Dr. Kathryn Faughey Apparently Hacked To Death David Tarloff Arrested? Update 2-18 Case Solved?

New York's Upper East Side may never be the same. 56-year-old psychiatrist Kathryn Faughey was apparently hacked to death with a meat cleaver by a middle aged blond haired male. It is not clear if the killer was a patient. Dr. Kent Shinback, a male therapist apparently attempted to assist Faughey during the attack. Shinback was also seriously cut in the face by the suspect. Shinback was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill/Cornell. Shinback is in serious condition. The killer apparently left his suit cases in the basement and then escaped through a basement exit.

Dr. Kathryn Faughey was apparently a well respected, licensed psychologist. She practiced cognitive behavioral therapy which focused on changing thoughts that cause feelings or behaviors. She was married to Walter Adam, an attorney. (The above photos are of a friend interviewed by police who is not at the present considered to be a suspect, the surveillance video of the suspect, the sketch of the suspect, and a demonstrative meat cleaver.)

Update 2-13-08:The attack shocked the city's large community of mental health professionals."This is, I think, an extraordinary occurrence," said Sharon Brennan, a psychologist in Manhattan and a spokeswoman for the New York State Psychological Association. "It has had a shocking impact on the whole New York community."Alexandra Pike, who lives across the street apparently allowed a news photographer to shoot the scene from her family's apartment. Faughey's web site indicated that she treated patients for relationship issues, coping with breakups, anxiety, panic attacks, stress over job changes and online intimacy.

Police have apparently recovered three knives from the scene, including the cleaver and a 9-inch knife. A suitcase on wheels filled with women's clothing and adult diapers was also recovered. A bag with eight smaller knives not used in the attack were apparently also found. According to Paul Browne (police spokesman), "The condition of the room was that of a fierce struggle... There was blood on the floor and on the walls."

According to Fox News, the man was wearing a green overcoat and baseball hat. He arrived at the office about 8 p.m. supposedly saying he had an appointment with Dr. Kent Shinbach, a geriatric psychiatrist who worked in the same suite with Dr. Faughey. According to police, the suspect walked past a doorman and into the waiting room. As he assaulted, Dr. Faughey, Dr. Shinbach apparently struggled with the suspect. The suspect attacked Shinbach and pinned him to the wall with a chair. He told Shinbach that he knew where he lived and took his wallet.

In a 2004 New York Times interview, Faughey adviced those breaking up to, "In the old days it was burn the letters," she said. "Today, clear the hard drive."

Therapists, like any one else, can become victims. For example, a psychiatrist in Omaha died from an attack from a patient with a grudge and a history of violence. Safety has to always be a concern for all professionals. Hopefully authorities will find the suspect so that this world will have one less "safety risk." If you recognize the suspect call Crime Stoppers or Police!

Update 2-14-08: Physical profile: 5'9" 200 lbs. Mid 40's. Balding. Mental profile: Since Dr. Faughey's patients were mostly female, Legal Pub projects that the killer, may have been a boyfriend or spouse of a patient or a patient. The killer is intelligent and meticulous as to detail. (He had all the tools and some left over.) This killing was planned. Since it turns out that there were prints, it was not a professional killer. But it may still have been done by someone with experience in killing.

Update 2-15-08: On Thursday, police questioned and released a Pennsylvania man Dr. Faughey had offered to help with personal problems. Dr. Faughey mentioned him in a recent message, sent about a half-hour before she was killed. Detectives interviewed William Kunsman in Pennsylvania on Thursday. He was not considered a suspect. The man had met Dr. Faughey at a guitar camp several years ago. The man said that he hadn't even heard about Dr. Faughey's death. Have N.Y. police obtained a court order for the patient records which are apparently protected by HIPAA?

Second 2-15 Update: WABC apparently reported that the surviving victim may have identified a suspect. The District Attorney will obviously await forensic evidence before considering any arrest. (See link below.) William Kunsman had nothing to do with the murder. Kunsman is completely innocent and clearly explained to the press that he had nothing to do with her death. LINK William Kunsman looks different then the sketch, the surveilance video, and does not match the physical description of the killer. His wife can verify where he was at the time of the killing. Kunsman is not the killer. Kunsman was home Tuesday night playing with his kids and is completely innocent!

Update 2-16-08: Profilest has provided a theory that the killer was an ex- lover of a patient or a patient who used Dr. Faughey to help with a break up. The adult diapers made in Pennsylvania can be purchased on the internet. Profilest feels that an erroneous concentration on Kunsman may have distracted the focus of the investigation. This could be criminal behavior triggered by rage which Legal Pub's Proposal to Reduce Domestic Violence was designed to reduce. If it turns out that divorce or post break up dispute concerning children caused the killer to snap, then this topic can be explored in more detail.

Update 2-16-08 Afternoon: Major break! Police are apparently questioning a former patient of Faughey's colleague. Police are apparently awaiting forensic evidence including fingerprints found at the bloody crime scene before formal charges are made. However, the former patient is believed to be a 39 year old telemarketer living in Queens. He is round faced and balding like the suspect in the surveillance video. He may have been treated in the past by 70-year-old Dr. Kent Shinbach and evaluated by Dr. Faughey. Was the suspect mad at Dr. Kathryn Faughey over a decision that sent him to a mental institution? He has a rather long history of mental complications. Apparently police are holding the suspect but have yet to charge him. It's unclear why Shinbach did not immediately recognize the suspect! The killer's entrance and exit through the building was caught on security cameras. It is also believed that the killer had visited the offices approximately 90 minutes before he returned for the killing. Security cameras had filmed the killer in his earlier visit walking through the front door and exiting through the basement.

Update 2-18-08: 39-year-old telemarketer David Tarloff apparently fits the physical description of the suspect. Supposedly, he was once a patient of Dr. Kent D. Shinbach, the surviving victim of the attack. He reportedly has a history of mental illness and violent behavior according to the New York Times. Tarloff was arrested for Dr. Faughey's murder. He apparently told police that he had intended to rob the Kent Shinbach. (Shinback had apparently institutionalized Tarloff 17 years ago. Tarloff then planned to take his mother and flee the U.S. (Tarloff's mother was in a nursing home, which explains the diapers and women's clothing.) The police apparently have their man! Good job N.Y.P.D.! (Photo of arrest courtesy of CBS)