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{{Short description|American model and murderer (1970–2018)}}
__NOTOC__
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Playboy Playmate|name= Stephanie Adams
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
|month= November 1992
{{Infobox person
|birthplace= [[Orange, New Jersey]]
| image = Playboy Centerfold Stephanie Adams.jpg
|birthdate= [[July 24]], [[1970]]
| imagesize =
|bust= 34"
| caption =
|waist= 23"
| name = Stephanie Adams
|hips= 34"
| birth_place = [[Orange, New Jersey]], U.S.<ref name=wkp />
|height= {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1970|07|24}}
|weight= {{weight|pounds=115}}
| death_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
|preceded= [[Tiffany Sloan]]
| death_date = {{circa}} {{Death date and age|2018|05|18|1970|07|24}}
|succeeded= [[Barbara Moore (Playmate)|Barbara Moore]]
| death_cause = [[Suicide by jumping]]
|pmoy-year=
|spouse = {{marriage|Charles V. Nicholai|2010|2017|end=separated}}
|pmoy-preceded=
|children = 1
|pmoy-succeeded=
| resting_place = Saint John's Cemetery<br />[[New Rockford, North Dakota]], U.S.
| module = {{Infobox Playboy Playmate
| issue = November 1992
| embed = yes
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}<ref name=wkp />
| preceded = [[Tiffany Sloan]]
| succeeded = [[Barbara Moore (model)|Barbara Moore]]
}}
}}
{{Infobox murderer
'''Stephanie Adams''' (born [[July 24]], [[1970]] in [[Orange, New Jersey]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[Model (person)|model]], financial investor, and self-made [[millionaire]]<ref>[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:tP3MSbW2REcJ:panachereport.com/website%2520channel%2520documents/hip%2520hop%2520gallery/Blkplaymate.htm+stephanie+adams+millionaire&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3 BLACK PLAYMATE WHO BECAME A SELF-MADE MILLIONAIRE]", ''Panache Report''.</ref>, notable as the November 1992 ''[[Playboy magazine|Playboy]]'' [[Playmate]], continuing to appear in Playboy.<ref>[http://www.stephanieadams.com/InPlayboy.htm Playmate News]", ''Playboy,'' February 2007.</ref> Adams is also the first Playmate to become a lesbian spokesmodel<ref>[http://www.ny1news.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=40917&search_result=1&stid=8 Gay Pride Week]", ''NY1 News,'' 21 June 2004.</ref>, an advocate in the LGBT community<ref>[http://www.tomboyzquarterly.com/features.html Stephanie Adams, the ultimate Playboy bunny]", ''Tomboyz Quarterly,'' Summer 2006.</ref>, and a spirituality author.
| child = yes
| victims = Vincent Adams
| date = {{circa}} May 18, 2018
| country = United States
| states = New York
}}
}}
'''Stephanie Adams''' (July 24, 1970&nbsp;– {{circa}} May 18, 2018)<ref name="wkp">{{cite web |url=http://www.playboy.com/girls/playmates/directory/199211.html |title=Stephanie Adams |work=Playboy |access-date=August 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111004719/http://www.playboy.com/girls/playmates/directory/199211.html |archive-date=November 11, 2006 }}</ref><ref name=SFGate>{{Cite news |author=Long, Colleen, Peltz, Jennifer |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/us/article/Police-Mom-apparently-jumps-to-death-with-12925100.php |title=Police: Mom apparently jumps to death with 7-year-old son |date=May 18, 2018 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=May 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519033533/https://www.sfgate.com/news/us/article/Police-Mom-apparently-jumps-to-death-with-12925100.php |archive-date=May 19, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> was an American model, author, and murderer. She was ''[[Playboy]]'' [[Playboy Playmate|Playmate of the Month]] for November 1992.


