An Australian woman whose lawsuit was a key factor in the legal case against luxury real estate brokers Oren and Alon Alexander has died. Officials in New South Wales confirmed the death of Kate Whiteman late last year, stating that the circumstances were not suspicious.
Whiteman’s death comes as the Alexander brothers, along with their older brother Tal, prepare for a major federal sex trafficking trial in New York. Her civil complaint, filed in March 2024, detailed serious allegations against the twins and is credited with encouraging other women to come forward.
Key Takeaways
- Kate Whiteman, an Australian woman who sued Oren and Alon Alexander for sexual assault, has died.
- Authorities in New South Wales, Australia, have ruled her death non-suspicious and closed the case.
- Her death occurs shortly before the Alexander brothers are scheduled to face trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
- The brothers have pleaded not guilty to all charges and are currently in custody in New York.
Official Confirmation of Death
The Coroner’s Court of New South Wales confirmed that Kate Whiteman’s death was reported toward the end of last year. A spokesperson for the court stated that a formal investigation was concluded.
"The investigation is concluded and the file is now closed," the court said in a statement. They added that the death was found to be non-suspicious. Citing respect for her family's privacy, the court declined to release further details.
Details of the Civil Lawsuit
Whiteman filed a significant civil complaint in the New York State Supreme Court in March 2024. The lawsuit accused twin brothers Oren and Alon Alexander of sexual assault, battery, false imprisonment, and inflicting emotional distress.
Background on the Accused
Oren Alexander, 37, and his older brother Tal, 38, were well-known figures in the high-end real estate markets of New York City and Miami. Their twin brother, Alon Alexander, served as an executive at a private security firm operated by the family.
The complaint outlines an alleged incident from May 2012. Whiteman claimed that Alon Alexander forcibly took her from a New York City nightclub into a vehicle where Oren was waiting. She was then driven to a party at a location in the Hamptons known as Sir Ivan's Castle.
According to the court documents, she was taken to a garage, where she alleged she was forced to change her clothes and her phone was locked away. The complaint states that she was then taken to a bedroom and sexually assaulted by both Oren and Alon Alexander. The brothers formally denied these allegations in a court filing on November 3.
The Federal Sex Trafficking Case
While Whiteman's civil suit was a separate matter, the three Alexander brothers—Oren, Alon, and Tal—face a much larger federal criminal case. They are charged with 11 counts of conspiracy to drug, sexually assault, and rape dozens of women over a period of ten years.
The alleged crimes took place in multiple locations, including Miami, New York, and the Hamptons. Federal prosecutors claim the brothers worked with others to lure women with promises of luxury travel and accommodations before assaulting them. The indictment alleges that women were sometimes assaulted by multiple men, including one or more of the brothers.
Recent Developments in Federal Case
Earlier this week, a superseding indictment added a new charge against the twins, Oren and Alon. They now face a count of sexual abuse by physical incapacitation related to an alleged assault on a cruise ship in January 2012.
All three brothers have pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. They are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City as they await trial.
Family Defends the Accused
The parents of the Alexander brothers, Shlomi and Orly Alexander, have publicly defended their sons. In a previous statement, they expressed their belief in their sons' innocence and the emotional toll the allegations have taken on their family.
"Our family has been living with this ordeal since allegations first appeared in civil lawsuits and were widely publicized long before any criminal charges were filed, and the toll has been deeply painful," the statement read.
They added, "We believe our sons are innocent." The legal proceedings for the federal case are expected to move forward despite the developments in Whiteman's civil case following her death. Attorneys for Whiteman and the Alexander brothers have not yet commented on the recent news.
