Bondage Club Homicide: Body Found After Fetish Venue Near LAX Went Up Flames

By Dennis Romero Wed., Jul. 28 2010 at 1:59 PM

Categories: Crime

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Read our update: A suspect has been charged. The victim, who was shot in the head several times, was identified as the club's owner.

A man recently fired by a bondage club near LAX was arrested on suspicion of murder Tuesday after authorities found the body of a victim following a blaze at the Lennox venue.

David Edward Albert, 53, was arrested on suspicion of arson and murder, sheriff's Deputy Jeff Gordon said. Fox 11 News reported that he had been fired from the club, called Passive Arts, last week.

The club's MySpace page, which features a photo of a man who appears to be in his 50s, states, "Passive Arts closed until further notice."

John Cavine was the owner, according to business records reviewed by the
Daily Breeze, which reported that the dead man was found alongside his dog.
Although a coroner's spokesperson declined to identify the dead man, he was
believed to be the owner, the newspaper reported.

The fire at 10914 S. La Cienega Blvd. was reported at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday. The blaze was put out in about 20 minutes. That's when firefighters discovered the body, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Fred Stowers.

The suspect was across the street, bleeding and, according to Fox 11, hiding in bushes. When deputies confronted him he told them he had been hit by a car, Gordon said. It didn't add up for the deputies, and Albert was arrested.

The venue hosted theme nights and was apparently available for rent for photo shoots, video shoots and parties. On its website, which has been taken down, the club claimed to have seven dungeons. Advertisements indicated it opened in 2000 as a new version of a Hollywood bondage club popular in the 1970s.

There are YouTube videos of some of the action at the spot (NSFW,mostly).

A club promoter called Club Discipline announced on its Facebook page that "there was a was a terrible fire today at the venue we call home, Passive Arts Studios. A dear friend and colleague has passed away. Our hearts goes out to all of those affected by this tragedy..."

-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us. Follow us on Twitter, too: @dennisjromero.

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