August 10, 2012

Katrina hero accused of plotting three murders

The Syrian-born businessman had previously been described as a compassionate neighbor paddling a canoe through New Orleans' flooded streets to help imperiled residents.

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — The subject of the best-selling nonfiction book "Zeitoun" about a nightmarish incarceration during Hurricane Katrina's aftermath has been accused of plotting to murder his ex-wife, her son and another man.

click image to enlarge

In this 2009 photo, Abdulrahman Zeitoun and his wife, Kathy, pose for a photo in their Broadmoor home in New Orleans. Abdulrahman Zeitoun, who paddled his canoe through the eerily quiet flooded landscape of New Orleans helping people and animals after Hurricane Katrina, has been accused of trying to hire someone to murder his now ex-wife, her son and another man. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael DeMocker)

Abdulrahman Zeitoun, 54, faces charges of offering $20,000 to a fellow jail inmate in exchange for the killings. Zeitoun has been jailed since late last month on charges that he beat his wife, Kathy Zeitoun, on a New Orleans street.

In the book by Dave Eggers, the Syrian-born businessman was described as a compassionate neighbor paddling a canoe through Katrina's floodwaters and helping people before being arrested on false charges of looting. He then was thrown into prison for a month on suspicion of being a terrorist.

He was charged Thursday on three counts of solicitation for murder, records show. On Friday, he was being held in Orleans Parish Prison on those charges, one charge of domestic abuse battery and one charge of violating a protective order, according to the sheriff's office.

According to a police report, a 42-year-old inmate named Donald Pugh told authorities on Monday that he was offered $20,000 by Abdulrahman Zeitoun to kill his ex-wife, her son and a third man described in the report as his ex-wife's boyfriend. Kathy Zeitoun said the third man was the husband of her longtime friend and not her boyfriend.

The police report said Abdulrahman Zeitoun instructed Pugh to call his ex-wife and ask to look at a home she had for rent in New Orleans. According to the report, Pugh was to be paid to kill the three at the rental property only if Abdulrahman Zeitoun's children did not show up at the house. The Zeitouns had four children together. The police report said Abdulrahman Zeitoun wanted Pugh to kill a 22-year-old son Kathy Zeitoun had with another man.

Pugh told detectives that Abdulrahman Zeitoun wanted the three killed while he was in jail "so he would not become a suspect," the police report said.

Officials at the Jefferson Parish jail, where Pugh was transferred from New Orleans, said Pugh was released after posting bond on Tuesday on a charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Abdulrahman Zeitoun was in jail with Pugh after he was arrested on July 25 and charged with beating his ex-wife in New Orleans.

Police said he threw her to the ground, beat her with his fists, struck her in the back with a tire iron and choked her. The report said an officer noted Kathy Zeitoun suffered injuries to her knees, face and arms. Abdulrahman Zeitoun fled after people intervened, the report said.

Later that day, Zeitoun turned himself in to authorities and was arrested.

He also was charged with violating a protective order his ex-wife had against him. In March 2011, he was charged with domestic abuse battery and accused of beating Kathy Zeitoun in her home. The Zeitouns were divorced in February of this year.

Abdulrahman Zeitoun's lawyer could not be reached for comment.

In Eggers' book, Abdulrahman Zeitoun chose to stay in New Orleans as Katrina bore down to look after the his house and other properties the family owned. The Zeitouns had been married for nearly a decade and ran a busy house painting business.

After the levees failed and caused the flooding of New Orleans, he paddled through the floodwaters in a canoe helping stranded victims and feeding dogs.

(Continued on page 2)

Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form

Send question/comment to the editors




Further Discussion

Here at PressHerald.com we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion. To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use.

Questions about the article? Add them below and we’ll try to answer them or do a follow-up post as soon as we can. Technical problems? Email them to us with an exact description of the problem. Make sure to include:
  • Type of computer or mobile device your are using
  • Exact operating system and browser you are viewing the site on (TIP: You can easily determine your operating system here.)


Most…