The chilling docuseries Homicide: New York grips viewers from its outset, opening with the harrowing episode detailing the murder of Jennifer Stahl, an actress known for her role in Dirty Dancing. As a standout documentary within the Dick Wolf television universe, Homicide: New York, released in 2024, delves into a series of unsettling homicides that have shaken New York City. Through firsthand accounts from detectives, investigators, prosecutors, and those close to the victims, the five-part miniseries offers an intimate and stark portrayal of these grim crimes.
While Dick Wolf has previously ventured into true crime with series like Cold Justice and Criminal Confessions, Homicide: New York marks his first production for Netflix. The premiere episode, titled “Carnegie Deli Massacre,” immediately sets a dark tone, presenting the gruesome triple homicide of which Jennifer Stahl, a New York City actress with minor roles in Dirty Dancing and Firehouse, was a victim. The tragic events unfolded in her apartment, located just above the iconic Carnegie Deli, on a night that irrevocably changed lives.
Who Was Jennifer Stahl? Exploring the Life of the Victim
Jennifer Stahl’s Claim to Fame: Her Role in Dirty Dancing
Jennifer Stahl’s journey began in Titusville, NJ, before she moved to New York City, chasing her acting dreams. While she secured minor roles in films such as Firehouse and Necropolis, it was her appearance in Dirty Dancing that brought her into the spotlight. In the beloved movie, she was featured as one of the exuberant background dancers, sharing the screen with Johnny (Patrick Swayze). As acting opportunities dwindled, Stahl shifted her focus to singing and, as reported by NYT, became involved in selling marijuana. However, she was not a large-scale dealer; instead, she cultivated a niche business, providing high-quality cannabis primarily to a circle of friends, including members of the SNL cast. This discreet operation served as a means to support her artistic endeavors (according to DenOfGeek).
| Jennifer Stahl’s Filmography |
|---|
| Title |
| Necropolis (1986) |
| Dirty Dancing (1987) |
| Firehouse (1987) |
| Identity Crisis (1989) |
| I’m Your Man (1992) (video game) |
A New York Times article published in the same year as her death portrayed Stahl as someone who defied expectations. Coming from a privileged background, she reportedly resisted the conventional path her family envisioned for her. Following a slowdown in her acting career, she made significant life changes: leaving the Actors Equity union, marrying and divorcing, having disagreements with family, and eventually pursuing music, supported by the income from her small marijuana venture.
She resided in a modest apartment situated a few floors above the renowned Carnegie Delicatessen in Midtown Manhattan. This location was a tourist hotspot, famous for its pastrami sandwiches and walls adorned with celebrity photographs.
In her apartment, Stahl had set up a makeshift recording studio where she worked on her music and often hosted friends. On the evening of her murder, she was spending time with Charles “Trey” Hillewell and his girlfriend Rosemond Dane, who were visiting. Her hairdresser, Anthony Veader, was also present, receiving marijuana in exchange for a haircut, and Stephen King was at the door.
The Tragic Events of May 2001: Jennifer Stahl’s Murder
The Apartment Attack: Stahl and Two Friends Killed
On the evening of May 10, 2001, two men ascended to Stahl’s fifth-floor apartment, making no attempt to conceal their identities. Jennifer Stahl opened the door to Sean Salley and Andre “Dre” Smith. Stephen King seemed to recognize them, suggesting they were known to Stahl as customers. Immediately, guns were drawn, and Stahl reportedly told the men they could take whatever they wanted. As the guests were being restrained, witnesses recounted that Stahl was abruptly shot. The other four individuals present were also bound and shot.
Salley and Smith, whose identities were not immediately known, fled the apartment with an estimated $800 to $1,000 and half a pound of marijuana. Hillewell and King died at the scene. Dane and Veader sustained critical injuries but were stabilized. Veader managed to call 911. Emergency responders arrived, successfully saving Veader and Dane, but Stahl succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. Security camera footage from the building revealed that Salley and Smith were in the apartment for less than six minutes.
Justice Served: Conviction of Sean Salley and Andre “Dre” Smith for Stahl’s Murder
Motive Revealed: Robbery and a Hasty Crime
The fact that King and Stahl appeared to recognize Sean Salley suggests that Salley and potentially Dre Smith were Stahl’s customers. This connection implies they were aware that Stahl kept drugs and a significant amount of cash in her apartment. Furthermore, video footage of their arrival and departure from the apartment showed they made no effort to hide their faces or wipe away fingerprints, indicating a lack of meticulous planning. These details point towards a crime driven by robbery, with the killings potentially unplanned and impulsive.
This theory is supported by a senior investigator’s account, stating that after Stahl was shot, the accomplice who was tying up the other guests questioned his partner, “Why did you have to shoot her?“. The subsequent shots fired at the remaining individuals in the apartment appeared rushed, suggesting the event was not a carefully premeditated execution. Similar to the Homicide: New York episode focusing on the Michael McMorrow murder, investigators swiftly made progress in identifying Salley and Smith.
Detectives obtained surveillance footage of the two men and identified them as Salley and Smith. Fingerprints lifted from the duct tape used to bind the victims further solidified their involvement. Smith surrendered to the police two weeks after the shooting. He eventually cooperated after detectives presented fingerprint evidence. Smith confessed that Salley had approached him with the plan, describing Stahl’s operation and portraying it as a simple robbery, supposedly without any need for violence. According to Smith, Salley was the one who fired the fatal shot at Stahl.
Salley evaded capture, becoming a fugitive in New York and New Jersey.
When Smith questioned Salley’s actions, Salley’s response was, “They knew me.” Salley remained at large in the New York and New Jersey area. When detectives featured the case on America’s Most Wanted, they received numerous tips, one of which led to Salley’s apprehension in Miami. Salley admitted to planning the robbery of Stahl but insisted the initial shot was accidental. He then claimed Smith was responsible for shooting the others in the apartment. With each defendant blaming the other, separate trials became necessary.
The two trials were conducted concurrently in the same courtroom. Veader and Dane provided crucial testimony.
The trials faced delays due to the 9/11 attacks, but eventually proceeded, with both Salley and Smith pointing fingers at each other. On June 2, 2002, the jury concluded they could not definitively determine who fired which shots in Stahl’s apartment on May 10, 2001. Consequently, both Smith and Salley were found guilty on three counts of second-degree murder, one count for each death of Helliwell, King, and Stahl.
On July 30, 2002, Smith and Salley each received three consecutive sentences of 25 years to life imprisonment without parole. It was a devastating night for King, Helliwell, and Jennifer Stahl – a Dirty Dancing actress, a singer, and a woman deeply cherished by her friends. While Homicide: New York episodes rarely offer happy endings, the premiere episode at least brings a measure of justice to this tragic case.
