NY NY - Robert Freilich, 22, Yonkers, Oct 27, 1992

[Murkywaters]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

The victim was a 22 year old male who lived with his adopted parents in Yonkers. On October 27, 1992 he left his parents house in Yonkers to go to a club in downtown New York City. This was the last time he was seen or heard from. The victim's car which was a 1987 Corvette was found on October 28, 1992 at 243 West 46th Street in Manhattan by a bar that he used to go to by the name of Whiskey Bar.

 

[Murkywaters]

Robert Freilich – The Charley Project

• Missing Since 10/27/1992
• Missing From Yonkers, New York
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race White
• Date of Birth 01/08/1970 (50)
• Age 22 years old
• Height and Weight 5'6, 145 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry Description A blue jacket, dark-colored sweatpants and white sneakers.
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Freilich has a scar below his right eye, a scar above his left eye, and a bonded front tooth. His left ear is pierced. He may use the names Chris Lavae and/or Robert Lavae. His hair was shoulder-length at the time of his disappearance.

Details of Disappearance
Freilich was last seen on October 27, 1992, when he left the Yonkers, New York home he shared with his adoptive parents to go to a club in downtown New York City. He has never been heard from again. On October 28, his 1987 Corvette was found at the Whiskey Bar in the 200 block of west 46th Street in Manhattan. Few details are available in his case.

 

[JSolt1210]

Details of Disappearance
Freilich was last seen on October 27, 1992, when he left the Yonkers, New York home he shared with his adoptive parents to go to a club in downtown New York City. He has never been heard from again. On October 28, his 1987 Corvette was found at the Whiskey Bar in the 200 block of west 46th Street in Manhattan. Few details are available in his case.

I doubt the Whiskey Bar is connected to this. I'm from New York, and although I didn't go much into Midtown in 1992, this area is just blocks away from Times Square. I imagine it was hard enough to find parking back then as it is now, so I think he just parked there because he happened to find an available spot.

Also, nowadays there are a lot of gay bars and clubs in that area. I myself used to visit several, within blocks from 46th Street. I don't know if the same was true in the '90s. But I wonder: could he have been gay and maybe that's why he wasn't more specific about his plans? Back then, because it was a more secretive lifestyle than it is today, you never knew who you might run into. Could he have hooked up with the wrong person at one of these clubs? It's just a thought—I could be totally wrong.

 

[micniks]

I hung out with some of the same people as Rob back in the late 80s. We were not friends but I knew of him. I do not know if he was gay, but I know that he did have girlfriends back then. For some reason I googled him yesterday and this post popped up. I googled him because I remember in the early 2000's the Journal News posted a story about him missing. Im guessing perhaps it was the 10th anniversary of his disappearance. I am unable to find the article since. I seem to recall the article saying that he may have been an escort.I also remember that his mother thought maybe he wasnt dead because she received a lot of phone calls where people call and dont say anything and then hang up after a minute or so. I also remember there was some rumor he was killed in a snuff film. I wish I could find the article. Maybe someone here would have better luck.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

I will admit the location and time frame made me wonder if he were gay. It does sound like he was at or at least intending to go to the Whiskey Bar based on an article I linked below. The in-house bar at the Paramount Hotel on 46th was the Whiskey Bar, so it could be that bar. Per this article, it opened in 1991. It moved to the W Times Square in 2002. The missing info on him does reference 46th and 8th St and the 200 block of 46th St, which is consistent with the location of the Paramount Hotel. However, I can't reconcile his clothes (sweatpants) with this description of Whiskey Bar

The original Whiskey, with cozy living room couches designed by Philippe Starck, became a night life landmark as soon as it opened in 1991, an intimate respite from the loud and cavernous clubs of the 80's.

I wasn't able to find the article mentioned by Micniks, but that would be very interesting info.


Robert Freilich 12/16/1992 - Newspapers.com
Robert Freilich 12/20/1992 - Newspapers.com

 

[jessr927]

I'm glad to see there is a WS thread for Robert. I only became aware of his case within the past year, when @madamx sent me a link to the Charley Project page. Being from the Yonkers area I'm interested to follow this.