On May 18, 2018, Adams killed herself and her seven-year-old son in a [[murder-suicide]].<ref name=Newsweek>{{Cite news|author=Williams, Janice|url=http://www.newsweek.com/stephanie-adams-playboy-suicide-son-939433 |title=Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams killed her son before plunging to her death |date=May 22, 2018 |work=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523111627/http://www.newsweek.com/stephanie-adams-playboy-suicide-son-939433 |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to the [[New York City Police Department]], she pushed her son out of a 25th-story balcony,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-young-child-dead-jumping-140009583.html|title=Ex-Playboy Model Stephanie Adams and Son Dead After Jumping from New York City Hotel Balcony|date=May 18, 2018 }}</ref> before jumping herself.<ref name=Newsweek /><ref>{{Cite news|author=Ray, Esha|date=May 22, 2018|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/playboy-model-pushed-year-old-son-before-suicide-plunge-from-hotel/oQRtgRucRupUOoVyopfNgP/ |title=Ex-Playboy model pushed 7-year-old son before suicide plunge from hotel |work=[[The Palm Beach Post]]|access-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523064355/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/playboy-model-pushed-year-old-son-before-suicide-plunge-from-hotel/oQRtgRucRupUOoVyopfNgP/|archive-date=May 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Adams most recently filed a lawsuit against a New York city [[taxicab]] driver, the NYC police, and the city of New York after a [[May 25]], 2006 incident.<ref>"[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,215298,00.html Playboy Playmate Sues Taxi Driver, NYPD And NYC]", ''FOX 5 NEWS,'' 24 September 2006.</ref> Since then, the taxi driver has been fined as well as fired, the police are being investigated, and the lawsuit continues.<ref>[http://english.pravda.ru/news/society/12-10-2006/85015-playboy-0 New York City taxi driver in dispute with Playboy Playmate loses license]", ''Pravda - Front Page, '' October 12, 2006.</ref> <ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/10292006/news/regionalnews/taxi_cads__apples_10_worst_cabbies_regionalnews_janon_fisher.htm TAXI CADS: APPLE'S 10 WORST CABBIES]", ''New York Post, '' October 29, 2006.</ref> <ref>[http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/MediaCoverage.htm Stephanie Adams Media Coverage]", ''Goddessy, '' 1992-2007.</ref>


==Bibliography==
== Early life ==
Adams was born in [[Orange, New Jersey]],<ref name="wkp" /> and was raised by her aunts Joyce and Pearl, former models who encouraged her to begin modeling at the age of 16.<ref name="Stephanie Adams Biography">{{cite web |url=http://www.stephanieadams.com/StephanieAdams.htm |title=Stephanie Adams homepage |work=Stephanie Adams Website |access-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321164916/http://www.stephanieadams.com/StephanieAdams.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2012}}</ref> She was of [[African Americans|African American]], [[Euro-American]], and [[Cherokee]] ancestry,<ref name="Curve">{{cite web |title=Honing her craft |last=Voo |first=Jocelyn |date=April 2005 |work=[[Curve (magazine)|Curve]] |publisher=Outspoken Enterprises |page=57 |access-date=May 31, 2014 |url=http://www.curvemag.com/Detailed/652.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202020706/http://www.curvemag.com/Detailed/652.html |archive-date=December 2, 2005}}</ref><ref name="GoddessyCalendar">{{cite book |title=Goddessy 2009 Monthly Horoscopes & Photo Calendar |last=Adams |first=Stephanie |year=2007 |publisher=Goddessy |isbn=978-0-9793694-1-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=re2QHfn2UocC&pg=PA5 |access-date=July 6, 2014}}</ref> and claimed to be a direct descendant of Presidents [[John Adams]] and [[John Quincy Adams]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mongelli |first1=Lorena |last2=Golding |first2=Bruce |url=https://nypost.com/2013/11/20/fired-for-being-too-cute-by-ex-playmate-boss/ |title='Fired for being too cute' by ex-Playmate boss |work=[[New York Post]] |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=May 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518215742/https://nypost.com/2013/11/20/fired-for-being-too-cute-by-ex-playmate-boss/ |archive-date=May 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- Listed by order of publication, then by order of ISBN. -->
*''Goddessy: Belief Is Only the Beginning...'', [[PublishAmerica]], September 2003, ISBN 1-59286-637-9.
*''Black: The History of the Color of the Occult'', Dubsar House Publishing, September 2003, ISBN 1-59405-505-X.
*''Goddessy: Historical Figures and Their Ties to the Occult'', Dubsar House Publishing, September 2003, ISBN 1-59405-506-8.
*''Sapphica: Astrology for Lesbians'', Dubsar House, September 2003, ISBN 1-59405-507-6.
*''He Only Takes the Best: Death and the Reason for Losing Someone You Love'', New Age World Publishing, January 2004, ISBN 1-59405-508-4.
*''Empress'', New Age World Publishing, October 2004, ISBN 1-59405-514-9.
*''Happenings'', Infinity Publishing, May 2006, ISBN 0-7414-3283-8.


