Madoff Fund Operator De La Villehuchet Found Dead in New York

Thierry Magon de La Villehuchet, of Access International Advisors, who ran a fund that invested with Bernard Madoff, was found dead at his Madison Avenue office today, a New York City police officer at the scene said. Mr Villehuchet took sleeping pills and slashed his wrists. He was 65 years old.

Mr Villehuchet's feeder fund invested 100% in Madoff's funds, and lost approximately $1.5 billion, including Mr Villehuchet's own money.

Mr Villehuchet "could not cope with the pressure following the outbreak of the scandal," the French business newspaper la Tribune's Web site said, quoting his relatives. "This is a farewell from someone who had done nothing wrong."

Mr Villehuchet is believed to be the second Madoff investor to kill himself. On Dec. 17, 49-year-old HSBC banker Christen Schnor - whose firm may have lost $1 billion in the scam - hanged himself in a London hotel.

more at

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aa_2yi6Cq_8A&refer=home

and (French)

http://www.latribune.fr/depeches/associated-press/laffaire-madoff-pourrait-avoir-pousse-un-investisseur-francais-au-suicide.html

(French)

http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/affaire-madoff-un-francais-se-suicide-a-new-york-23-12-2008-352167.php#