Murder of Imette St. Guillen

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 It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Murder of Jennifer Moore and Chanel Petro-Nixon (Discuss)
College Graduation portrait of St. Guillen
College Graduation portrait of St. Guillen

Imette Carmella St. Guillen (March 2, 1981 - February 25, 2006) was an American graduate student and murder victim. She was studying criminal justice[1] at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City at the time of her death.

Contents

[edit] Life

St. Guillen was born March 2, 1981 in Boston, Massachusetts.[2] She grew up and was educated in the Mission Hill section.[2] In her adolescent years she lived with her mother, Maureen and her sister, Alejandra, and had attended the Farragut School.[2][3] She later attended Boston Latin School before going on to college. St. Guillen and her sister, Alejandra were recipients of the Carol DiMaiti Stuart Foundation scholarship,[4] which was set up by her family after DiMaiti was murdered by Charles Stuart. St. Guillen was influenced by her deceased father, Seimundo, to pursue her college degree in criminal justice. She had graduated magna cum laude from George Washington University. She was well-liked by her peers[5] and was well into the process of completing her last year in graduate school for her master's degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice when she was murdered.[3]

Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School

[edit] Murder

Preceding her murder, St. Guillen had just returned from a trip to Florida. On the night of her arrival in New York City, February 25, 2006, St. Guillen had continued to celebrate her birthday with a long-time female friend, first by going to the Pioneer bar. St. Guillen, however, wanted to stay out longer than her friend, so she parted ways with her and St. Guillen eventually walked a few blocks west to another bar by herself. St. Guillen's friend had later phoned her on her cell phone but St. Guillen did not reveal her whereabouts.[6]

St. Guillen then went unaccounted for during a time-period lasting for approximately 17 hours[7] before an anonymous phone call was received from one of the payphones outside of the Lindenwood Diner in Lindenwood, Queens,[6] which had already been connected to the arrest of John A. Gotti.[8] The call reported a body being found. St. Guillen was found in an area off the Belt Parkway,[9] known as Fountain Avenue. She was found nude, having been raped, tortured and murdered. She was also found with tape strips wrapped around her head, her hair cut, and a sock stuffed in her mouth.[9][10] The coroner's initial report indicated that she had either been 'gang raped' or was 'violated' with objects. The cause of death was found to be asphyxiation[9] due to strangulation.[6] Her sister had to identify St. Guillen, supposedly from forensic photographs.

It was these aspects of the crime that attracted the national attention of the news media.[11] At least one news source dubbed the murderer by the term, "mummy maniac".[12]

[edit] Funeral

St. Guillen's funeral was held at the Gormley Funeral Home on Saturday, March 4, 2006 in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. It was attended by her mother, sister, stepfather, Frank Holbrook, and stepbrother, Luke Holbrook. Her body was later cremated as per her family's wishes.[13]

[edit] Rewards

Within just a few days, a reward 'memorandum' was quickly created and posted on John Jay College's website.[14] Other, more official reward posters were put up in the SoHo neighborhood around Spring and Lafayette streets, where she was last seen alive, offering a $42,000 reward.[15][9]

[edit] The Falls bar

It was later learned that St. Guillen was last seen alive with one of the two employed bouncers who had escorted her from The Falls, a bar that was owned by the Dorrian family. The manager of the bar, Daniel Dorrian, gave several conflicting reports to the New York City Police Department about the presence of St. Guillen in the bar on the night of her murder.[16] After a few days, Dorrian finally admitted that St. Guillen had been in the bar but continued to lie about who was working, how she left, and whether he had been on duty that night.[17] Michael Dorrian, the owner, claims that his family is not to blame.[18]

[edit] Darryl Littlejohn

Darryl Littlejohn, age 41, a bouncer at The Falls where St. Guillen was seen the night she was murdered, was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and unlawful imprisonment.[19] DNA that was proven to be Littlejohn's, most likely caused from a nosebleed, was found on the plastic ties that were used to bind St. Guillen's hands.[19] Littlejohn was asked to escort St. Guillen out of The Falls just before closing,[19] and was later seen talking to St. Guillen in front of the bar before her disappearance.[20] His basement apartment and vehicles were searched by Police and CSI investigators. Carpet fibers that were found in Littlejohn's home were a match to fibers found stuck to the tape that St. Guillen's face was wrapped with.[19] Additional evidence that Littlejohn was in the area at the time, date, and place where St. Guillen was killed and dumped was found using cell phone tower records[21] which "indicated movement from his home to near the spot in Brooklyn where Ms. St. Guillen's body was found."[22]