== Career ==
===Annual publications===
Adams graduated from Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and began a career as a model, appearing in photo shoots for ''[[Seventeen (American magazine)|Seventeen]]'' magazine, [[Venus Fashion|Venus Swimwear]], and commercial advertisements for [[Clairol]].<ref name="Stephanie Adams Biography" /> She appeared as "Miss November 1992" in ''Playboy'' magazine<ref name=wkp /> while modeling for [[Wilhelmina Models]]. She later moved to [[Elite Model Management]] after becoming engaged to its CEO, John Casablancas.<ref name="Dave">{{cite web |url=http://www.observer.com/2004/live-and-uncensored-its-dave |title=Live and Uncensored: It's Dave |author=Marcus Baram |work=Observer |access-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109195125/http://www.observer.com/2004/live-and-uncensored-its-dave |archive-date=January 9, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''Goddessy: Psychic Reading Predictions for Every Astrological Birth Sign''. For 2004-2006, Dubsar House Publishing: ISBN 1-59405-504-1, ISBN 1-59405-510-6, ISBN 1-59405-517-3. For 2007, Infinity Publishing, ISBN 0-7414-3282-X.
*''Sapphica: Astrological Love Readings for Lesbians'', For 2004-2005 New Age World Publishing: ISBN 1-59405-509-2, ISBN 1-59405-513-0. For 2006, Dubsar House Publishing, ISBN 1-59405-518-1. For 2007, Infinity Publishing, ISBN 0-7414-3281-1.
*''Homoscopes: 2005 Astrological Love and Sex Readings For Gay Men'', New Age World Publishing, October 2004, ISBN 1-59405-512-2.


Adams earned a bachelor's degree from [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] in 1992.<ref name="Dave" /><ref name=G>{{cite web |url=http://www.goddessy.com/images/PhotoAlbum/More/StephanieAdamsFDUGraduateCertificate.jpg |title=Fairleigh Dickinson University graduation certificate |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017164436/http://www.goddessy.com/images/PhotoAlbum/More/StephanieAdamsFDUGraduateCertificate.jpg |archive-date=October 17, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>''[[Playboy]]'' – November 1992 – Vol. 39 No. 11, p. 115</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/people/stephanie-adams/biography/ |title=Stephanie Adams |work=TV.com |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004033412/http://www.tv.com/people/stephanie-adams/biography/ |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> She made a cameo appearance for the "Top 10" list on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' on November 20, 2003, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ''Playboy'' magazine.<ref name="letterman">[http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/wahoo/index/php/20031120.phtm Show #2080], ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'', CBS, November 20, 2003</ref> She appeared on the cover of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' in 2005.<ref>Village Voice – June 22–28, 2005 – Vol. L No. 25</ref>
== Notes==
{{reflist}}


In 1999, Adams founded Goddessy, according to her a portmanteau of "goddess" and "odyssey". She published her first book in 2003 and started her own publishing company in 2007. Following the death of her aunt from breast cancer in 2003, she dedicated more of her time to writing. That same year, she published a book dedicated to her deceased aunt titled ''He Only Takes the Best'', followed by another book written in honor of her elderly Aunt Pearl titled ''Guardian''. Adams produced about two dozen metaphysical books, astrology calendars and a tarot card set marketed under the Goddessy brand.<ref name="Curve" /><ref>Diane Wilde, "Cover to Cover", ''She Magazine'', September 2003, p. 16.</ref> She also published a novel titled ''Empress'' in 2004, featuring women in ancient Rome.<ref name="politics">{{cite book |last1=Lester |first1=Neal A. |last2=Goggin |first2=Maureen Daly |title=Racialized Politics of Desire in Personal Ads |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lEeEexb_GVYC&pg=PA151 |access-date=August 4, 2012 |date=December 28, 2007 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-0-7391-2208-2 |pages=151–}}</ref>
== Appearances in ''Playboy'' Special Editions ==
*''Playboy's Playmate Review'' (June 1993)
*''Playboy's Book of Lingerie'' (July/August 1993)
*''Playboy's Wet & Wild Women (August 1993)
*''Playboy's Blondes, Brunettes & Redheads (September 1993)
*''Playboy's Book Of Lingerie (September/October 1993)
*''Playboy's Book Of Lingerie (November/December 1993)
*''Playboy's Book Of Lingerie (January/February 1994)
*''Playboy's Book Of Lingerie (March/April 1994)
*''Playboy's Wet & Wild Women (September 1994)
*''Playboy's Book Of Lingerie (November/December 1994)
*''Playboy Presents Playmates In Bed (January 1995)
*''Playboy's Winter Girls (February 1996)
*''Playboy's (50th Issue) Book Of Lingerie (July/August 1996)
*''Playboy's Book Of Lingerie (September/October 1996)
*''Playboy's Book Of Lingerie (July/August 1997)
*''Playboy's Woman Of Color (September 1997)
*''Playboy's Facts And Figures (October 1997)
*''Playboy's Playmate Tests (June 1999)
*''Playboy's Playmates in Bed (October 2000)
*''Playboy's Sexy 100 (February 2003)


