A Celebrity Skincare Expert Faces Harassment Allegations and Uncovers Friend Involvement
NEARLY FATAL MISTAKE: CELEBRITY ESTHETICIAN ACCUSES FRIENDS OF HARASSMENT
Los Angeles, CA—Esthetician Dawn DaLuise, known for her celebrity clientele, found herself enmeshed in a harrowing situation when she endured months of harassment, initially believing it to be the work of a business rival. However, she later uncovered that the perpetrators were, in fact, her close friends.
The investigation into this unsettling saga is explored in a two-part episode titled "The Skincare Queen and the Hitman," part of Investigation Discovery’s series The Curious Case Of… The first installment aired on January 26, while the second will premiere on February 2 at 10 p.m. ET.
DaLuise, who operates the Skin Refinery in Los Angeles, where she gained recognition after being named Best Facialist in 2000, faced harassment that escalated drastically. "It erupted," she recounts in the documentary, detailing the newfound competition that opened nearby in July 2013. Upon visiting the neighboring establishment, she re-encountered Gabriel Suarez, a man she had previously turned down for a job. Her concerns intensified as clients informed her that he was distributing business cards.
The harassment began with inexplicable acts of vandalism, including repeated tire slashing and defacement of her parking spot. DaLuise also received derogatory text messages and discovered flyers bearing her face altered inappropriately. These flyers circulated not only near her clinic but also at her residence, further compounding her distress.
"I felt as though Suarez was responsible for it," DaLuise said, expressing her frustration with law enforcement, whom she approached multiple times for help. She later met Chris Geile, a former NFL player, with whom she shared her escalating issues, eventually connecting with a detective from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
In a shocking turn of events, DaLuise found herself arrested on March 5, 2014, charged with solicitation to murder Suarez. Investigations revealed text exchanges suggesting an escalation in her animosity toward him.
Despite the accusations against her, DaLuise was acquitted of all charges by a jury in January 2015 after deliberating for just 40 minutes. Her two friends, Edward Feinstein and Nicholas Prugo, were not so fortunate. They were ultimately charged with stalking DaLuise and solicitation of rape, leading to a plea deal that included community service and probation.
Reflecting on the tumultuous events, DaLuise acknowledged that her words during the investigation were not her best: "I wasn’t thinking clearly," she admitted. While Prugo chose not to participate in the documentary, Feinstein continues to grapple with legal issues surrounding harassment allegations against his neighbor.
Part 2 of The Curious Case Of… The Skincare Queen and the Hitman promises an in-depth look into how relationships can unravel and the unexpected consequences that can ensue.