Due to the nature of St. Guillen's murder and other high profile cases, it was alluded in a Village Voice article that the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) were devoting their time more to tracing cellar phones of detectives.[23] The article discussed efforts to uncover leaks to the media in these cases.[23] A source that communicated with The Village Voice said that police in St. Guillen's murder case had received "punitive 'letters of instruction' in their files and were docked days of pay."[23]

Littlejohn, an ex-convict, had spent more than 12 years in prison for drug possession and robbery charges.[24] He was on parole at the time of his employment at The Falls, and by working at the bar, violated his parole agreement which had a curfew of 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.[10] Some blame was placed on his parole officer.[25] He is currently being held in Rikers Island.[19] He was initially held by authorities because of the parole violation, but was later charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder and then held for the murder of St. Guillen.[20][10]

Littlejohn has since been linked to the abduction attempt of a Queens woman on October 19, 2005. The woman was abducted off the street and held by Littlejohn in his van. She managed to escape but left behind DNA which later had been identified as hers. The abduction attempt was linked to St. Guillen's case when the woman saw the suspected van on the TV news reports concerning St. Guillen.[26][27]

[edit] Changing lawyers

Littlejohn's initial lawyer for defending him in St. Guillen's murder was Kevin O'Donnell.[28] Littlejohn later complained and O'Donnell was dismissed from the case.[29] Littlejohn's current lawyer, Joyce David, filed a 36-page legal brief reporting a "wide-ranging conspiracy" involving Littlejohn and the St. Guillen murder and continued on saying that Littlejohn "is being framed to protect members of a rich and powerful family who have the connections and the motive to see that he gets convicted of killing St. Guillen."[30] Rudy Giuliani was "named in the conspiracy," saying that the "Dorrians are part of Giuliani's family."[31][32][33][34]

[edit] Aftermath

[edit] Legal action

It was announced on May 12, 2006, that St. Guillen's family is suing the Dorrian family, as well as state and federal authorities.[35] The St. Guillen's are represented in this civil action by attorney, Joseph Tacopina.[35] This legal step is in reaction to The Falls bar's hiring of a "career" felon, the lack of background checks for bouncers, and the apparent inaction of the New York State Liquor Authority in monitoring bouncers and their inaction in quickly closing this establishment upon the initial news reports. The Dorrian family had responded by calling the claim "ridiculous" and claiming St. Guillen's mother is "[...] doing this for the press."[36]

In early 2008, a civil action was brought by St. Guillen's mother for $200M against the federal government for their failure to keep track of Littlejohn.[37] The suit names the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Program as defendants.[37] However, an earlier news source had quoted the amount of the civil suit at "$100M", and stated that federal authorities lost track of Littlejohn.[38][39] One of the family's lawyers, Christopher Lang, had said that "Maureen lost Imette because the system lost track of someone who needed to be watched".[40] Another lawyer for the St. Guillen's, Joseph Tacopina, said "They lost him in their system altogether."[41] It was also noted that Littlejohn was not assigned to a probation officer.[42]

[edit] Anti-Bar demonstration

Within days after the revelation of the alleged lying of Dorrian in St. Guillen's disappearance and murder, a New York City writer named Jeff Ragsdale organized a group of people to start a demonstration in front of The Falls bar through the web-network, Craigslist.[43] Their aim was to inform passers-by and others of St. Guillen's murder by conversations, using flyers and other handouts, and to bring pressure on the New York State Liquor Authority to have The Falls bar closed and its liquor license permanently revoked. The demonstrations lasted a few months, and around June of 2006, the fruit of their labors became evident when The Falls bar lost its liquor license. However, Dorrian has other establishments that are still doing business in New York City and in New Jersey.[44]

[edit] The Pioneer bar

The Pioneer bar, the first bar which was associated with the disappearance of St. Guillen, was and is blameless in this murder case. However, this bar had suffered negative publicity affecting their business. This was due to its business facade being continually shown on network television and other media outlets during the initial phase of St. Guillen's murder, and having been wrongly associated with same. The bar has changed its name to the 'R' Bar and is still doing business.[45]

[edit] Pre-trial

The pre-trial hearing for the murder of St. Guillen was held on September 11, 2007.[27] The Brooklyn judge wanted to hold the trial as early as January 2008.[46] and another pre-trial hearing was scheduled for October 11, 2007 to expedite the process.[46] However in January of 2008, Cheryl Chambers, the judge assigned to the St. Guillen murder case, was reassigned to the state's Appellate Division.[47] Due to this another judge will be assigned to the case.