Adams was founder and CEO of the skin care product company Goddessy Organics.<ref>"[http://goddessyorganics.com/who-we-are.html Who we are] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153703/http://goddessyorganics.com/who-we-are.html |date=July 14, 2014 }}", Goddessy Organics. Retrieved July 5, 2014</ref><ref>Janene Mascarella, "[http://parade.condenast.com/290212/janenemascarella/cheap-tricks-17-ways-to-look-beautiful-for-less/ Cheap tricks 17 ways to look beautiful for less] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714215547/http://parade.condenast.com/290212/janenemascarella/cheap-tricks-17-ways-to-look-beautiful-for-less/ |date=July 14, 2014 }}", Parade, Condé Nast, May 8, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.</ref> With her husband, she was co-owner of Wall Street Chiropractic and Wellness.<ref>Abigail Rubenstein, "[http://www.law360.com/m/articles/508474/too-cute-yoga-teacher-can-t-show-bias-ex-bosses-say 'Too Cute' Yoga Teacher Can't Show Bias, Ex-Bosses Say]", Law360, February 10, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014</ref>
== External links==
*[http://www.GODDESSY.com/ Goddessy] Press site - Also features books written by Adams as well as company products and services.
*[http://www.Sapphica.com/ Sapphica] Lesbian themed site - Provides community resources, events and info.
*[http://www.stephanieadams.com/ Stephanie Adams] ''Playboy''-affiliated site - Features biography and memorabilia.
* {{imdb name|id=0011372|name=Stephanie Adams}}


== Personal life ==
{{US-writer-stub}}
Early in her career, Adams was married to an Italian investment banker, but later divorced.<ref name=politics /> In a February 2003 ''She'' magazine [[article (publishing)|cover story]], Adams came out as a [[lesbian]], the first Playmate to do so.<ref>Megan Cossey, "Pioneering Playmate: As the first Playboy centerfold to come out of the closet, Stephanie Adams is hopping down a brand new bunny trail", ''She Magazine,'' February 2003. Reproduced within [http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/MediaCoverage.htm this page of "brief versions of a few articles"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928181244/http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/MediaCoverage.htm |date=September 28, 2011 }} within Adams's Goddessy.com.<!-- And backed up by WebCite at --> See also: Shazia Khan, "[http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=40917&search_result=1&stid=8 Gay Pride Week: Same-Sex Marriage Debate Looms Over Annual Festivities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412215353/http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp |date=April 12, 2008 }}", ''[[NY1]] News,'' June 21, 2004; "[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-22-playmate-lawsuit_x.htm Playmate Sues Taxi Driver, NYC Police]". ''[[USA Today]]. '' September 22, 2006. All three. Retrieved August 24, 2011.</ref> In their 2004 "Best of" feature, ''[[The Village Voice]]'' declared her the "Best lesbian sex symbol", saying it was "hard to turn a page in a queer rag without seeing the willowy model peeking out in a bikini, or nothing at all".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/bestof/2004/detail.php?id=4041 |title=The Best of NYC |last=Kramer Bussel |first=Rachel |year=2004 |work=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=April 12, 2012 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015201341/http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/bestof/2004/detail.php?id=4041 |archive-date=October 15, 2007}}</ref> However, in 2009, Adams announced that she was engaged to marry a man, and about the same time, described herself in an interview as straight. After her marriage in 2010 to Charles V. Nicholai, a Manhattan chiropractor, Adams said she was retiring from public life and would spend most of her time privately with her husband and son.<ref name="Goddessy&nbsp;— Press Release">[http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/PressRelease.htm Press release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426210758/http://www.goddessy.com/PressInformation/PressRelease.htm |date=April 26, 2010 }}, Goddessy.com (undated).</ref>

