Constable Noah Wiggins Badge #1283 Ms. Clarke ENG 4C1 Jan. 26/15 Table of Contents Overview --------------------------------------------------- Pg. 1 Eye Witness Report -------------------------------------- Pg. 2 Crime Scene Description ------------------------------- Pg. 2 Chronological Narrative -------------------------------- Pg. 3 Wrap-Up ------------------------------------------------------ Pg. 4 Photo Log Sheet ------------------------------------------ Pg. 5 Crime Scene Entry Log Sheet ------------------------ Pg. 6 Evidence Item Recovery Log ------------------------- Pg. 7 Field Sketch ------------------------------------------------ Pg. 8 1 Overview This report contains information pertaining to the Lauria/Valenti case #010147858 including eye-witness reports from victim Jody Valenti, victim Donna Lauria’s father, Mike Valenti, and neighbours James Derwin and Corrina Cole, a crime scene description, chronological narrative, wrap-up, photo log sheet, crime scene entry log sheet, evidence item recovery log and field sketch. 2 Eye-Witness Report Victim Jody Valenti reports that her and her friend Donna Lauria, were sitting in her oldsmobile near Lauria’s apartment, talking about their time at the new Peachtree discotheque they just returned from. Valenti says that Lauria’s parents had then returned from dinner and that after a quick check-in, they decided they would walk the family dog together. As Lauria was getting out of the car, a man was seen coming their way. Lauria said, “Now what is this…” before that man took a gun from a paper sack and shot Lauria in the chest and Valenti in the thigh. A third shot was fired but missed them both. The men left by walking away quickly. Neighbours that were interviewed reported that a small yellow car was seen travelling the area for hours before the shootings. Mike Lauria, the victim’s father, reported that he saw a man sitting in a yellow car parked behind Valenti’s car and described that the man had dark hair in was in his 30s. Crime Scene Description The date of the murder was July 29 1976 at 1:10am. The location was in Pelham Bay in The Bronx, New York. Evidence of the crime scene includes three bullet casings, one found in each body of the victims and one that missed. Reports were that a yellow car had been spotted cruising the neighbourhood hours before the shooting. The victims were sitting in an oldsmobile car that was parked outside an apartment building. As Lauria was getting out of the car, the suspect approached the car, took a gun out of a paper sack and crouched to shoot Lauria in the chest, killing her almost instantly and shooting Valenti in the thigh, who was able to survive with the injury. He then quickly walked away. 3 Chronological Narrative Case Number: 010147858 Date: July 29 1976 Reporting Officer: Constable Noah Schweigert #1283 Incident Type: Attempted murder Address of Occurrence: Pelham Bay, New York, NY 03104 Witnesses: Jody Valenti: Student. Female, 19 White Mike Lauria: Father of Donna Lauria, 49 White James Derwin: Neighbour. Male, 43, African American Corinna Cole: Neighbour Female, 27, White Evidence: 3 Bullet casings for a .44 Caliber Bulldog revolver White male between 20-35 yrs. medium build, dark hair seen shooting the victims Yellow car seen in the area two hours prior and behind victim’s car. Weapon/Objects Used: .44 Caliber Bulldog revolver Entering the scene, Lauria’s vehicle was found with the passenger door open, blood found on the inside of the door and on the ground below. The driver’s seat also had blood on the seat, console and floor area. Witness Jody Valenti reports she was in her parked oldsmobile with Donna Lauria in front of Donna Lauria’s apartment. They were talking about their night at the Peachtree discotheque as Lauria’s parents were returning home. Lauria’s parents and Lauria decided they would walk the dog. Lauria’s parents left to get the dog and Lauria began to exit the vehicle when she saw a man approaching. She said “now what is this…” as the man, described above, crouched down and used two hands (combat style) to shoot Lauria. After shooting Lauria in the chest, the man shot Valenti in the right thigh and fired a third shot, missing. The man then left by walking quickly away. 4 Mike Lauria reports that he heard shots and made his way outside to find his daughter, Donna Lauria, on the pavement beside the passenger side door and Valenti leaning against the steering wheel. The horn was sounding and she was screaming. Neighbours that were interviewed reported that a yellow car was seen “cruising” the neighbourhood a few hours before the incident. Mike Lauria, the victim’s father, reported to have seen a man in his 30s with dark hair, parked behind Valenti’s car when he had returned from dinner that evening. Units have been sent out to the surrounding areas to stop and search cars to try and locate the suspect(s). Wrap-up On Aug. 10 1977, 24 year old David Berkowitz was arrested and charged with killing six people and wounding 7. After being charged, Berkowitz claimed his neighbour’s dog told him to ‘do it’, as it was possessed by a demon. Three psychiatrists tested Berkowitz and deemed him unfit to stand trial, but one found him fit. Berkowitz confessed and pled guilty during the trial. He did not wish to appeal the sentence is now serving his 365 year sentence without parole.
