Groped gals rap spa chain
Massage Envy accused in assaults
MORE THAN 180 women have accused a popular national chain of spas of sexual assault, according to a report.
The customers of Massage Envy — which runs nearly 1,200 spas across the country — say massage therapists groped and penetrated them during treatments, BuzzFeed reported, citing lawsuits, police reports and other complaints.
In many cases, women who complained to Massage Envy management about an alleged assault said they were stonewalled. In general, the company does not require its franchises to notify law enforcement when an allegation of sexual assault is made, according to the report.
In one case, Susan Ingram, of West Chester, Pa., said massage therapist James Deiter sexually assaulted her in May 2015. An hour after the assault, she called the Massage Envy location where the attack occurred. But the manager who answered the phone, identified only as Nicole, declined to interrupt Deiter’s ongoing massage of another client.
“I begged her to stop the massage and get him away from the woman,” Ingram said, according to a court transcript. “She said she could not do that, and she invited me in to talk about my services . . . I said to her, ‘Nicole, he stuck his fingers in my vagina less than an hour ago.’”
Ingram called the cops and Deiter fessed up, eventually pleading guilty to molesting nine women. He was sentenced last year to 61/2 to 13 years in prison.
“Each of these incidents are heartbreaking for us and for the franchisees that operate Massage Envy locations,” the company said in a statement. “We are constantly listening, learning and looking at how we can do more, including how we support franchised locations with best practices in handling these incidents and supporting their clients.”
Massage Envy has 1,170 franchise locations in 49 states, according to its website.
An NYPD spokesman confirmed detectives had investigated two incidents at a Massage Envy on E. 63rd St., though neither resulted in an arrest.
On Aug. 30, 2015, a customer alleged a Massage Envy employee performed oral sex on him. Police said the allegation did not result in an arrest, which could be due to a variety of factors, such as lack of evidence, or the accuser declining to further cooperate with investigators.
This year, on Jan. 8, a client said an employee grabbed her breasts. She reported the incident to management. Police have been unable to find the employee, who was fired, according to an NYPD spokesman.
Employees at the location declined to comment. Three other Massage Envy locations in Manhattan were not the site of incidents in the last two years, police said.
At an E. 23rd St. location, a customer aware of the new report said she would continue to go there because she trusted staff.
“All complaints should be investigated thoroughly. That’s what’s best for customers and for the company too, really,” the customer said.
Some Massage Envy staff told BuzzFeed they believed the policies on sexual assault were designed to protect the quickly growing company’s image. The company requires that franchisees do a “prompt, fair and thorough” investigation of sex assault allegations, but reportedly provides no further guidance.