2 Suspects Arrested in Graf Extortion Case
A model and a boxing promoter in Frankfurt, West Germany, were accused of trying to extort money from the father of West German tennis star Steffi Graf. They were in custody Thursday, pending an investigation, according to published reports.
Model Nicole Meissner, 22, is alleged to have tried to extort $295,000 from the senior Graf, 52, claiming that he fathered her child that was born in January, the West German newspaper Bild reported.
The Berliner Morgenpost said the prosecutor’s office opened an investigation against Meissner and boxing promoter Eberhard Thurst. They were arrested at the Frankfurt airport Tuesday.
Newspaper stories linking her father with Meissner were said to have upset Graf during the French Open in Paris, where she lost to Monica Seles in the final.
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