THEATER OWNER’S DEATH A MYSTERY
Doug Guthrie / The Detroit News
DetNews.com, MI
Sept 25 2007
Detroit Police believe accusations of fraud may have led to the death
of a local businesswoman.
DETROIT — Police are investigating whether a messy business dispute
replete with accusations of fraud over a $400,000 mortgage on the
Fine Arts Theater may have led someone to kill one of its owners.
Valerie Atikian, 44, of Southfield held an ownership interest in the
historic theater along Woodward Avenue in Brush Park for five years,
but detectives who are investigating the case say she recently told
friends she feared someone was trying to kill her and disguised her
travels by renting a car.
She was found Saturday afternoon, shot once in the back of the head
in the theater’s restroom. There were no signs of forced entry.
Detectives say she went there to meet someone. Now, they are
questioning former business partners and associates. A series of court
filings allege Atikian and others created multiple companies in an
effort to defraud mortgage companies who loaned money to the theater.
"So many people are talking about another side of my sister that I
don’t even want to think about that right now," said her sister, Rita
Atikian. "She was the adventurous one who wanted to run a business
and help my family."
The daughter of Armenian immigrants, the unmarried and childless
Valerie Atikian was born and raised in Detroit, operated a women’s
boutique in Southfield called Via Bugotti and once managed boxers.
But at least one former business partner, Gloria Ray, obtained a
personal protection order in 2003 from Wayne County Circuit Court to
keep Atikian away, court records revealed.
The 600-seat theater hasn’t hosted a concert since February, but
neighbors complained of after-hours events. The Right Production,
a Detroit promotions company, booked seven acts at the theater from
Super Bowl week in 2006 until this year.
Singing act Natalie Cole and others sold out, but promoter Sulaiman
Mausi said his family backed out of a lease to continue promotions
because they sensed something was wrong.
"It’s a nice property. In the right hands it could be a gem, but
there was something wrong," Mausi said. "We talked about buying the
place, but Valerie apparently decided she wanted to continue running
it. There were rumors about the mortgage and troubles. We decided it
was time for us to wish them well and move on."
Michigan Court of Appeals records claim Atikian may have profited
from a $400,000 mortgage obtained on the building in 2003 with her
business partner and boyfriend, George Rider Jr.
Up to $50,000 of that money may have been diverted to another company
she owned, Fashion International Trendz Inc., according to legal
papers filed by mortgage holder Interbay Funding of Pennsylvania.
The 93-year-old building’s previous owner also met a violent end.
Joseph Forster Jr., who also owned a deli and laundromat, was killed
in October 1997 in an unsolved murder.
The building was purchased in 1998 from Forster’s estate for $360,000
by TGR Corp., court records indicate.
Gloria Ray was president of that company and Rider was the owner.
Atikian was hired in May 2002 to be executive director to seek funding
for renovations. She and a business partner formed Brava Entertainment
Group, which provided about $500,000 for the project.
Later, Brava took ownership of the building, court files indicate.
Interbay’s lawyers claimed Brava and TGR of being "alter egos" — one
and the same — and accused Atikian and her business partners of fraud.
"I can only guess at why this happened or who did it. It certainly
causes new wrinkles for us," said Mark Fink, a lawyer representing
Interbay Funding. "The court documents speak for us and what we
believe."
Court documents indicate Atikian gave her sister, Rita, 50 percent
ownership of the theater. It was done without her permission, said
Rita Atikian.
"She just put me down as a security blanket," she said. "I would sign
over the deed for anyone who asked right now."
Atikian’s body was found by a man who rents space in the building.
Police declined to identify the man, who crossed Woodward shortly
before 5 p.m. Saturday to Atlas Global Bistro to get help.
"He was very distraught, crying," said Mary Brinker, manager at the
restaurant. "I really can’t tell you what was going on over there
lately. For a while, they had some great shows that the doctors and
lawyers who eat here talked about because they all bought tickets."
Metro Detroit freelance reporter David Grant contributed to this
report.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
