Local Charges Withdrawn In Marciniak Murder Case

According to a local media report, Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone withdrew charges against four people recently indicted for the 2010 murder of comic book collector Homer Marciniak so that federal charges against the quartet could proceed. Federal indictments against Rico Vendetti, Arlene Combs, Albert Persons and Donald Griffin were filed two weeks ago. That group and three other accomplices had been indicted on burglary and related charges.

The incident in question was the July 5 burglary of the 77-year-old Marciniak's home, targeted at Marciniak's comic book collection. The homeowner woke up to find intruders in his home and was beaten. Later that day, he suffered a fatal heart attack. The district attorney had focused on the burglary and its planning because of the perceived difficulties in proving that the beating directly led to the heart attack. The federal effort is being led by US Attorney William J. Hochul Jr., and includes racketeering and witness tampering charges in addition to the murder indictments.

Charges against the other three persons involved remain at this time, but may be subject to plea deals or even being dropped. One suspect remains uncaught. The local prosecutor reserves the right to file charges at any and all suspects at some future date.
 
posted 9:00 am PST | Permalink
 

---

 
Daily Blog Archives
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
 
Full Archives