A possible motive has emerged in a bizarre murder-for-hire plot involving a West Hollywood beauty salon owner.
Edward Feinstein, 28, is accused of posing as the salon owner online and soliciting other men to act out "rape fantasies" on her, an act that may have prompted the woman to allegedly plot murder against a competitor, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department announced Thursday.
The salon owner, Dawn Melody DaLuise, 55, was accused last week of enlisting the help of multiple people to hire someone to kill the owner of neighboring salon Smooth Cheeks, whom she thought was behind the online ads soliciting rape and making threats to her daughters.
DaLuise owns the Skin Refinery, which offers services such as waxing, facials and electrical stimulation. She was charged March 7 with solicitation of murder and remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.
After DaLuise's arrest, evidence led investigators to believe Feinstein was the person who allegedly circulated flyers, emails and Craigslist ads soliciting DaLuise to be raped, officials said.
Feinstein was arrested Wednesday in connection with cyber-stalking, sheriff's officials said. He is accused of portraying himself as a witness to the alleged murder-for-hire plot.
He is also accused of using media and photographs to make DaLuise believe her daughters were in danger, officials said. Feinstein bailed out of jail and is expected in court May 14.
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DaLuise is a self-proclaimed esthetician to the stars, whose website claims she's served celebrities such as Alicia Silverstone, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Christina Ricci.
