Boyfriend Nicholas Brooks Charged in Death of Fashion Designer Sylvie Cachay at NY Hotel

Dec. 10, 2010— -- Authorities have arrested the boyfriend of a fashion designer found dead at a members-only hotel and club in New York City, and charged him with attempted murder and second-degree strangulation.

Sylvie Cachay's partially clothed body was discovered at 3 a.m. Thursday in an overflowing hotel bathtub at the SoHo House -- a boutique hotel often visited by celebrities and the wealthy.

The 33-year-old designer's boyfriend, Nicholas Brooks, 24, the son of Oscar-winning composer Joseph Brooks, was cooperating with police before his arrest.

Police said he had an attorney, but they did not know the lawyer's name, according to The Associated Press.

Brooks has not been charged with murder pending the New York City medical examiner ruling on the cause of death.

Preliminary autopsy results were inconclusive. Nevertheless, police have ruled the death a homicide, the AP reported.

According to police, Cachay had red marks around her collarbone.

According to state law, "A person is guilty of strangulation in the second degree when he or she commits the crime of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation ... and thereby causes stupor, loss of consciousness for any period of time, or any other physical injury or impairment."

The charges came after authorities investigating Cachay's death obtained a warrant to physically examine Brooks, including taking swabs and samples from Brooks' fingernails, the AP reported.

Even before it became clear foul play was suspected, the death drew the attention of the media.

"Soho House is full of celebrities, has very prominent NYC membership and it's very exclusive," said New York magazine senior editor Chris Rovzar. "So of course, when a fashion designer is found dead in a hotel room here it's going to raise eyebrows."

The New York Daily News reported investigators first were looking into whether Cachay died of a drug overdose, but later investigated if she was strangled.

Prescription drugs were discovered at the crime scene, but no illegal drugs were found.

Authorities removed several large brown bags from Cachay's West Village apartment today.

Brooks told authorities that he and Cachay checked in together and then he left to have some drinks with people he met at the hotel.

Police first were called to the scene at about 3 a.m. Thursday after a hotel guest noticed water leaking into a room below Cachay's.

When Brooks returned, he found police already in his room.