New York, NY – Harvey Weinstein, a former tuxedo company executive who was buried alive for 12 days after being kidnapped in 1993, has died. He was 82.
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Weinstein was CEO of Lord West, a company that manufactured formalwear for Ralph Lauren, Pierre Cardin and others in addition to its own brand.
Weinstein, who reportedly had suffered a lengthy illness, died in Manhattan, Central Synagogue in Manhattan, where he was a congregant, confirmed.
The abduction occurred on Aug. 4, 1993.
Fermin Rodriguez, a collar maker at Weinstein’s company, and two accomplices, kidnapped Weinstein as he left a diner in Queens. They drove him to Manhattan, buried him in an 8-foot-deep pit near the Hudson River, and demanded $3 million in ransom from his family.
Weinstein spent 12 days with little food and water before police found him. His first words to them were: “Thank God you’re here, and I’d like to have a cigarette.”
All three of the suspects were convicted and sentenced to prison.
Born in Brooklyn, Weinstein served as a marine in World War II and fought at Iwo Jima. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina. [wnbc]