In May 2006, during a dispute over where to drop her off, a New York City taxi driver called the police and falsely reported that Adams was armed with a gun and had threatened to shoot him.<ref name="Hays">{{cite web |url=http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles/1179803-Former-playmate-sues-NYPD-taxi-driver/ |title=Former playmate sues NYPD, taxi driver |last=Hays |first=Tom |date=September 25, 2006 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602201005/http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles/1179803-Former-playmate-sues-NYPD-taxi-driver/ |archive-date=June 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2006-08-25/news/18346361_1_bunny-judge-passengers |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707095949/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2006-08-25/news/18346361_1_bunny-judge-passengers |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |title=Cabbie Catches Hail From Bunn |last=Standora |first=Leo |date=August 25, 2006 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |access-date=April 21, 2012}}</ref> The taxi driver's license was subsequently revoked and he was fined $2,700 for the incident.<ref name="NJ">{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/05/former_playmate_stephanie_adam.html |title=Former Playmate, Stephanie Adams, fights in Hudson court for custody of aunt |last=Hayes |first=Melissa |date=May 2, 2010 |work=The Jersey Journal |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126031633/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/05/former_playmate_stephanie_adam.html |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=PLAYMATE A VAMPIRE, CABBY SAID |last=Olshan |first=Jeremy |date=August 2, 2006 |work=[[New York Post]] |access-date=May 31, 2014 |url=https://nypost.com/2006/08/02/playmate-a-vampire-cabby-said/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531232021/http://nypost.com/2006/08/02/playmate-a-vampire-cabby-said/ |archive-date=May 31, 2014}}</ref> Adams alleged that during the incident police threw her to the ground, causing injuries to her neck and back.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bunny_bruisin_4XzoKNLgUiWZ6iKeqG8PpM |title=Playboy gal sues cops over takedown |last=Gregorian |first=Dareh |work=[[New York Post]] |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418191750/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bunny_bruisin_4XzoKNLgUiWZ6iKeqG8PpM |archive-date=April 18, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Adams filed a lawsuit against the [[New York City Police Department]] in 2006. In February 2012, a jury awarded her $1.2&nbsp;million, $400,000 more than had been sought by her lawyer,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/model_who_said_her_skintight_outfit_showed_she_wasnt_armed_wins_1.2m_in_nyp/ |title=Model Who Said Her Skintight Outfit Showed She Wasn't Armed Wins $1.2M in NYPD Excessive-Force Suit |last=Neil |first=Martha |date=February 22, 2012 |work=[[ABA Journal]] |publisher=[[American Bar Association]] |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031649/http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/model_who_said_her_skintight_outfit_showed_she_wasnt_armed_wins_1.2m_in_nyp/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10011391.html |title=Ex-Playboy Playmate wins $1.2M for rough treatment by NYPD |last=Martinez |first=Edecio |publisher=[[CBS News]] |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422165948/http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10011391.html |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Findlaw">{{cite web |url=https://blogs.findlaw.com/injured/2012/02/ex-playmate-strips-nyc-of-12m-in-jury-verdict.html |title=Ex-Playmate Strips NYC of $1.2M in Jury Verdict |last=Chow |first=Andrew |date=February 23, 2012 |work=[[FindLaw]] |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605053320/http://blogs.findlaw.com/injured/2012/02/ex-playmate-strips-nyc-of-12m-in-jury-verdict.html |archive-date=June 5, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> but the judge later reduced it to $373,000.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2018/05/18/stephanie-adams |title=Former Playboy centerfold apparently jumps to death with son |date=May 18, 2018 |work=Boston Globe |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528225906/https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2018/05/18/stephanie-adams |archive-date=May 28, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Adams stated that she had "no animosity toward the NYPD".<ref name="10News">{{cite web |url=http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=240392 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209174923/http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=240392 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |title=Roughed-up ex-Playmate Stephanie Adams has ''no animosity'' toward the NYPD |date=February 23, 2012 |publisher=10 news |access-date=April 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9aFeje_WrU |title=Former playmate talks about $1.2&nbsp;million lawsuit |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |date=February 22, 2012 |location=New York |access-date=April 21, 2012 |via=YouTube |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424154527/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9aFeje_WrU |archive-date=April 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Murder of Vincent Adams and suicide ==
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Murder of Vincent Adams
| image =
| caption =
| location = Gotham Hotel, [[Manhattan]], [[New York City|New York]], U.S.
| coordinates =
| target = Vincent Adams
| date = {{circa}} May 18, 2018
| time =
| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| type = [[Murder–suicide]], [[filicide]], [[child murder]]
| weapons =
| fatalities = 2 (including the perpetrator)
| perp = Stephanie Adams
| motive = Unknown (possibly related to [[custody battle]])
}}
On the evening of May 17, 2018, Adams checked into a 25th-floor penthouse in the [[Gotham Hotel]] on 46th Street in [[Manhattan]] with her seven-year-old son Vincent. The next morning, both were found dead on a second-floor balcony in the hotel's rear courtyard. According to law enforcement officials, Adams and her husband were involved in a custody battle, and hours before checking into the hotel, Adams told the ''[[New York Post]]'' that her husband and his lawyer were preventing her from taking her son on vacation.<ref name=SFGate /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Playboy Model Jumps To Her Death With 7-Year-Old Son |author=Danielle, Britni |work=Essence |date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018 |url=https://www.essence.com/news/former-playboy-model-jumps-death-son |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522111854/https://www.essence.com/news/former-playboy-model-jumps-death-son |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The New York City Chief Medical Examiner ruled Adams's death a [[suicide]] and that of her son a [[homicide]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Death of Former Playboy Centerfold and Son Ruled Murder-Suicide After She Jumped From N.Y.C. Hotel |author=Adams, Char |work=People |date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018 |quote="The mother and child both died of multiple blunt impact injuries, with the child suffering injuries to the head, neck, torso and limbs. Stephanie' manner of death was labeled suicide and Vincent's was ruled a homicide."|url=http://people.com/crime/death-playboy-centerfold-son-murder-suicide/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521230958/http://people.com/crime/death-playboy-centerfold-son-murder-suicide/ |archive-date=May 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams pushed 7-year-old son before suicide plunge from hotel penthouse |last=Ray |first=Esha |work=Daily News |location=New York |date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/playboy-model-pushed-son-jumped-death-police-article-1.4001944 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522034537/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/playboy-model-pushed-son-jumped-death-police-article-1.4001944 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/05/18/tragic-playmate-was-distraught-she-couldnt-take-son-to-europe/|title=Tragic Playmate was distraught she couldn't take son to Europe|author=Marsh, Julia; Johnson, Richard|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=December 1, 2020|newspaper=[[New York Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wiliams |first1=Janice |title=Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams killed her son before plunging to her death |url=http://www.newsweek.com/stephanie-adams-playboy-suicide-son-939433 |website=Newsweek |access-date=June 8, 2018 |date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523111627/http://www.newsweek.com/stephanie-adams-playboy-suicide-son-939433 |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of murdered American children]]
*[[Murder-suicide]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.stephanieadams.com/}}
* [https://twitter.com/stephanieadams Stephanie Adams] on [[Twitter]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161112205051/http://www.playboy.com/stephanie-adams Stephanie Adams] at [[Playboy]] Online
* {{IMDb name|id=0011372|name=Stephanie Adams}}


