Fingernail Swabs Taken of Beau in NY Bathtub Death

NEW YORK -- Investigators on Friday were taking fingernail swabs from the boyfriend of a fashion designer found dead in a bathtub at a posh hotel in the hopes of finding evidence that may help them determine how she died.

Police obtained a search warrant that also allowed them to take photos of Nicholas Brooks, the 24-year-old son of "You Light Up My Life" songwriter Joseph Brooks. He has been with police since his girlfriend, Sylvie Cachay, was discovered around 3 a.m. Thursday at the Soho House hotel. Police were looking for any possible signs of struggle or trauma, said chief NYPD spokesman Paul Browne.

Nicholas Brooks has not been charged with a crime and remains cooperative with investigators. He had an attorney, but police said they didn't know the lawyer's name. An attorney for Brooks' father, who is in separate legal trouble, did not know who was representing Nicholas and said the songwriter had no comment on the case.

The medical examiner's office said Friday that toxicology tests were being performed on the body after an initial autopsy was unable to conclusively pinpoint the cause of death. Such tests typically take days.

The 33-year-old Cachay, wearing a black top and underwear, was found submerged in the oval tub, face-up after hotel staff noticed the ceiling below her room was leaking. Investigators said she had some red marks around her neck and a bite mark on her hand.

A bottle of prescription pills was found in the room, but no illegal drugs were found.

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NEW YORK (CBS 2) – The boyfriend of a fashion designer found dead at an exclusive Manhattan hotel remains in jail without bail on Sunday morning.

Police are charging 24-year-old Nicholas Brooks with attempted murder and strangulation.

Police said Brooks choked his girlfriend, 33-year-old Sylvie Cachay, and then left her to die in a bathtub inside a room at the Soho hotel.

The victim’s brother said his sister’s death is a tragic loss for everyone who knew her.

“She was a person that touched many, many people. Very kind, incredibly loving, incredibly talented,” Patrick Orlando Cachay said. “She really was a shining star.”

Sources said the autopsy on Cachay was inconclusive. A spokesman for the Medical Examiner’s offices say more testing is needed to determine a cause of death. Toxicology tests are pending.