LOWER SAUCON, Pa.--The killing of a
Pennsylvania real estate professional, found dead in a vacant house she may have been showing to a prospect, has renewed concerns about REALTOR® safety.State police are investigating the death of
40-year-old veteran practitioner Charlotte Fimiano. Fimiano, who worked at the Bethlehem office of Weichert, REALTORS®, had been strangled and shot in the head.
Fimiano's husband reported her missing
on Sept. 11 when she failed to return home. Her body was found the following morning in a somewhat secluded house listed for $259,000. The house is located about three miles from Fimiano's office.
Fimiano
had worked with Weichert for nine years and was a top producer, with sales volume in the company's top 2 per-
cent, said a Weichert spokeswoman. She held both a CRS® designation and a GRI.
Weichert
announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The company made crisis counselors available to the 50 salespeople in the Bethlehem office.
The
death of a real estate practitioner always brings up questions about safety on the job. If you have concerns about what to do, or want to alert your salespeople about what they can do, you can get a one-page list of
safety reminders for practitioners by calling fax-on-demand for REALTORS®, 402/351-9922, and requesting document 5.
In addition, a video on safety and self-protection is available through the
Women's Council of REALTORS®. To order or for more information, call WCR, 312/329-8483.
