Deborah Jean Palfrey was convicted of running a high-profile escort service for Washington's elite and faced a sentencing this summer. But she was found hanged Thursday at her mother's home and investigators said they have no doubt it was a suicide.

Palfrey's building manager said she often told him she believed she was being followed and he thinks there may have been some former clients of her escort service who wanted her dead.

"She insinuated that there is a contract out for her and I fully believe they succeeded," her building manager said.