Web Desk
Violent crime has spread across every part of New York City.
On April 12, 1993, Indian prince Chitresh “Teddy” Khedker, 57, and his 70-year-old socialite wife, Nenescha, were found dead in their luxury Upper East Side apartment.
Their deaths were featured in the “Royal Bloodshed” episode of New York Homicide, which airs Saturdays at 9/8c on Oxygen.
“There were no gunshot wounds or stab marks,” said former NYPD Detective Marc Slender. By the time police arrived, the bodies had already started decomposing.
The housekeeper discovered their bodies around 11 a.m. on Monday and immediately called the police. “Teddy was a prince from India,” Slender noted. “His wife also came from a wealthy background in South America.”
Given their royal connections and prestigious Park Avenue address, the case quickly became high-profile.
Before detectives could solve the mystery, two more murders and a gruesome crime scene became linked to it.
Who Was Chitresh “Teddy” Khedker?
Khedker was known for his charm and resembled an old-school Indian movie star, said his friend Kathryn Falk. “He was unique.”
Society columnist Rob Shuter described him as a man who thrived on attention. “His style was flamboyant.
He wanted to stand out,” Shuter said. In contrast, his wife was reserved and introverted.
Inside the couple’s home, detectives found an answering machine filled with messages from an unknown woman. Her tone grew more urgent with each call.
“She clearly had plans with Teddy that weekend, but he never showed up,” said former New York Assistant District Attorney Douglas Nadjari.
The apartment showed no signs of forced entry, but it had been ransacked. Police suspected a robbery had turned deadly.
The building’s doorman recalled two male visitors arriving between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, April 9.
“They were inside for about an hour and a half,” Slender said. When they left, they carried a few bags, but nothing seemed unusual.
Although the doorman couldn’t describe the younger man, he provided details about the older one. “The police used his description to create a sketch,” Nadjari said.
Investigating Khedker’s Social Circle
Detectives interviewed Khedker’s acquaintances and uncovered hidden truths.
Though Khedker portrayed himself as a wealthy entrepreneur, investigators found no evidence of business dealings. He did belong to a royal Indian family, but that title had been lost years ago.
Friends of Nenescha revealed cracks in the couple’s marriage. “He would often go out, while she stayed home,” Slender said. “He spent late nights at clubs.”
Infidelity was also an issue. “He cheated on her because he was younger and attracted to younger women,” said former New York Daily News reporter Patrice O’Shaughnessy.
Despite their troubles, Nenescha chose to stay, fearing loneliness, Slender added.
The medical examiner confirmed both victims had been strangled.
A Mystery Woman and a Shocking Lead
Detectives traced the frantic phone calls to downtown performer Rachel Cain. They investigated her connection with Khedker.
“When he heard me sing, he was captivated, and I felt the same about him,” Cain told New York Homicide. “He promised to make my career, saying he had the money and connections.”
Cain admitted she found his attention flattering but insisted their relationship wasn’t physical. After questioning, police ruled her out as a suspect.
New Evidence Surfaces
A week after the bodies were discovered, media coverage brought in a critical tip.
Detectives learned that Khedker’s expensive alligator-skin wallet had surfaced at a pawn shop.
“A homeless man came in, willing to sell it for $20,” O’Shaughnessy said.
When the same man returned, the pawnshop owner alerted the police. The man claimed he had found the wallet near Lincoln Center and later pawned it. After questioning, detectives cleared him of suspicion.
A Breakthrough in the Case
Three months passed without progress. Then, on July 18, 1993, New York Daily News reporter Dick Sheridan called the police with a crucial lead.
A man named George Cobo, 56, in Reno, Nevada, claimed he had witnessed the murders.
Cobo, who had a criminal history of robbery, said his partner, Tony Lee Simpson, 21, was responsible for killing Khedker and his wife in their Park Avenue home.
“They had a fight in Reno, and Cobo feared Tony might kill him to keep him quiet,” O’Shaughnessy said.
Cobo and Simpson were arrested and brought back to New York. Each told a different version of events.
“Cobo knew Teddy through an auction house,” Slender said. He claimed they had gone to the apartment intending to steal valuables.
Cobo blamed Simpson for the murders. “Tony lost control… He strangled Teddy and suffocated Nenescha with a pillow,” he said.
Simpson, however, accused Cobo of masterminding the crime. Both were charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
More Murders Linked to the Suspects
The case took a darker turn when Cobo confessed to another double homicide.
He admitted that he and Simpson had also murdered Milton Setzer, 60, a Broadway conductor, and actor Eric Price, 25, on June 27, 1993.
Under the guise of buying a piano, they entered Setzer and Price’s Upper West Side apartment and attempted a robbery.
“The crime scene was gruesome,” Nadjari said. “Their throats had been slit.”
The victims’ families were devastated. “Our lives changed forever,” said Mark Yablonski, Price’s brother.
Cobo and Simpson were indicted for all four murders. They were tried separately, convicted in 1994 and 1995, and sentenced to 25 years to life for each victim.
“In the end, George and Tony made the case easier for us,” Slender said. “They confessed and blamed each other.”
