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A former "America's Got Talent" contestant is suing the L.A. hotel where his wife was murdered back in 2010 ... claiming the hotel's head of security snapped photos of his wife's half-naked lifeless body and then showed them off at the hotel bar ... just for kicks. The man behind the lawsuit is Joe Finley -- who was staying at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in L.A. with his wife the night before he was scheduled to audition for "Agt.

Former " America's Got Talent " contestant Joe Finley believes a homeless person snuck into a ritzy L.A. hotel and killed his wife last year ... and now Joe is suing the hotel for wrongful death. According to his lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Finley claims his wife's death could have been prevented if the hotel would have done a better job of keeping out transients. As TMZ first reported, Joe was questioned by cops after his wife's...

Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to file charges against America's Got Talent contestant Joe Finley. Finley appeared in Los Angeles court this morning with his attorneys Nareg Gourjian and Sean Macias to face charges that he illegally possessed ecstasy on the morning of his audition. Sources tell Hollyscoop Exclusively that Mr. Finley was prepared to enter a plea of not guilty but ultimately did not have to do so as no charges were filed against him. Story developing...

" America's Got Talent " contestant Joe Finley 's wife was found hours after her death ... in fact on the 911 call -- obtained by TMZ -- a hotel employee says the body was already in rigor mortis. As we previously reported, Laura Finley's body was found last month in a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in L.A -- where her husband Joe was auditioning for "America's Got Talent." According to law enforcement sources, the investigation is still ongoing.

Agt contestant Joe Finley will appear in court tomorrow morning to face charges that he illegally possessed ecstasy on the morning of his audition. Hollyscoop has learned that Mr. Finley has retained counsel, high profile Los Angeles litigator Sean Macias and well-known criminal defense attorney Nareg Gourjian, to represent him in this matter. Both lawyers were spotted this week at the Biltmore Hotel – the hotel where Mr. Finley’s wife was found dead on the morning of his audition. While tomorrow’s court appearance is for Mr. Finley’s drug possession, sources tell Hollyscoop Exclusively that he is still...

October 27, 2010: It has never happened in the last four years in the history of ‘America’s Got Talent’ but last Saturday, the death of a contestant’s wife put a spot on this popular reality show. The audition process for the show was being conducted in Los Angeles at Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

A contestant named Joe Finley was there with his wife to participate in the show. On Saturday morning, the lady named Laura Finley was found dead in the hotel. She was found lying in the stairwell of the hotel at 8.35 am. She was found partially clothed and was estimated to have fallen from the eighth floor.

Joe had reported to hotel security that his 48-year-old wife Laura was missing. He reported the same.

Joe Finley's "I didn't kill my wife" defense isn't flying with the victim's family -- TMZ has learned the "America's Got Talent" contestant's in-laws now suspect Joe was involved in the "murder" of Laura Finley.

One of Laura's close relatives tells us ... many family members believe Joe's "whole story is Bs" ... adding, "There are too many gaping holes in his story for it to be true.”

As we previously reported, Joe told police Laura left their L.A. hotel room around 3:00 Am Saturday morning to get ice ... and never returned. Laura's body was found in a stairwell at the hotel around 8:00 Am ... while Joe was auditioning for "Agt," apparently unaware of his wife's fate.

The relative goes on to say, “The family knows Laura was murdered and that Joe was the last to see her. They're having a hard time believing that he went so long under...

Joe Finley 's " I didn't kill my wife " defense isn't flying with the victim's family -- TMZ has learned the " America's Got Talent " contestant's in-laws now suspect Joe was involved in the "murder" of Laura Finley . One of Laura's close relatives tells us ... many family members believe Joe's "whole story is Bs" ... adding, "There are too many gaping holes in his story for it to be true.” As we previously reported , Joe told police Laura left their L.

This story is bound to have an shocking ending no matter how it turns out… singing hopeful Joe Finley, who was recently staying at a hotel in Los Angeles while preparing for his America’s Got Talent audition, is now being questioned by police. Finley’s wife, Laura, went missing several hours before Finley was due to audition, but instead of looking for her, he simply had the hotel page her, and then left the hotel.