{{Playmates of 1992}}
{{Playmates of 1992}}


{{authority control}}
[[Category:1970 births|Adams, Stephanie]]

[[Category:American adult models|Adams, Stephanie]]
[[Category:Playboy Playmates from 1990-1999|Adams, Stephanie]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Stephanie}}
[[Category:Lesbian writers|Adams, Stephanie]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:LGBT African Americans|Adams, Stephanie]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Living people|Adams, Stephanie]]
[[Category:1990s Playboy Playmates]]
[[Category:Astrologers|Adams, Stephanie]]
[[Category:2018 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:People from New Jersey|Adams, Stephanie]]
[[Category:2018 suicides]]
[[Category:African American writers|Adams, Stephanie]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American astrologers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century astrologers]]
[[Category:American astrological writers]]
[[Category:American female murderers]]
[[Category:American murderers of children]]
[[Category:American women non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American metaphysics writers]]
[[Category:American occult writers]]
[[Category:Fairleigh Dickinson University alumni]]
[[Category:Female models from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Female murder–suicides]]
[[Category:Female murderers of children]]
[[Category:Filicides in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Murder–suicides in the United States]]
[[Category:American people who self-identify as being of Cherokee descent]]
[[Category:People from Orange, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Suicides by jumping in New York City]]
[[Category:Writers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American lesbian writers]]
[[Category:Models who died by suicide]]

Latest revision as of 05:20, 11 November 2024

Stephanie Adams
Born(1970-07-24)July 24, 1970
Orange, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
Diedc. May 18, 2018(2018-05-18) (aged 47)
New York City, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide by jumping
Resting placeSaint John's Cemetery
New Rockford, North Dakota, U.S.
Spouse
Charles V. Nicholai
​
​
(m. 2010; sep. 2017)​
Children1
Playboy centerfold appearance
November 1992
Preceded byTiffany Sloan
Succeeded byBarbara Moore
Personal details
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Details
VictimsVincent Adams
Datec. May 18, 2018
CountryUnited States
State(s)New York

Stephanie Adams (July 24, 1970 – c. May 18, 2018)[1][2] was an American model, author, and murderer. She was Playboy Playmate of the Month for November 1992.

