Sex-in-cathedral suspect drops dead

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Oct. 2

[EsclavoDeCristo]

The 38-year-old man alleged to have had sex in a public area of New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral has died of a heart attack while awaiting trial.

Brian Florence's attorney announced to a surprised courtroom Tuesday that his client died last week in Alexandria, Va., the New York Daily News reported.

"We're told that it was heart failure. It was very sudden. The family is still in a state of shock," defense attorney Maranda Fritz told reporters outside the courtroom. Florence – who along with his girlfriend, Loretta Harper, 36, had planned to plead guilty to disorderly conduct – was buried Monday, Fritz said.

The judge adjourned the case until next month when Harper will return to court.

Florence and Harper were arrested inside the cathedral after being caught having sex as part of a radio stunt. Radio producer Paul Mercurio, 43, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct Tuesday and was sentenced to seven days of community service, according to the Daily News.

Radio shock jocks Gregg Hughes and Anthony Cumia of WNEW put the couple up to the stunt. Both announcers were fired after the arrest of Florence and Harper.

An usher at the cathedral discovered the couple in a side entrance vestibule. According to the paper, their activity was visible to about 20 worshipers and tourists.

Mercurio, who provided live on-air commentary of the stunt, later apologized.

"Since the show, I realized how inappropriate these actions were. I have apologized personally to monsignors at St. Patrick's Cathedral and apologize publicly now for the disrespect we showed the church, its parishioners and the people of the City of New York," he is quoted by the paper as saying.

[AdamSelene235]

Did anyone desecrate the funeral or were they restrained by some basic sense of decency?

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[Exigence]

Delayed lightning strike?

[BenLurkin]

Again?

[TheEngineer]

The 38-year-old man alleged to have had sex in a public area of New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral has died of a heart attack while awaiting trial.

Or I guess you could say that the trial date got moved up a bit sooner.

[Lunatic Fringe]

How many times can this guy die?

[skr]

Not much of a surprise, considering. Prayers for the family who must be reeling.

[txzman]

Or I guess you could say that the trial date got moved up a bit sooner. Nope :) This guy's trial is yet to come! And the judge can be a tough one!

[dangus]

<< ZOT! >>

Hmmm... 'sbeen a long time since I've thought of "The Internet Oracle." Way back, before Gore invented the internet *snicker*.

[Prince Charles]

The 38-year-old man alleged to have had sex in a public area of New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral has died of a heart attack while awaiting trial.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

[Frank_2001]

yessir, the ultimate "zot";)))

[TheEngineer]

Nope :) This guy's trial is yet to come! And the judge can be a tough one!

Perhaps with too much sublety, that's exactly what I was trying to say. :-)

[Ruth A.]

And the media didn't catch this earlier? They must not have appreciated the irony.

[TomServo]

Already posted here.

[jammer]

lol!!!