Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Murder-for-Hire in Celebrity Esthetician Case

The owner of a West Hollywood skin care business that caters to celebrities pleaded not guilty today to a murder-solicitation charge stemming from an alleged attempt to hire a former NFL player to kill one of her competitors.

Dawn DaLuise, the proprietor of the Skin Refinery at 8543 Santa Monica Blvd., was charged March 7 with the felony count.

On her website, DaLuise says she's a former Frederick's of Hollywood model whose skin-care clients have included Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., Alicia Silverstone, Christina Ricci, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alyson Hannigan and Sally Struthers.

Detectives from the sheriff's Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau were investigating a cyberstalking case when they received information about the alleged murder solicitation, according to Deputy Peter Gomez of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Investigators served several warrants in the Los Angeles County area March 5 and arrested DaLuise.

The target of the alleged murder-for-hire plot was Gabriel Suarez, who opened Smooth Cheeks next door to Skin Refinery about seven months ago.

According to the criminal complaint, the person DaLuise allegedly tried to hire was Chris Geile, an Anaheim native who played in three games as an offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions in 1987.

Sheriff's officials said earlier this month that there was no evidence that anyone acted to carry out the killing.

DaLuise, whose bail was set at $1 million, is due back at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles April 17 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require her to stand trial.

A week after DaLuise was taken into custody, Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators arrested Edward Feinstein, 30, who allegedly had a falling out with DaLuise.

Feinstein allegedly created and began distributing sexually explicit fliers containing a photo of DaLuise's face and allegedly posted ads on craigslist posing as DaLuise and requesting males to act out a "rape fantasy," according to Capt. Mike Parker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Headquarters Bureau.

DaLuise allegedly believed the ads were posted by Suarez, the rival business owner, according to the sheriff's department.

DaLuise "then began communications by text and phone calls with more than one person in an effort to hire someone to kill the person she believed was trying to solicit rape against her and threaten the safety of her daughters," Parker said.

Feinstein was released March 12 on $150,000 bail and is tentatively set to appear in court May 14. No charges have been filed against him yet, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Meanwhile, the investigation in Feinstein led to the arrest last Friday of 23-year-old Nicholas F. Prugo -- who authorities said was one of the masterminds of the so-called "Bling Ring" that targeted celebrities' homes for burglaries. Prugo, described as a friend or roommate of Feinstein, was questioned during the Feinstein investigation and then arrested on suspicion of violating his parole for allegedly carrying a gun.

Prugo was one of six people prosecuted in connection with the "Bling Ring" burglaries.

He remains jailed without bail, according to the sheriff's department's Inmate Information Center website.

--City News Service