Littlejohn also awaits trial on another abduction case stemming from 2005.[48] It was noted that this trial would be held before Littlejohn's murder trial for St. Guillen, which had raised concerns that the murder case is not strong enough.[49] The quality of the evidence had been called into question as the reasoning for the delay of the murder trial.[50] However the prosecution has stated that they are ready to proceed with the trial.[46]

Littlejohn's defense attorney David, however, is challenging the autopsy.[51] David had said that the forensic photographs did not indicate cuts to St. Guillen's "private parts"; contrary to the medical examiner's findings.[51] David indicated that she would speak with the M.E. before the trial to have the report amended.[51] David stated: "I don't want the jury to have to look at [the photos] and decide for themselves".[51] David also said: "It's important because of the sort of mass hysteria that surrounds the case."[51] It was further indicated that the trial should occur in the spring of 2008.[51]

In another move, David and another attorney, Amy Rameau, were in court on Friday, February 29, to challenge the search warrants issued to police, which had enabled the authorities to search Littlejohn's van, his apartment and to investigate his cell phone records.[52] The attorneys are alleging that the warrants were "faulty or not properly justified."[52]

Littlejohn appeared in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Friday, March 28, 2008 for a pretrial hearing.[53]

[edit] Legacy

A "Garden of Hope" is being planned in St. Guillen's neighborhood of Mission Hill. The garden will honor St. Guillen and put end to the dispute over what to do with the land. It will be called "Imette's Garden"[54] and it is in the process of being designed by the Community Outreach Group for Landscape Design, a non-profit group. Nancy Schon, the sculptor of Boston Public Garden's Make Way for Ducklings, has agreed to design a butterfly in St. Guillen's honor.[54] Two volunteer designers, Andrea Taaffe and Jennie Smith, are designing the garden.[55]

In Boston, the "11th Annual Mothers' Walk for Peace" was held on Sunday, May 13, 2007 in which the St. Guillen family and many others, identifying themselves as "Team Imette", had participated. This event had the largest turnout of its history.[56]

[edit] Personal impact

St. Guillen's ex-boyfriend, Ryan Kocher, had joined the New York Police Department citing her murder as one of the solidifying reasons he had enrolled.[57][58] Along with the efforts of Kocher, St. Guillen's family has also alluded to the start of a foundation called the "Spirit of Imette Foundation" which would support organizations that help people, as St. Guillen had planned to do.[59]

[edit] Scholarships

A scholarship in St. Guillen's name was established by the Alpha Phi Sigma chapter of John Jay College.[60] In June, 2006, a diploma was awarded posthumously to St. Guillen on behalf of her mother and sister.[61] St. Guillen's name is the very last name mentioned in the Graduation Class program book of John Jay.[62] A fund is also being established in St. Guillen's honor at George Washington University by the Organization of Latino American Students (O.L.A.S).[63]

On the eve of the two-year memorial, the first recipient of St. Guillen's John Jay Scholarship, Johanna Vespe, who had also reached the same age as St. Guillen when she was murdered, recalled her thoughts and feelings.[64]

[edit] Fundraiser

On September 16, 2006, a fundraiser was held in Boston, Massachusetts in honor of St. Guillen titled "A Night for Imette" to raise money for a scholarship in her name at her former high school, Boston Latin.[65] The fundraiser featured keynote speakers such as St. Guillen's mother Maureen, her sister Alejandra, her stepfather Frank Holbrook, Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston, and the Principal of Boston Latin.[66]

[edit] Law

On March 14, 2007, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino signed “Imette’s Law” - a New York legislation that will make it mandatory for nightclub and bar owners to conduct criminal background checks on bouncers and to set up security video cameras outside the establishment.[67]

[edit] Radio, song, television and media

The ex-radio show host of WRKO, John DePetro, came under criticism when he had blamed St. Guillen, saying she was partly to blame for her own murder.[68] He was later fired for making another remark.[68]

A New York band named Interpol wrote a song titled Pioneer to the Falls, which is the first track on their third album (Our Love to Admire) and which is believed to be referencing St. Guillen's murder. The title of the song most likely refers to the journey of St. Guillen from the Pioneer bar to the Falls bar. Paul Banks, Interpol's singer and guitarist said: "It’s a very personal song, even though it’s about someone I’ve never met before. It’s pretty obvious who it is..."[69]

Reporter Linda Schmidt was mentioned in a Daily News article about training with Newark police, and appearing on the Tyra Banks Show to discuss crimes, with the mention of St. Guillen.[70]