On May 18, 2018, Adams killed herself and her seven-year-old son in a murder-suicide.[3] According to the New York City Police Department, she pushed her son out of a 25th-story balcony,[4] before jumping herself.[3][5]

Early life

Adams was born in Orange, New Jersey,[1] and was raised by her aunts Joyce and Pearl, former models who encouraged her to begin modeling at the age of 16.[6] She was of African American, Euro-American, and Cherokee ancestry,[7][8] and claimed to be a direct descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.[9]

Career

Adams graduated from Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and began a career as a model, appearing in photo shoots for Seventeen magazine, Venus Swimwear, and commercial advertisements for Clairol.[6] She appeared as "Miss November 1992" in Playboy magazine[1] while modeling for Wilhelmina Models. She later moved to Elite Model Management after becoming engaged to its CEO, John Casablancas.[10]

Adams earned a bachelor's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1992.[10][11][12][13] She made a cameo appearance for the "Top 10" list on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 20, 2003, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Playboy magazine.[14] She appeared on the cover of The Village Voice in 2005.[15]

In 1999, Adams founded Goddessy, according to her a portmanteau of "goddess" and "odyssey". She published her first book in 2003 and started her own publishing company in 2007. Following the death of her aunt from breast cancer in 2003, she dedicated more of her time to writing. That same year, she published a book dedicated to her deceased aunt titled He Only Takes the Best, followed by another book written in honor of her elderly Aunt Pearl titled Guardian. Adams produced about two dozen metaphysical books, astrology calendars and a tarot card set marketed under the Goddessy brand.[7][16] She also published a novel titled Empress in 2004, featuring women in ancient Rome.[17]

Adams was founder and CEO of the skin care product company Goddessy Organics.[18][19] With her husband, she was co-owner of Wall Street Chiropractic and Wellness.[20]

Personal life

Early in her career, Adams was married to an Italian investment banker, but later divorced.[17] In a February 2003 She magazine cover story, Adams came out as a lesbian, the first Playmate to do so.[21] In their 2004 "Best of" feature, The Village Voice declared her the "Best lesbian sex symbol", saying it was "hard to turn a page in a queer rag without seeing the willowy model peeking out in a bikini, or nothing at all".[22] However, in 2009, Adams announced that she was engaged to marry a man, and about the same time, described herself in an interview as straight. After her marriage in 2010 to Charles V. Nicholai, a Manhattan chiropractor, Adams said she was retiring from public life and would spend most of her time privately with her husband and son.[23]

In May 2006, during a dispute over where to drop her off, a New York City taxi driver called the police and falsely reported that Adams was armed with a gun and had threatened to shoot him.[24][25] The taxi driver's license was subsequently revoked and he was fined $2,700 for the incident.[26][27] Adams alleged that during the incident police threw her to the ground, causing injuries to her neck and back.[28] Adams filed a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department in 2006. In February 2012, a jury awarded her $1.2 million, $400,000 more than had been sought by her lawyer,[29][30][31] but the judge later reduced it to $373,000.[32] Adams stated that she had "no animosity toward the NYPD".[33][34]

Murder of Vincent Adams and suicide

Murder of Vincent Adams
LocationGotham Hotel, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Datec. May 18, 2018 (EDT)
TargetVincent Adams
Attack type
Murder–suicide, filicide, child murder
Deaths2 (including the perpetrator)
PerpetratorStephanie Adams
MotiveUnknown (possibly related to custody battle)

