Every business owner or operator in the US has had to dismiss an employee for one reason or another — it’s one of the unfortunate realities of being the “boss.” Sometimes those employees are understanding and leave without incident, sometimes they get angry, sometimes they even make idle threats. But rarely do those disgruntled employees actually do harm to their former employers.
When an adult club general manager in San Francisco let two employees go recently, he was met with more than just threats — he was murdered.
On Friday, October 3, neighbors in Santa Rosa, California, contacted police to say there was a body lying in the road — the body of 60-year-old Mark Calcagni, GM of the famed Condor Club in San Francisco. Calcagni had been shot and killed, and was left dead in the street.
Police declared the death a homicide, and a reward of up to $5,000 was offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Fund for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects. Just over three weeks later, on October 25, two people — Richard Lund, 43, and Asia Morton, 25 — were arrested and charged with Calcagni’s murder. The two were reportedly lovers and former employees at the Condor.
“Detectives remained persistent, following leads through witness interviews, surveillance footage and digital evidence,” Santa Rosa police said in a statement. “Their efforts ultimately led to the identification of two suspects.”
“We do believe the termination of both suspects was at least one motivating factor,” Sgt. Patricia Seffens of the Santa Rosa Police Department told SF Gate. “We are continuing to investigate the incident to determine if there were additional factors.”
According to police reports, Calcagni was shot and killed on his way home from working at the Condor; the shooter knew where he lived and was waiting for him.
Lund, who has an extensive criminal record including numerous felonies in Nevada County dating back to 2001, including assault, burglary and resisting arrest, was arrested at the apartment complex where he and Morton lived. Morton was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport, where she had just arrived from a flight overseas (a seemingly obvious attempt at fleeing the crime).
Though both suspects initially faced murder charges, Morton was charged with only “accessory after the fact” (she is accused of assisting Lund to avoid arrest, trial or punishment). She pleaded not guilty and was released from custody on pretrial supervision. Lund was charged with murder and illegal firearms possession felonies; he is being held without bail.
“It is with profound sorrow and deep shock that we confirm the tragic death of our beloved General Manager, Mark Calcagni,” representatives of the Condor said of the deceased on the GoFundMe page set up for his surviving family. “The news has left us shattered, and our hearts go out to Mark’s family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched.
The Condor’s tribute continues:
“Mark was a cherished figure in San Francisco’s nightlife community. For over a decade, he served as General Manager of the iconic Condor Club, preserving its historic legacy while keeping it vibrant for new generations. He also held leadership roles at Vanity Nightclub, helping shape the Broadway scene with passion and dedication.
“One of his proudest accomplishments came in 2022, when the Condor was added to the San Francisco Legacy Business Registry, recognizing its cultural significance. Known for his warmth, leadership, and generosity, Mark was often described as “legendary” by friends and colleagues.”
The Condor Club in San Francisco is recognized by many as the first topless club in America, a claim which is bolstered by the acknowledgment that the very first topless performance happened at the Condor when the entertainer Carol Doda first removed her top at the Condor in 1964 (read more about the documentary on Carol here).
