Body found in Florida that of D.C. Madam

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., May 1 (UPI) -- The body found in a shed in Florida was identified as the D.C. Madam, convicted of running a high-priced prostitution ring, police said Thursday.

The body of Deborah Jeane Palfrey was found by her mother, Blanche Palphrey, hanged in a storage shed on her mother's property, Tarpon Springs police Capt. Jeffrey Young said.

The mother, 76, had awakened from a nap and searched for Palphrey, police said. When the mother noticed a bicycle out of place, she looked into the storage shed and found the body.

Young said several notes to family members were found inside the house. He did not elaborate.

Police were called to the mobile home park in the Tampa-area community in the morning.

Palfrey, 52, was free pending her June 25 sentencing for her conviction on federal racketeering charges. She was found guilty April 15 of running a Washington-area call girl service, the federal jury rejecting her argument she was unaware her employees were performing sex acts with clients for money.

"This is tragic news, and my heart goes out to her mother," said Palfrey's attorney, Preston Burton.