UPDATE via New York Magazine's Daily Intel: The NYPD confirms that Baird Jones was found dead last night in his East Village, New York apartment.
Original Post: The New York Daily News' Ben Widdicombe reports a sad but credible rumor: curator-cum-gossip columnist Baird Jones has been found dead. Widdicombe writes:
Shortly after midnight, West Coast time, I received an e-mail from a mutual friend saying: "Baird Jones has passed away."
A call to Ken Emerson, who sent the e-mail, was not immediately returned.
But he wrote: "After a disturbing lack of response by Baird to my emails and calls I had police emergency services break open the door to his apartment. This happened 5 hours ago [approximately 10.30pm Thursday, EST]. Baird is no longer with us. He died of natural causes."
Although I am unable to confirm Baird's death as of posting this bulletin, I know that Ken was one of his closest confidantes.
Jones freelanced for the New York Post and the New York Daily News, but his primary job was as an art curator for Webster Hall. His website, with more information, can be accessed here.