Hotel owner murdered

The redeveloped Hôtel de Paris in Saint-Tropez. Copyright Alain Guhot Lumières

On 25th October 2011, he was found shot dead at his home near Paris. Police said it had the definite hallmarks of "a professional hit", yet there were no signs of a struggle and no forced entry. So was it his fortune that triggered Mr Dray's murder?

On the night of 24th October, the Dray family butler followed the usual safety procedures and locked all of the windows and doors of the Neuilly-sur-Seine family home, Villa Madrid. He also activated the high-security burglary alarms. Mr Dray's wife Simone was staying at another of their homes in Florida, United States, so on this night, he was alone. After dinner, he spoke on the phone with the Director of Nikki private nightclub about the pending plans for the Hôtel de Paris. That was to be the last known conversation the Jewish businessman would have. 

At around 7am the following morning, the butler found Mr Dray lying lifeless between the hallway and his bedroom, dressed only in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Police have revealed that the attacker fired three bullets at the billionaire - one of which hit him in the neck. Cartridges of 7.65 millimetre bullets were found next to Mr Dray's body, fired from a pistol believed to be around 15 years old. But no weapon was found, and there was no forced entry. Paris investigators remain baffled.

To date, there is no evidence of the murderer, despite video cameras, infrared sensors and tight security in the villa. It has been suggested that Mr Dray answered the door to his murderer that night, indicating he may have known the killer.

According to the French paper Le Parisien, Mr Dray was the victim of extortion attempts in 2009. Investigations were closed in 2010, however detectives have returned to these blackmail claims for further evidence. More than a month after the assassination, police have made no arrests and revealed no suspects. 

Building an empire

Claude Dray was a businessman, and a very successful one at that. The native Algerian studied business in the city of Oran before he founded the global hotel chain Citadel in the 1960's. By 1973, he had developed the Patchouli perfume chain. In 1990, he bought Villa Madrid, and he and his wife established a vast Art Deco collection of furniture and other items, featuring some 25 pieces by Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann.

In addition to this property in Neuilly, Mr Dray owned hotels in Jerusalem and Miami, as well as several villas around Saint-Tropez. The couple decided to sell the majority of their art and furniture collection in 2007, fetching a record-breaking 59.7 million euros. They said all the proceeds were for their four daughters and seven grandchildren. Within 30 years, Mr Dray had managed what most people hope to achieve in a lifetime, making him one of the most successful and acclaimed French businessmen of all time.

The Hôtel de Paris project

Mr Dray also displayed excellent real estate knowledge. With his company Cidinvest, he acquired the reigns of Saint-Tropez's Hôtel de Paris in 2001. The reopening was initially scheduled for 2003, but disputes with the previous owner delayed construction, and several years were lost due to legal battles. Seven years later, an extensive reconstruction was able to begin on the legendary hotel, funded by a 45 million euro investment. Mayor of Saint-Tropez Jean-Pierre Tuveri described Dray to the media as "a hard negotiator, but very inspiring and engaging".

It is hoped that by 2012, Mr Dray's 11-year dream will be realised. The city of Saint-Tropez will be enriched by an architectural jewel that it's visionary will never get to see. His family can only take solace in the thought that one day, his killer will be brought to justice, and one of the biggest murder mysteries in recent histories will finally come to an end.              

Louise Kirby and Cassandra Tanti