determine who fired which shots in Stahl’s apartment, both Smith and Salley were convicted on three counts of second-degree murder, one count for each of the deaths of Hillewell, King, and Jennifer Stahl.
On July 30, 2002, Smith and Salley received harsh sentences: three consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison without parole. The night of May 10, 2001, became a tragic marker in the lives of Stephen King, Charles Hillewell, and Jennifer Stahl – the Dirty Dancing actress, the singer, and a woman remembered by many friends. As is typical of Homicide: New York episodes, definitive happy endings are rare. However, in the premiere episode, a semblance of justice was served, offering a degree of closure in the unsettling case of the Dirty Dancing actress murdered in the Carnegie Deli Massacre.
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Homicide: New York
TV-MA
Release Date March 20, 2024
Homicide: New York is a crime drama that follows a team of detectives as they investigate and solve crimes in New York City. The show delves into the lives of the detectives and the victims, exploring the complexities of the cases and the personal toll on those involved.
Seasons 1
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