BAY RIDGE — Another dead body was found at the Best Western Gregory Hotel in Bay Ridge, but this time, police say, there was no foul play.

Less than three months after 26-year-old David Diaz was found stabbed to the death in the same hotel at 8315 Fourth Ave., the body of 52-year-old Paul Mento was discovered early Monday afternoon by the hotel maid.

But it was determined Tuesday that Mento’s death was a suicide. He was found with duct tape over his mouth, which led to initial suspicions, mostly on local blogs, that the death had been a homicide. The Medical Examiners Office determined that it was in fact a suicide, and that Mento died through asphyxiation caused by the duct tape.

Contrary to initial published reports that the body was found in the bathtub, it was in fact discovered on the bathroom floor up against the door, which was closed, according to police, which indicates that Mento must have been alone.

Police found no blood, no trauma, no signs of struggle, no drugs and no alcohol. “Not a piece of furniture was touched,� according to a police source.

Mento first checked into the hotel on Sunday afternoon but immediately checked out and stayed at his girlfriend’s house on Sunday night, according to police. On Monday morning, he departed his girlfriend’s, telling her he was going to work, but in fact checked back into the hotel. Police received the 911 call at 12:45 p.m.

Police said that Mento had recently missed a few days of work, and there were indications that he may have been depressed.

Mento was a family man, father to two grown children, Joseph and Diane. He was a graduate of Xaverian High School and St. John’s University and worked as an accountant for Citibank after previously working as an accountant for the Associated Press. His son Joseph is part owner of the bar Aura on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge. Mento’s wife had passed away in 1995.

— Phoebe Neidl
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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