THE MONSON CASE: A CRITICAL OVERVIEW

CONTENTS :
ABSTRACT
METHODS
The Eye Witness Accounts
The Forensic Evidence
The McGohan Statement
The Star Witness
The Mystery Caller
The Altered Police Report
David Weinstein et al.
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES


ADDENDUM
Letter to James Vargeson, D.A.
Komanecky's Allegation
Bertonica's Scenario
Monserrate's Ruling
Public Opinion

E-MAIL Media
Political

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This article appeared on the front page of the Auburn Citizen on March 7, 1993. The discrepancies between the statements made by this key witness and the current District Attorney, James Vargason are obvious.

Bianco witness breaks silence

Michele Locastro
The Citizen

William Komanecky ... the prosecution witness in the Thomas Bianco trial who was likely the last person to see Julie Monson alive ... said he was shocked by Citizen stories detailing the judge's decision and reproduction of his remarks, wherein the judge said an altered police report indicating Komanecky recognized a man named John Grossman with Monson that night - and that that information would have been crucially important to the defense. (KI-1)

The article goes on to quote William Komanecky as saying :

"I was sick...I just couldn't believe it." "Then I sat back and thought, who the hell is John Grossman?" (KI-2)

These are the fourth, fifth and six paragraphs from this article.

Speaking for the first time in eight years the former Prospect Street resident said information contained in the disputed 1981 police report is absolutely false. (KI-3)


Komanecky said he never at any time identified Grossman - then an ex-con and now a state prison inmate who last week became a prime suspect in the Monson murder. (KI-4)


Komanecky said he never saw Grossman and never even heard of the man until November, when a member of District Attorney James Vargason's staff called him and asked him to set up a meeting... (KI-5)

These paragraphs were taken from the end of the eighth column.

Vargason said one of his staffers did speak to Komanecky, but again the issue wasn't whether or not Komanecky could identify Grossman but whether the report was edited.
(KI-6)

Komanecky said he called Vargason Friday after reading the Citizen. Vargason returned the call, Komanecky said. (KI-7)

"I wanted to make it clear to him that I knew nothing about John Grossman," Komanecky said. (KI-8)

. . . . . . . . .

In the following paragraph I would ask you to note the allegation made by Mr. Komanecky and the denial made by Mr. Vargason.

According to Komanecky, he told Vargason that he'd told that to his staffer several times and Vargason replied, "Yes, I know that." (KI-9)

Vargason also asked him not to talk to the press, Komanecky said. (KI-10)

. . . . . . . . .

Vargason said it is simply untrue that he told Komanecky to keep quiet.
(KI-11)

What is at issue here is a "tentative identification" of John Grossman that was deleted from the third page of a police report.

The report, written by Auburn Detectives Carmen Festa and Anthony Longo, says : "Later went to prison and did pick up photo of Grossman, an ex-con. As Sgt. Komanecky thought that this could be the man ...." (KI-12) *

Please read the next paragraph very carefully:

Komanecky said he was at the time in charge of the administration building at Auburn prison and was on duty that day, He said a request for any pictures would have had to go through him, and that as far as he knows, no photos were requested at that time. He said he was never shown a picture of John Grossman. (KI-13)

In the last paragraph of this article William Komanecky made this statement :

"I can't say Tom Bianco is guilty or innocent. I don't know. What I do know is that I never identified anybody by the name of John Grossman."
(KI-14)

The original entry on the third page of the police report written by Detective Carmen Festa and Detective Anthony Longo (deceased) reads: "Later went to Prison [sic] and did pick up photo of Grossman, and excon. As Sergt. Komanecky thaught [sic] this could be the man, as subject had attended CCCC."

From Robert L. Schillagi , Research Specialist, IBEX Databases, Auburn, Syracuse and Rochester, New York.

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