 

[madamx]

I hung out with some of the same people as Rob back in the late 80s. We were not friends but I knew of him. I do not know if he was gay, but I know that he did have girlfriends back then. For some reason I googled him yesterday and this post popped up. I googled him because I remember in the early 2000's the Journal News posted a story about him missing. Im guessing perhaps it was the 10th anniversary of his disappearance. I am unable to find the article since. I seem to recall the article saying that he may have been an escort.I also remember that his mother thought maybe he wasnt dead because she received a lot of phone calls where people call and dont say anything and then hang up after a minute or so. I also remember there was some rumor he was killed in a snuff film. I wish I could find the article. Maybe someone here would have better luck.

that is interesting killed for a snuff film..
if he indeed was and dumped in the river could it have been cold enough he went down and did not appear until May?

i found this guy he is off by 2 inches but he was really decomposed also. I just thought I would add.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP7911Male, White / Caucasian
Date Body FoundMay 4, 1993
Location Found Brooklyn, New York

 

[madamx]

Deleted Double post

 

[stargazer17]

that is interesting killed for a snuff film..
if he indeed was and dumped in the river could it have been cold enough he went down and did not appear until May?

i found this guy he is off by 2 inches but he was really decomposed also. I just thought I would add.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP7911Male, White / Caucasian
Date Body FoundMay 4, 1993
Location Found Brooklyn, New York

Wow this looks like a possibility! How is this checked out?

 

[Ospray]

Wow this looks like a possibility! How is this checked out?

I am wondering the same. I did notice that in the information on NamUs that there is contact information to report any information that may be pertinent to the case. That info would be: Yonkers Police Dept. phone # 914-377-7731. The person handling the case is listed as Detective John Geiss and the agency case # is 92-84620. I am new to this and I am also wondering how/if this has been checked out and/or if this information has been provided to the Yonkers PD and the person handling the case?

 

[Ospray]

that is interesting killed for a snuff film..
if he indeed was and dumped in the river could it have been cold enough he went down and did not appear until May?

i found this guy he is off by 2 inches but he was really decomposed also. I just thought I would add.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP7911Male, White / Caucasian
Date Body FoundMay 4, 1993
Location Found Brooklyn, New York

Wow, great work. I wonder if you may have found some important information. Have you contacted any of the authorities on what you have found? I would think this should at least be looked into as there appears to be some significant overlapping characteristics and timeframes.

 

[Savemecastiel]

Following

 

[jessr927]

madamx - you need to submit this as a tip. I think this is a real possibility here.

that is interesting killed for a snuff film..
if he indeed was and dumped in the river could it have been cold enough he went down and did not appear until May?

i found this guy he is off by 2 inches but he was really decomposed also. I just thought I would add.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP7911Male, White / Caucasian
Date Body FoundMay 4, 1993
Location Found Brooklyn, New York

 

[madamx]

I came across this film and found the name Chris Lavae wondering if this could be him
Transsexual Trouble - Production & Contact Info | IMDbPro

 

[jessr927]

While searching the name "Chris Lavae" last night, I found this old post on a Data Lounge thread. See attached.

 

[madamx]

While searching the name "Chris Lavae" last night, I found this old post on a Data Lounge thread. See attached.

This is an interesting find.
Thanks jessr927

 

[jessr927]

I turned in madamx's match (with her knowledge) to Det. Geiss at Yonkers PD. He said he is out of town on a case and will check it out when he returns.

 

[madamx]

I turned in madamx's match (with her knowledge) to Det. Geiss at Yonkers PD. He said he is out of town on a case and will check it out when he returns.

Yay! Thank you @jessr927 your the best… now we sit and wait…

 

[ChatteringBirds]

that is interesting killed for a snuff film..
if he indeed was and dumped in the river could it have been cold enough he went down and did not appear until May?

i found this guy he is off by 2 inches but he was really decomposed also. I just thought I would add.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP7911Male, White / Caucasian
Date Body FoundMay 4, 1993
Location Found Brooklyn, New York

As I bump this case up, I clicked on this link, and this NamUs page has been taken down. However the NamUs page for Robert is still up. That may mean, not a match?

 

[Caring1]

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