The 234 Apartment

Authorities believe a custody dispute amid a disintegrating marriage triggered a murder-suicide in South Carolina earlier this summer, after 36-year-old Jessica Edens shot and killed the woman whom she believed was her estranged husband ’s girlfriend. Edens then killed her two young children and, finally, shot herself, according to police. She left behind a scathing suicide note for her spouse. Here are four things to know about the tragedy. 1. Edens’ Spree Began with Husband’s Suspected Girlfriend On July 13, police believe Edens fatally shot 28 -year-old Meredith Leigh Rahme at a parking garage at Rhame’s apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, before fleeing the scene in her Jeep. Greenville Police Chief Ken Miller said Edens believed Rahme was dating her husband, Benjamin Edens , who had reportedly filed for divorce from her after their separation in April. But officials later said Ben and Rahme were co-workers and described them as acquaintances. According to auth...

T wo weeks ago, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge handed down a decision designed to strike fear in the hearts of landlords. Justice James d’Auguste ordered that an independent receiver be appointed to manage two Midtown residential buildings where the landlords allegedly allowed illegal Airbnb rentals to occur. The case, which began when the city sued the landlords in February 2015, has become one of the battlegrounds in a larger war between city enforcement agencies and short- term rental sites like Airbnb. Airbnb, which was recently valued at $31 billion, refuses to release the exact addresses of hosts who break the law by renting their entire apartment for less than 30 days without being present. Without the addresses and names of Airbnb violators , the city mostly targets the owners of buildings that rack up the most illegal hotel complaints from 311 calls and the New York City Department of Buildings. “This entire model—and it was intentional [by the city]—is complaint-drive...