# Andre Melendez
**Andre "Angel" Melendez** (May 1971 – 1996) was a Colombian-born figure in New York City's "Club Kid" nightclub subculture who was killed and dismembered in March 1996 by club promoter [Michael Alig](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-alig) and his roommate Robert "Freeze" Riggs. The case ended the [Club Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/club-kids) era and inspired books, songs, and films, including the 2003 film *[Party Monster](https://www.edgepedia.org/party-monster-film)*.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) • [2](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971, Colombia; moved with his family to New York City in the early 1980s[3](https://thecinemaholic.com/andre-angel-melendez-murder-is-michael-alig-dead-or-alive/) |
| Age at death | 25[4](https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-robert-freeze-riggs-now/) |
| Club Kid role | Known for feathered wings and heavy makeup; reportedly sold Special K and ecstasy at The Limelight, a Manhattan club owned by Peter Gatien[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) |
| Disappearance | March 17, 1996[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) |
| Body found | April 1996, washed up on a Staten Island beach in a box; cause of death ruled asphyxiation by smothering[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) |
| Killers | Michael Alig and Robert "Freeze" Riggs, each pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter[2](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era) |
| Cultural legacy | Inspired the 2003 film *Party Monster*, starring Macaulay Culkin as Alig[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) |
## Life and the Club Kid scene
Melendez moved with his family from Colombia to New York as a child and grew up with aspirations to be an actor and filmmaker, according to *The Village Voice*.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) His brother Johnny Melendez told the Voice that he "was a quiet boy, very shy" until he became enamored of the party lifestyle.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez)
He joined the Club Kids, a group of party-goers, event producers, and tastemakers known for glitter, wigs, platform boots, piercings, and bold fashion choices, and he often wore feathered wings as part of his costume.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) He made a name for himself as an alleged small-time drug dealer, reportedly selling [Special K](https://www.edgepedia.org/special-k) (ketamine) and ecstasy at [The Limelight](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-limelight), a club in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood owned by Peter Gatien.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez)
## Disappearance and discovery
Melendez disappeared on March 17, 1996, and rumors quickly circulated. People claimed that [Limelight](https://www.edgepedia.org/limelight) club promoter Michael Alig had bragged to prominent nightclub figures that he helped make Melendez disappear; Alig passed the stories off as rumors when questioned by the press, and many considered him unreliable because of his heavy drug use.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez)
In April 1996, about a month after he vanished, Melendez's legless body washed up on a [Staten Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/staten-island) beach in a box. The New York City Medical Examiner's office ruled the death a murder, with the cause of death asphyxiation by smothering.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez)
## The killing and convictions
According to police accounts reported by *The New York Times*, in March 1996, during a drug-fueled stupor, Club Kids figure Michael Alig and his roommate Robert "Freeze" Riggs killed and dismembered Melendez.[2](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era) Alig and Riggs became prime suspects given their involvement with the scene and because Alig had told friends about killing Melendez.[4](https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-robert-freeze-riggs-now/)
Under a plea agreement, both men admitted guilt to the reduced offense of first-degree manslaughter; Alig was said to be expected to give testimony for the state in a drug prosecution of Peter Gatien, his onetime employer.[2](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era) Speaking with 1010 WINS in 2015, Alig said he blamed Melendez for his drug addiction.[2](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era)
## Aftermath and cultural impact
The killing is widely described as having ended the Club Kids era of New York nightlife.[2](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era) The case inspired a book, songs, and films, including the 2003 cult film *Party Monster*, in which [Macaulay Culkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/macaulay-culkin) played Alig.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) • [2](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era) The story has also been covered in television true-crime programs, including [Investigation Discovery](https://www.edgepedia.org/investigation-discovery)'s *The 1990s: The Deadliest Decade* episode "Death of an Angel" and Oxygen's *New York Homicide*.[1](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez) • [4](https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-robert-freeze-riggs-now/)
## References
1. [Who Was Andre Melendez, the NYC "Club Kid" Murdered and Dismembered Over Money? Oxygen, Jax Miller, January 31, 2025](https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/nyc-club-kid-murder-victim-andre-angel-melendez)
2. [How a Grisly Killing Ended NYC's 'Club Kids' Era, A&E](https://www.aetv.com/articles/how-grisly-killing-ended-nyc-club-kids-era)
3. [Andre "Angel" Melendez Murder: Is Michael Alig Dead or Alive? The Cinemaholic](https://thecinemaholic.com/andre-angel-melendez-murder-is-michael-alig-dead-or-alive/)
4. [Robert "Freeze" Riggs: Where is Andre "Angel" Melendez's Killer Today? The Cinemaholic](https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-robert-freeze-riggs-now/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Criminal law and penal justice › Crime victims and survivors (biographies) › Murder and homicide victims › Adult civilian victims › Titles symbols to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license