Before he exploded his East 62nd Street townhouse, Dr. Nicholas Bartha sent several individuals a 14-page, rambling email in which he clarified his intent to destroy the building and commit suicide. Other recipients of the message included random notables (like Arnold Schwarzenegger), as well as Bartha's ex-wife and his broker, Prudential Douglas Elliman VP Mark Baum. Yes, his broker.

That's just it, isn't it? In what a Manhattanite believes to be his last moments on this earth, he pens his final (insane) words and makes sure that his fucking real estate middleman gets a copy. Was it to let Baum know that since the property was about to be leveled, Bartha would no longer need his services? Surely Baum figured that out an hour later when he turned on the news. No, it turns out that Baum had received similarly raving dissertations from his unhinged client in the past. And that's how it works now. When we all inevitably lose our minds and enter our darkest hours, we'll turn to Manhattan's insidious gatekeepers, seeking forgiveness...and any new listings they might have.

62nd Street Broker Checks Blackberry: 'Bartha Bartha' [NYO]
Earlier: Gawker's UES Explosion Coverage

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