Jan 28, 2005  |  By: PHIL LaPADULA  | COMMENTS     

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Dr. Harry T. Grossman, a local anesthesiologist who was gay, was found slain in his Fort Lauderdale home Sunday, Jan. 23.

Grossman completed his medical residency in Washington, D.C. and lived in the Washington area for several years before moving to Fort Lauderdale.

Police went to Grossman’s home in Fort Lauderdale Sunday after receiving a call from a concerned neighbor, who had not seen Grossman since Friday evening.

They found Grossman had been killed and his vehicle, a black 2005 Volkswagen Touareg SUV, was missing.

The SUV was last seen leaving the residence late Friday night, police said.

Sgt. Andy Pallen, spokesperson for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, said police are “following up on some quality leads.”

He said the fact that Grossman was gay “right now is not a relevant factor.”

“His lifestyle wouldn’t necessarily be relevant to the crime,” Pallen said.

Det. Mark Shotwell, who is handling the case for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, said there were no indications that Grossman picked up anyone at a bar.

Strangled and beaten, friend says
Police would not disclose how Grossman was killed, but Grossman’s ex-boyfriend, Tommy Heidenreich, said Grossman was strangled and beaten.

Heidenreich, who now lives in Los Angeles, was in a relationship with Grossman for five years when the two lived together in Fort Lauderdale.

Heidenreich, who has known Grossman for 22 years, said he spoke with Grossman at about 9 p.m. Friday — possibly just hours before he was killed.

He said Grossman did not indicate that there was anything wrong. But Grossman did say he had had a date set up for that evening, and the date had canceled.

Heidenreich believes two people may have been involved in Grossman’s killing because he said the bloody footprints of two individuals were found at the scene.

He also said a crumpled up piece of paper with the letterhead of a local shelter for runaway youths was found at the scene.

Heidenreich said Grossman sometimes hired runaway youths to do yard work at his home. He said Grossman often tried to help young men who were having problems.

“He would meet people who were having problems in their life and he would mentor them and give them work,” Heidenreich said.

Both Heidenreich and David Corro, a friend of Grossman’s from Washington, D.C., said used wine and martini glasses were found in Grossman’s home, possibly indicating that he was entertaining someone before he was killed.

Police would not confirm any of the details offered by Heidenreich and Corro.

Friends remembered Grossman as an outgoing man who was well liked by his neighbors and had many straight friends as well as gay friends.

Corro, who lived with Grossman for a year in 1984 when Grossman was doing his residency at George Washington University Medical Center, said the doctor “was equally well liked in the gay world and the straight world.”

Corro knew Grossman for more than 20 years.

“He didn’t restrict himself to the gay lifestyle,” Corro said. “He probably had more straight friends than gay friends. He was an incredibly outgoing and friendly person. He worked very hard at his job and was an excellent physician.”

Heidenreich said Grossman had an excellent reputation as a doctor.

“He was well known for being an old-fashioned style doctor, who got to know the patients and their families,” Heidenreich said.

Both men also said Grossman’s social life centered more on straight friends than gay ones. According to Heidenreich, Grossman frequently attended parties with neighbors.