Navigate to News section

Hasidic Businessman Kidnapped in Brooklyn

Video shows Menachem Stark thrown into a minivan after leaving his office

by
Stephanie Butnick
January 03, 2014
Missing persons report for Menachem Stark, believed to have been kidnapped Thursday night.(@1PolicePlaza)
Missing persons report for Menachem Stark, believed to have been kidnapped Thursday night.(@1PolicePlaza)

Various news outlets are reporting that Menachem Stark, a prominent Hasidic real estate developer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was kidnapped late Thursday night. His wife notified the Shomrim when he didn’t return from work (his office is a few blocks from his home), who put out a missing persons report and notified the NYPD at 2:30 a.m. Friday. The police are currently investigating Stark’s abduction.

The New York Daily News reports that Stark, who was allegedly carrying $4,000 at the time, was captured on security cameras being thrown into a van after leaving his office.

Investigators found surveillance video showing Stark being approached outside his office, South Side Associates on Rutledge St., by a lone man about 11:45 p.m. Thursday.



A struggle ensued, and then a light-colored Dodge minivan pulled up and a second man hopped out, the video showed. The duo hustled Stark into the van and sped off, according to police sources.

Stark’s family is offering $100,000 for Stark’s safe return. We’ll update you as we hear more.

Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.