On the evening of May 17, 2018, Adams checked into a 25th-floor penthouse in the Gotham Hotel on 46th Street in Manhattan with her seven-year-old son Vincent. The next morning, both were found dead on a second-floor balcony in the hotel's rear courtyard. According to law enforcement officials, Adams and her husband were involved in a custody battle, and hours before checking into the hotel, Adams told the New York Post that her husband and his lawyer were preventing her from taking her son on vacation.[2][35] The New York City Chief Medical Examiner ruled Adams's death a suicide and that of her son a homicide.[36][37][38][39]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Stephanie Adams". Playboy. Archived from the original on November 11, 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Long, Colleen, Peltz, Jennifer (May 18, 2018). "Police: Mom apparently jumps to death with 7-year-old son". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Williams, Janice (May 22, 2018). "Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams killed her son before plunging to her death". Newsweek. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  4. ^ "Ex-Playboy Model Stephanie Adams and Son Dead After Jumping from New York City Hotel Balcony". May 18, 2018.
  5. ^ Ray, Esha (May 22, 2018). "Ex-Playboy model pushed 7-year-old son before suicide plunge from hotel". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Stephanie Adams homepage". Stephanie Adams Website. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Voo, Jocelyn (April 2005). "Honing her craft". Curve. Outspoken Enterprises. p. 57. Archived from the original on December 2, 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  8. ^ Adams, Stephanie (2007). Goddessy 2009 Monthly Horoscopes & Photo Calendar. Goddessy. ISBN 978-0-9793694-1-4. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  9. ^ Mongelli, Lorena; Golding, Bruce (November 20, 2013). "'Fired for being too cute' by ex-Playmate boss". New York Post. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Marcus Baram. "Live and Uncensored: It's Dave". Observer. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  11. ^ "Fairleigh Dickinson University graduation certificate". Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  12. ^ Playboy – November 1992 – Vol. 39 No. 11, p. 115
  13. ^ "Stephanie Adams". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  14. ^ Show #2080, Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, November 20, 2003
  15. ^ Village Voice – June 22–28, 2005 – Vol. L No. 25
  16. ^ Diane Wilde, "Cover to Cover", She Magazine, September 2003, p. 16.
  17. ^ a b Lester, Neal A.; Goggin, Maureen Daly (December 28, 2007). Racialized Politics of Desire in Personal Ads. Lexington Books. pp. 151–. ISBN 978-0-7391-2208-2. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  18. ^ "Who we are Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine", Goddessy Organics. Retrieved July 5, 2014
  19. ^ Janene Mascarella, "Cheap tricks 17 ways to look beautiful for less Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine", Parade, Condé Nast, May 8, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  20. ^ Abigail Rubenstein, "'Too Cute' Yoga Teacher Can't Show Bias, Ex-Bosses Say", Law360, February 10, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014
  21. ^ Megan Cossey, "Pioneering Playmate: As the first Playboy centerfold to come out of the closet, Stephanie Adams is hopping down a brand new bunny trail", She Magazine, February 2003. Reproduced within this page of "brief versions of a few articles" Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine within Adams's Goddessy.com. See also: Shazia Khan, "Gay Pride Week: Same-Sex Marriage Debate Looms Over Annual Festivities Archived April 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine", NY1 News, June 21, 2004; "Playmate Sues Taxi Driver, NYC Police". USA Today. September 22, 2006. All three. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  22. ^ Kramer Bussel, Rachel (2004). "The Best of NYC". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ Press release Archived April 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Goddessy.com (undated).
  24. ^ Hays, Tom (September 25, 2006). "Former playmate sues NYPD, taxi driver". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 2, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  25. ^ Standora, Leo (August 25, 2006). "Cabbie Catches Hail From Bunn". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  26. ^ Hayes, Melissa (May 2, 2010). "Former Playmate, Stephanie Adams, fights in Hudson court for custody of aunt". The Jersey Journal. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  27. ^ Olshan, Jeremy (August 2, 2006). "PLAYMATE A VAMPIRE, CABBY SAID". New York Post. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  28. ^ Gregorian, Dareh. "Playboy gal sues cops over takedown". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  29. ^ Neil, Martha (February 22, 2012). "Model Who Said Her Skintight Outfit Showed She Wasn't Armed Wins $1.2M in NYPD Excessive-Force Suit". ABA Journal. American Bar Association. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  30. ^ Martinez, Edecio. "Ex-Playboy Playmate wins $1.2M for rough treatment by NYPD". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  31. ^ Chow, Andrew (February 23, 2012). "Ex-Playmate Strips NYC of $1.2M in Jury Verdict". FindLaw. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  32. ^ "Former Playboy centerfold apparently jumps to death with son". Boston Globe. May 18, 2018. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  33. ^ "Roughed-up ex-Playmate Stephanie Adams has no animosity toward the NYPD". 10 news. February 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  34. ^ "Former playmate talks about $1.2 million lawsuit". Daily News. New York. February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2012 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ Danielle, Britni (May 21, 2018). "Former Playboy Model Jumps To Her Death With 7-Year-Old Son". Essence. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  36. ^ Adams, Char (May 21, 2018). "Death of Former Playboy Centerfold and Son Ruled Murder-Suicide After She Jumped From N.Y.C. Hotel". People. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018. The mother and child both died of multiple blunt impact injuries, with the child suffering injuries to the head, neck, torso and limbs. Stephanie' manner of death was labeled suicide and Vincent's was ruled a homicide.
  37. ^ Ray, Esha (May 21, 2018). "Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams pushed 7-year-old son before suicide plunge from hotel penthouse". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  38. ^ Marsh, Julia; Johnson, Richard (May 18, 2018). "Tragic Playmate was distraught she couldn't take son to Europe". New York Post. Retrieved December 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Wiliams, Janice (May 22, 2018). "Former Playboy model Stephanie Adams killed her son before plunging to her death". Newsweek. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
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