History of the Brazilian Court Hotel

Chapter 7 The BC takes a Downturn

1983

Kennedy's death brought an unwelcomed siege of reporters to the Brazilian Court. The staff, some who had been at the hotel so long they thought of it as home, were suddenly on guard. It was one of the most horrific times for the hotel and its employees. Autopsy reports indicated Kennedy had used very high quality cocaine, 70 to 80 percent pure. There were also traces of Demerol, a powerful prescription painkiller. A mild sedative Mellaril was also found in the room in a prescription bottle that Kennedy had received for his recent rehabilitation. Later investigations uncovered Kennedy ’ s actions at the BC before his death. Hotel cashier identified Kennedy as the man who had approached her cash- ier ’ s window looking for a bellman named David. She did not recognize the unkempt man as Kennedy at the time. He was shirtless and wore faded shorts. His speech was slurred, but she smelled no alcohol on his breath. There was also some speculation that Kennedy ’ s room had been tampered with before police arrived. But after interviewing 15 hotel employees no evi- dence was found to support the rumor. By May 18 the Miami News was reporting suspicious conspiracy theories that seem to follow the Kennedy family. There was some confusion of who actually found the body as hotel bellman Douglas Moschiano was telling people that he had discovered the body instead of secretary Elizabeth Barnett. There were also rumors of a mysterious man in a gray suit who was seen in the hallways in the hours just prior to Kennedy ’ s death. The death was eventually ruled an accidental over- dose. Charges were filed against two men for selling Kennedy cocaine. David Dorr age 30, and Brazilian Court bellhop Peter Marchant, age 24. Dorr had actu- ally worked as a gardener for the Kennedy family and had known David Kennedy personally. He was working at the Brazilian Court until the day Kenne- dy ’ s body was found. He left Palm Beach that same day and returned to his family's home in Massachu- setts.

For the first time the BRAZILIAN COURT re- mained open during the summer months. Previously it had been open roughly from about December 15 to April 10. In August the hotel was cited by the Palm Beach County Health Department for a roach infested kitch- en. It also was in this time frame that the hotel manager told two influential old ladies who complained of undercooked vegetables that the “ al dente ” cooking suited him and that was all that counted. This never would have happened under the management of Bishop or Johnson who believed the guests were al- ways right. Johnson's approach, which he kept to himself, was "kill the bastards with kindness" and I have many examples in his correspondence. One let- ter to Johnson from a former guest stated that he would not be returning to the BC because he had found better rooms at a lower price. Johnson replied in a very gracious manner stating that, “ he hoped his next visit to Florida would be a pleasant one. ” On April 25, 1984, David Kennedy, the 28 - year - old son of the slain Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was found dead in Room 107. He died from a drug over- dose. The National Enquirer called everyone con- nected with the BC including me in an effort to get a photo of the room. The photo they finally did publish was a different room but only a few inside people realized it. The body was found by a hotel secretary after a call from David ’ s mother Ethel Kennedy who had not been able to contact her son since the day before. Da- vid was found lying on the floor between the two beds. Paramedics declared Kennedy dead and depart- ed the scene shortly after arrival. Last rights were administered by Rev. Don O ’ Brien from St. Ed- ward ’ s Church in Palm Beach. Several other Kennedys were staying at the hotel at the time including David ’ s 16 - year old brother Douglas. 1984

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