Police intercepted him for questioning but eventually let him go to his audition. Laura’s body was found in a stairwell in the hotel, and police are now very interested in finding out exactly what happened in those final hours of her life. Finley says he believes his wife was murdered, but denies any involvement. Oh, and he says he and his wife were high on ecstasy when she disappeared. The plot thickens.

This...

"America's Got Talent" judge Sharon Osbourne spoke out Tuesday about the mysterious death of a woman whose husband auditioned for the NBC show on the day of her death. On her other gig co-hosting CBS' "The Talk," Sharon drew a line between the "America's Got Talent" auditions and the woman's tragic death, saying in part, "It's a very, very sad thing, but as I say, it was just one of the things he was doing that day, auditioning for our show. There's no connection….” Sharon also offered her heartfelt condolences to the family of Laura Finley, who was found at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles on October 23 at 8:25 a.m. Her husband Joe had auditioned for "America's Got Talent" this past Saturday. "The coroner's office performed an autopsy and the cause of death is deferred for 8 to 10 weeks, pending toxicology," Lt. Fred Corral told us about the death.

Two days after his wife was found dead, "America's Got Talent" contestant Joe Finley has now exclaimed that the death was "not an accident." Joe told TMZ, "Somebody threw her off that railing. 100% this was not an accident."

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (Lapd), Joe's wife Laura Finley died at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, October 23 at 8:25 A.M. An Lapd spokesperson has confirmed that the cause of death has been in investigation.

"It is being investigated as a death investigation by our department," the spokesperson said as quoted by Et Online. Lt. Fred Corral further told the site, "The coroner's office performed an autopsy and the cause of death is deferred for 8-10 weeks, pending toxicology."

Adding controversy to the incident, Joe, who was named a person of interest in the death, admitted to TMZ that he chose to go through...

'Talent' Contestant's Family -- We Believe Him

Joe Finley's family members are rallying behind the "America's Got Talent" contestant -- telling TMZ they "do Not believe Joe" would ever murder his wife.

Several members of Joe's family have already contacted each other about the tragic death of Laura Finley -- and one rep for the group tells us, "We do not believe Joe would have done this ... but neither do we believe [Laura] accidentally died."

As we previously reported, Laura's body was found at the bottom of a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday morning ... Joe was named a person of interest in the investigation.

But the rep tells us, "Joe and Laura had a relationship that many would admire. They were together for over 30 years ... We stand behind Joe 100%."

Joe has denied any involvement in his wife's death.

Source: TMZ...

Joe Finley 's family members are rallying behind the " America's Got Talent " contestant -- telling TMZ they "do Not believe Joe" would ever murder his wife. Several members of Joe's family have already contacted each other about the tragic death of Laura Finley -- and one rep for the group tells us, "We do not believe Joe would have done this ... but neither do we believe [Laura] accidentally died." As we previously reported, Laura's body was...

'Talent' Contestant Chose Audition Over Missing Wife

Joe Finley was fully aware his wife had been missing for several hours when he chose to go through with his "America's Got Talent" audition instead of helping police find her ... TMZ has learned.

We just spoke to Finley about his wife Laura Finley's death at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel and his arrest for possession of ecstasy -- and he told us a really strange story.

Finley claims he had taken two ecstasy pills and Laura took one around 8:30Pm on Friday before they went out partying. Finley says they eventually returned to their room at the hotel and went to bed. He claims he heard Laura get up at around 3Am and leave the room -- he says he assumes she was getting ice.

Finley claims when he woke up Laura was not there -- and he called hotel security...

'Talent' Contestant: Someone Killed My Wife

"America's Got Talent" contestant Joe Finley insists his wife's death was "not an accident" -- telling TMZ, "somebody threw her off that railing."

Joe tells us he last saw his wife Laura Finley at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles at 3 Am Saturday morning ... after the two popped the drug ecstasy

Laura's body was found at the bottom of a stairwell around 8:30 Am Saturday morning.

