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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 –...

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 –...

He dies before court date in St. Pat's sexcapade By HELEN PETERSON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Wednesday, October 1st, 2003 A man who was expected to plead guilty yesterday to having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral will have to answer to a higher authority. Brian Florence, 38, died of a heart attack Thursday in Alexandria, Va., his lawyer announced yesterday in court - surprising the judge and prosecutors. The news forced Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Barbara Jaffe to adjourn the case against Florence and girlfriend Loretta Harper, 36. The two were arrested inside the cathedral after being caught in the...

NEW YORK (AP) - A man who was to appear in court Tuesday on charges of having sex with his girlfriend inside St. Patrick's Cathedral as part of a radio show stunt has died at his home in Virginia, his lawyer said. Brian Florence, 38, died last Thursday of a heart attack in Alexandria, said the couple's lawyer, Maranda Fritz. She said the funeral was Monday, and his co-defendant and girlfriend, Loretta Lynn Harper, 36, is "still in a state of shock." The judge adjourned the case until Nov. 6. Fritz said her clients had expected to plead guilty to...

NEW YORK -- A man who was to appear in court Tuesday on charges of having sex with his girlfriend inside St. Patrick's Cathedral as part of a radio show stunt has died at his home in Virginia. Brian Florence, 38, died Sept. 25 of a heart attack in Alexandria, said the couple's lawyer, Maranda Fritz. She said the funeral was Monday, and his co-defendant and girlfriend, Loretta Lynn Harper, 36, is "still in a state of shock." Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Barbara Jaffe adjourned the case until Nov. 6 after Fritz told her Florence had died. The lawyer said...

<p>October 1, 2003 -- A Virginia man who was charged with performing a sex act in St. Patrick's Cathedral died last week, his lawyer said yesterday. The death of Brian Florence, 38, was disclosed on the same day he and girlfriend, Loretta Lynn Harper, were expected to plead guilty to disorderly-conduct charges stemming from the Aug. 16, 2002, sex stunt that was broadcast live on radio on WNEW-FM's now-canceled "Opie and Anthony Show." "I brought [them] into St. Patrick's Cathedral so that they could engage in the conduct I would broadcast over the air, via cellular telephone.</p>