11/02/2009
Openly Gay Surgeon Stabbed to Death in Own Home in New Orleans
Dr. Ralph Edward Newsome Jr. was stabbed to death in his home in the French Quarter, and someone lit the home on fire after the murder attempting to cover evidence, the Times Picayune reports:
"Dr. Ralph Edward Newsome Jr., 45, died after being stabbed multiple times inside his three-story town house in the 900 block of Toulouse Street about 3 a.m. His body had no burns, and he had not inhaled any smoke, meaning someone set fire to the home after he was stabbed, New Orleans coroner's chief investigator John Gagliano said...A 911 call reporting a blaze led New Orleans firefighters to Newsome's home. They found smoke flowing out of the second floor and soon discovered a large fire burning toward the back of an attic. They struck three alarms and rushed 68 firefighters to the scene, spokesman Edwin Holmes Jr. said.
Newsome's neighbors told rescuers that they never saw him exit his house. Firefighters barged into the home and found an unconscious Newsome on the second floor, stabbed several times.
Firefighters brought him outside to waiting New Orleans EMS paramedics. They took him to LSU Interim Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
New Orleans police detectives haven't announced any suspects or a motive in the case, spokeswoman officer Shereese Harper said."
Newsome was a plastic surgeon at Tulane University, specializing in disfigured trauma victims and skin cancer patients. Said Dr. Benjamin Sachs, the dean of Tulane's School of Medicine: "It is a tragedy for this city to lose such a brilliant surgeon. We have
lost a major leader and gifted educator. He was an extraordinary physician."
Posted 1:22 PM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, New Orleans, News |
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What a terrible tragedy. What is wrong with people? Fuck.
Posted by: The Milkman | Nov 2, 2009 1:30:30 PM
This is what happens when you leave a haterosexual male into your house that you don't know. Trust me, that is the case here. Remember that 16 year old that stabbed a New York radio host to death?
How many times do I have to write it down? Safety should be gay people's number 1 priority. Don't leave haterosexuals into your house, they are dangerous, unless you've known them for a long time. Take defense classes.
Posted by: Bill | Nov 2, 2009 1:42:18 PM
Thanks, Bill. I'll be sure to never let my brother in my home again. Or the clergyman who presided over my ceremony. Or the man who fixed our heating unit. Or the guys I go mountain biking with. Very helpful advice.
Posted by: crispy | Nov 2, 2009 1:48:13 PM
Just wondering if the news tips I send in ever get to the Towleroad staff. Several days ago, I sent a news item about an openly gay museum director in Brownsville, Texas who was stabbed to death (77 times) by a 19-year-old man, who may or may not have been his estranged lover. Granted, the news items haven't really confirmed the two men's relationship, but the comments section in the newspaper articles have sparked a lot of discussion regarding the dangers of an openly gay lifestyle in such a culturally conservative region.
Posted by: Mike E. Perez | Nov 2, 2009 1:51:15 PM
What a horrible, horrible way to remind us that we need to defend ourselves, arm ourselves, and be careful. Too early to tell why this has happened, but it's a damn shame that it had to happen to such a wonderful human being.
Posted by: Mitch Shea | Nov 2, 2009 2:10:14 PM
God, this makes me sick to my stomach. A man making a major contribution to society stabbed to death by some scummy little sh** whose contribution is zero. These sh**s are parasites that need to be exterminated. We have no use for them and they are highly expendable - unlike Dr Newsome.
Posted by: atheist | Nov 2, 2009 2:21:27 PM
Very tragic. If this turns out to be a hate crime, I hope the federal law will prove useful in tracking down this murderer and putting him away for good.
Regarding the headline: The term "openly" gay as it is usually used in the media strikes me as an unnecessary anachronism. I would use the term to differentiate in a discussion contrasting with "closeted."
The media never refers to the "openly Jewish" comedian Jon Stewart or "openly biracial" Halle Berry. In fact, its use with the word "gay" has become so cliche so that I sometimes see it used even if it seems a gay person has ever given any subtle indication to ANYONE at any time that she or he could be gay. It seems to me it suggests that the default mode should be to pretend heterosexuality.
Posted by: GregV | Nov 2, 2009 2:35:15 PM
So we have no real details on the circumstances surrounding this man's death, yet several of you seem to have solved the crime. Perhaps you should look to careers as prosecutors.
You automatically assume the doctor invited some murderous young rough trade back to his house, based on absolutely no evidence. Dozens of scenarios are possible, but you choose that one. Nice work.
Posted by: Paul R | Nov 2, 2009 2:48:20 PM
Paul, I don't see anyone mentioning race before your comment.
That said, you're right. People should wait and see what the investigation reveals before pressing the "everybody freak out" button.
We should chill out and take a moment to reflect on what his friends and family are going through right now. What a terribly tragic thing.
Posted by: The Milkman | Nov 2, 2009 3:07:31 PM
@ The Milkman -
Where did 'Paul R' mention race???
Posted by: Gregus | Nov 2, 2009 3:16:32 PM
Milkman,
Maybe you should read Paul's post again as it contains not one single word about race.
