Connie Crispell's Derby Party: 1984

New York Magazine, June 25th, 1984, by Michael Daly


Charles Ransom Photo: New York Magazine


Photo: Joe DeMaria, NY Post

I remember hearing about the girl in the trunk shortly after moving to NYC in the Fall of 1984. Her story was told in clubs and bars like JG Melon and the Surf Club. A preppy red head from a good family in Virginia. Found dead in the same trunk where she kept picture scrap books and moved outside to the balcony when her murderer could no longer stand the smell. It was a story that slowed drinking and sent many home early. It was Breakfast at Tiffany's -- gone wrong.

Connie Crispell worked as a sales associate on the main floor of Brooks Bothers at 346 Madison. According to an employee, she was beautiful and, like many of the young women who worked at Brooks, she liked to party.

"Connie was 'off the hook' as we'd say. Getting into problems. I talked to her a couple times. You have to be careful, I said. You don't even know who these men are... What happened with Connie and another girl from Greenwich, these girls started turning tricks with foreigners who used to come in here..."

Connie Crispell threw a Kentucky Derby party in her apartment on May 5th, 1984. Sometime in the early morning of May 6th, Connie's pimp, Charles Ransom visited her and according to a statement he made after his arrest, became enraged after she told him she had AIDs. He strangled her, stuffed the body in a trunk and within hours was running two prostitutes out of the apartment. Four days later, police were called by the owners Connie sublet from when they rang the bell only to discover Ransom and two hookers.

I remember the main floor of Brooks Brothers in January of 1984 and wonder if I saw Connie. She was stationed by the 44th Street door. Shetland sweater, red hair, Peter Pan collar. Doing what hookers were doing in Times Square. New York City is like that. You never know what's really going on behind normal facades -- even Brooks Brothers facades.



I walk by her apartment building on 58th Street and look up at the balconies. I think of how our stories survive us and wonder if anyone could have saved her. Michael Daly wrote a story for New York Magazine that can be read here. It's a tragedy but I'm also reminded of a friend who was mugged in Washington Square. I asked him what he was doing in the park and he said smoking a joint. I asked what time it was and he tells me 2:00 AM. New York is like that.

The employee remembers, "I said, been there, done that. Partying and all that. I said, you gotta be careful. New York's...Look, if you're looking for Mr Goodbar - they'd all seen the film. I said, be careful of that..."

Albemarle High School: Drama Club, Tennis Team, SGA, Cheerleader

Connie's story continues to unfold on line:

She was one of the most fascinating, seductive and wonderful people I have ever known. If I could have married her and protected her...I would have. We were having lunch one day at Jackson Hole during a break when I was helping her move. She looked across the table at one point and asked me, "You want to save me don't you?" "Yes" I replied. She answered that she didn't want to be saved.