BREAKING: Designer Kate Spade Found Dead in Apartment

By Kira Davis | 12:39 PM on June 05, 2018

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** FOR USE WITH AP WEEKLY FEATURES ** Kate Spade pose with handbags and shoes from her next collection in New York, Thursday May 13, 2004. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

FILE – In this May 13, 2004 file photo, designer Kate Spade poses with shoes from her next collection in New York. Law enforcement officials say Tuesday, June 5, 2018, that New York fashion designer Kate Spade has been found dead in her apartment in an apparent suicide. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

The Associated Press is reporting that popular designer Kate Spade has been found dead in her New York City apartment.

NEW YORK (AP) — Fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead in her apartment Tuesday in an apparent suicide, law enforcement officials said.

The officials said housekeeping staff found her hanging inside her Park Avenue apartment at about 10:20 a.m. They said she left a note at the scene. The officials were not authorized to divulge details of an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The officials didn’t know what the note said.

Spade, who was 55, created a line of sleek handbags in the early 1990s that created a smash.

Her company, Kate Spade New York, has over 140 retail shops and outlet stores across the U.S. and more than 175 shops internationally.

Spade launched her design business with husband Andy Spade (brother of actor/comedian David Spade) in the 1990’s and went on to become one of the most popular handbag designers in the world. She also had a successful fashion wear line.

She leaves behind 13-year-old daughter Frances Valentine.