As far as the others, I agree you should not presume in the absence of any evidence that this involved the victim inviting a straight younger guy back to his house....nothing is served by assuming that scenario...it could be a straightforward home invasion scenario...there are many possibilities, as someone pointed out already...
Posted by: Hunter | Nov 2, 2009 3:24:42 PM
Milkman,
Tried to figure out where you saw race mentioned in Paul R's comment and I'm guessing you read "back" as "black."
It's called projecting. You should probably re-examine either your bias or sensitivity.
Posted by: unruly | Nov 2, 2009 3:29:09 PM
Make prostitution legal!
Than we won't have to pay pennies to street toughs for bad head. Let a hard working doctor get a knob wetting without having to troll the toilets of Home Depot.
Fuck your fag marriage, let my people stroll!
Posted by: Kinky Boots | Nov 2, 2009 3:36:13 PM
Crispy --- so lame so often.
He was making a joke and he said it about letting someone in you DONT know.
Actually good advise.
Posted by: RJP3 | Nov 2, 2009 4:20:43 PM
This is awful. A tragedy and my thoughts are with his family. And why wouldn't we assume it was antigay? There's a pretty good chance.
Crispy, I think bill was specifically referring to all those tradey, seedy dudes you meet on craigslist and in bars. How many flatscreens and laptops do you need to go through before you heed the warning? Just some friendly advice FROM BILL is all. Sheesh! (s'kiddin').
Posted by: TANK | Nov 2, 2009 4:27:45 PM
Bill is a grade-A 100% douchenozzle. Really, how can you take seriously someone who uses the word "haterosexual"? Anyone on here who listens to anything Bill says deserves to be as miserable and pathetic as he is.
Oh, and RPJ3, the word is "advice." Learn to spell, asshole.
Posted by: crispy | Nov 2, 2009 4:39:02 PM
Wow Crispshit you're really a insecure dick!
Posted by: Marc | Nov 2, 2009 5:52:56 PM
I actually hope it's NOT what some people are thinking (wealthy white gay guy who exploits poor minorities for sex). If there is one topic that can literally start a firestorm in the gay community, it's that one.
Posted by: Davey | Nov 2, 2009 6:58:48 PM
I'd never start some racist "discussion" on here. Those posts make me sick. I never mentioned race, minorities, or anything but rough trade.
And don't forgot, most homicide victims know their killers. So don't fixate on rough trade.
Posted by: Paul R | Nov 2, 2009 7:47:18 PM
Its appalling to even read what you people have written here. If only you people knew Dr. Newsome, a gem of a person, a great doctor and an awesome mentor. Working as a resident doctor and then as a colleague with him was an honor. He was a remarkable trauma doctor and had helped many a trauma victims. It’s a great loss for the doctor community, for the city of New Orleans and especially for the Gay and Lesbian Community. Reading your comments, for the first time in my life I feel ashamed for being gay, part of your community! If anything at least respect the dead. Pause and think what you say here portrays who you are as a person. We will miss you Dr. Newsome
Posted by: Kash | Nov 2, 2009 8:02:09 PM
Never invite a stranger to your home. Don't be skimpy or lazy, get a hotel or a motel. And no, meeteng someone twice doesn't make you know the guy.
Posted by: Lexxvs | Nov 2, 2009 8:52:15 PM
Hey, all you Sherlocks, it's too soon to know anything. Shut up and just think about Dr. Newsome's family, friends, patients, co-workers, etc...
Posted by: David T | Nov 2, 2009 9:26:52 PM
Paul R don't worry hon. Your comment was spot on because ROUGH TRADE comes in all colors!
@ Miss MilkyWayWhiteness aka The MilkMan
LEARN IT....LOL
Posted by: Chris | Nov 3, 2009 12:48:13 AM
Andy,
I hope you, or another credible news source, are keeping track of how many hate crimes against GLBT persons are happening in the US this year. It seems like you have one-two daily posts where another queer has been murdered in an extremely violent way. Are the nubmers of violent acts rising?
And while I know none of the particulars, my "hate-crime-dar" goes up when I read that someone was stabbed "multiple times" along with an attempt to burn the body afterwards, or when someone runs over a already-bashed body with an SUV... this is not just a quick blinding rage, but a cruel, violent, vicious attack with an utter disregard for the human body and lack of respect for life of our fellow man.
Some Repug douche was quoted as saying that the GLBT community didn't have a critial mass of attacks to warrant hate crimes protections... I forget who. What's the number got to be? 500 or 1,000 a year or more? Let's not forget the gay men and "witches" burned at the stakes, or the holocaust.
As disgusting as this tragedy is, I don't think people will get it unless the NYT or some respected news source counts up the bodies and says X number of total hate-related GLBT deaths in 2009 and rising... as a Canadian, I am proud for America to finally pass the Matthew Shepherd Act. It's time to stop the violence.
Posted by: graphicjack | Nov 3, 2009 4:30:39 AM
Yup, I'll admit it, I read the post too fast. My bad. The rest of my comment stands, though.
And yes, Chris, your characterization of me as Miss MilkyWayWhiteness was more spot-on than you realize. If I were any whiter I'd be clear. :-)
Posted by: The Milkman | Nov 3, 2009 10:40:02 AM