E-DATER STALKS & KILLS EX
Match.com maniac shoots her downtown after 4 mos. of harass hell – cops
ITWAS A MATCH made in hell.
For nearly four months, Vincent Verdi stalked his ex, Elizabeth Lee-Herman — he called, emailed and even showed up while she was on a date with another man, according to court records.
On Wednesday, he killed her, police said. The 62-year-old Verdi confronted Lee-Herman at 8 a.m., as she parked her Citi Bike at Astor Place just outside Cooper Union. He fatally shot the 56-year-old in the stomach, then turned the gun on himself in a failed suicide bid, police and sources said.
Months of creepy stalking and a court of protection ended in a bloody crescendo.
The pair met on Match.com less than a year ago, said Lee-Her- man’s friend, Pat Hudson.
Lee-Herman ended her short romance with Verdi on July 7, but he wouldn’t accept it, court records show.
“He was pushing himself on her the whole entire time,” Hudson said. “But she never really was in love with him.”
Verdi sent Lee-Herman chocolate and flowers, showed up at a dentist appointment and followed her to a theater while she was on a date, authorities said.
On Oct. 5, police arrested him for stalking. Prosecutors were concerned that Verdi had access to guns, since he claimed to be a former federal law enforcement agent. Authorities couldn’t be more specific about that claim Wednesday.
Prosecutors secured an order of protection against Verdi, and asked him to turn over any firearms he might have, but his lawyer denied he owned any.
Judge Angela Badamo issued the order barring Verdi from contacting Lee-Herman. He spent seven days in jail and was released Oct. 12, records show.
Lee-Herman was so terrified of Verdi she warned the staff at her building on E. 69th St. and Second Ave. to watch out for him. They took her worries seriously, keeping each other in the loop about his comings and goings.
The day of her murder, she thanked her doorman, Ricardo Ramirez, 41, for giving her a heads-up about seeing Verdi in the area the day before.
“She said, ‘I don’t understand why he keeps doing this when he knows I have an order of protection — we’re going to be going to court pretty soon,’ ” he recalled.
“I said, ‘ Obsession. He’s obsessed.’ ”
Verdi allegedly killed his ex, as she arrived at the Grace Church School, where she worked as a clerk.
Colbert Watson, 48, a security guard in the Village Voice building nearby said he heard a pop and then a second shot as he walked to work.
“I see the feet go up in the air and the person drop on their back,” he said. “I saw the guy go over, like he’s trying to kick (LeeHerman’s) foot — to like make sure (she’s) dead.”
Building manager Dennis Santiago said Verdi then put the gun under his chin and shot himself.
Medics rushed Lee-Herman to Lenox Hill Healthplex Hospital, where she died. Verdi was taken to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition, police said.
Relatives and employees described her as “sweet,” “engaging” and “beautiful,” and said she had two college-age kids, Sasha and Hunter.
“She was an amazing person. She was so inspiring,” said LeeHerman’s niece, Katherine LeeFoster, 30.