Joe was named a person of interest in the death -- but tells TMZ he did not murder his wife adding, "100% this was not an accident."

Joe say cops told him that someone went to the front desk and requested a key to their room at around 1:30 Am.

Source: TMZ...

"The Insider" has confirmed that Laura Finley, whose husband Joe auditioned for "America's Got Talent" on Saturday, died at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles on October 23 at 8:25 a.m., according to the Lapd. "It is being investigated as a death investigation by our department," said an Lapd spokesperson. "The coroner's office performed an autopsy and the cause of death is deferred for 8-10 weeks, pending toxicology," Lt. Fred Corral told us. Joe Finley was released on $10,000 bail after being arrested for the possession of ecstasy on Sunday evening. It is still unknown if any crime was committed in relation to Laura's death.

[Read full story on The Insider]...

Somehow we don't think Piers, Sharon and Howie will wind up being the only judges determining how this turns out. This weekend's America's Got Talent auditions in Los Angeles was upstaged by a dead body and a drug arrest. And it was one of the wannabes who was as the center of the whole mess. Joe Finley, who auditioned for the NBC talent contest, was busted for drug possession. But that's not the worst part. The performer's arrest came after he was declared  a "person of interest" in his wife's death at the downtown L.A. hotel where tryouts were being held. The Lapd confirms that detectives took Finley into custody on Saturday after he copped to having three...

" America's Got Talent " contestant Joe Finley insists his wife's death was "not an accident" -- telling TMZ, "Somebody threw her off that railing." Joe tells us he last saw his wife Laura Finley at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles at 3:00 Am Saturday morning ... after the two popped the drug ecstasy. Laura was pronounced dead at 8:25 Am. Joe was named a person of interest in the death -- but tells TMZ he did not murder his wife adding,...

Joe Finley was fully aware his wife had been missing for several hours when he chose to go through with his " America's Got Talent " audition instead of helping police find her ... TMZ has learned. We just spoke to Finley about his wife Laura Finley 's death at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel and his arrest for possession of ecstasy -- and he told us a really strange story. Finley claims he had taken two ecstasy pills...

'America's Got Talent' Contestant Arrested for Drugs

TMZ has learned "America's Got Talent" contestant Joe Finley was arrested for drug possession on the same day his wife was found dead in downtown Los Angeles.

According to police, Finley was busted for possession of ecstasy. Cops took him into custody on Saturday night when they interviewed him about his wife Laura Finley's death. Finley tells TMZ he had three pills at the time.

Laura's body was found in a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in L.A -- where Finley was auditioning for "America's Got Talent."

Finley was released on $10,000 bail early Sunday morning.

Source: TMZ...

Lapd Questions 'Talent' Contestant Over Wife's Death

A man who tried out for "America's Got Talent" this weekend is now a "person of interest" in the death of his wife ... who died at the hotel where auditions were going on, the Lapd tells TMZ.

Laura Finley was found dead in a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. The Lapd tells TMZ her husband, Joe Finley, is considered a person of interest in the case.

He was interviewed by police at length on Saturday.

We're told Joe knew his wife was missing before he auditioned, but her body hadn't been discovered.

A rep for Fremantle, the production company behind "America's Got Talent," tells TMZ, "We are fully cooperating with authorities to investigate this very unfortunate situation and have no further comment at this time."

Source: TMZ...

TMZ has learned " America's Got Talent " contestant Joe Finley was arrested for drug possession on the same day his wife was found dead in downtown Los Angeles. According to police, Finley was busted for possession of ecstasy. Cops took him into custody on Saturday night when they interviewed him about his wife Laura Finley's death. Finley tells TMZ he had three pills at the time. Laura's body was found in a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in L.

A man who tried out for " America's Got Talent " this weekend is now a "person of interest" in the death of his wife ... who died at the hotel where auditions were going on, the Lapd tells TMZ. Laura Finley was found dead in a stairwell at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. The Lapd tells TMZ her husband, Joe Finley , is considered a person of interest in the case. He was...