A Scottish newspaper reported a crime novel written by novelist Linda Fairstein, which is based on St. Guillen's murder. The title of the book is "Killer Heat".[71] The novel has been released and Fairstein was briefly interviewed.[72]

[edit] New York City and Other States Nightlife legislations

Main article: New York City and Other States Nightlife Legislations

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Baker, Al (February 28, 2006), Police Try to Trace Last Steps of a Student Found Slain, The New York Times, <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/nyregion/28dead.html>. Retrieved on 12 November 2007 
  2. ^ a b c Family thanks community, remembers Imette St. Guillen. Mission Hill Gazette (June 20, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
  3. ^ a b Imette St. Guillen, 24; slay victim valued community service. Boston News (March 4, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
  4. ^ DiMaiti Stuart Foundation. Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  5. ^ Investigators Probe Death Of Former Boston Latin Student-Graduate Student Strangled, Suffocated. WFSB.com (February 28, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  6. ^ a b c The gruesome murder of Imette St. Guillen. MSNBC (March 2, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
  7. ^ Nightclub murders give rise to 58-point security plan. New York Daily News (October 19, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-19.
  8. ^ Try the notoriety at this eatery: It's their special. New York Daily News (Tuesday, June 5, 2007).
  9. ^ a b c d Graduate student's funeral draws hundreds. USA Today (March 4, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
  10. ^ a b c Bouncer charged in student's slaying. CNN (March 23, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  11. ^ Latest in St. Guillen investigation. Dateline. Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
  12. ^ Criminology Student Imette St. Guillen Tortured & Murdered in NY. National Ledger. Retrieved on 2006-03-01.
  13. ^ Grieving Sis: Be At Peace, Imette. Tears flood rites for slain beauty. New York Daily News (March 5, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-03-06.
  14. ^ John Jay Announces Reward in Imette St. Guillen Case. John Jay College of Criminal Justice (March 2, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
  15. ^ St. Guillen Reward Poster. AP Wire (March 11, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
  16. ^ Bar accounts conflicting, NYC police say. Boston Globe (March 9, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-12.
  17. ^ 'Lowly' bar owner pours on the lies in N.Y. death probe. Boston Herald (March 13, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  18. ^ Imette Barman Speaks. New York Post (March 26, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  19. ^ a b c d e Bloody nose likely DNA source. Boston Herald (March 23, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  20. ^ a b His Chilling Words: 'You Seemed Like A Real Nice Lady'. NY Daily News (March 8, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  21. ^ Courts Cast Wary Eye on Evidence Gleaned From Cell Phones. Wired (May 10, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  22. ^ When the Trill of a Cellphone Brings the Clang of Prison Doors. New York Times (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  23. ^ a b c When Cops Go Bad Does the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau Even Notice?. The Village Voice (March 4, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
  24. ^ A Scary Dude, Neighbors Say. New York Daily News (March 8, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  25. ^ "Ladies, You Should Know Better" subtitled: "How feminism wages war on common sense.". The Wall Street Journal (Friday, April 14, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
  26. ^ Imette slay suspect linked to abduct try. New York Daily News (August 9, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  27. ^ a b DNA links Darryl Littlejohn to 2005 kidnapping. Times Ledger (August 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
  28. ^ Brooklyn Lawyers Vie for Chance at the Big Time. New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  29. ^ Fighting To Be Darryl Littlejohn's Lawyer. Gothamist (November 19, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  30. ^ Tim Perone. "Imette-case 'plot' claim", New York Post, Wednesday, December 12, 2007, p. 3. 
  31. ^ "Imette St. Guillen murder suspect claims 'frame up' involving Rudy Giuliani". New York Daily News (December 12, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
  32. ^ "St. Guillen Murder: Littlejohn Alleges Conspiracy". WCBSTV.COM (December 12, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
  33. ^ "N.Y. bouncer: Giuliani framed me". BostonHerald.com (Thursday, December 13, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  34. ^ "St. Guillen case a frame?". Metro, N.Y. edition (December 14-16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  35. ^ de Kretser, Leela & Winter, Jana (May 13, 2006), Pub Clan Rips Imette Mom's Suit, New York Post, <http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/68488.htm>. Retrieved on 28 August 2007 
  36. ^ a b "Imette’s mom files $200m suit vs. Feds". Boston Herald (February 4, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  37. ^ Imette Ma Sues Feds for $100M. New York Post (February 2, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  38. ^ Mother Of Strangled Student Sues U.S. Government. WCSH6.Com Portland, Oregon and The Associated Press. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
  39. ^ Mom of killed grad student sues feds. New York Daily News (Saturday, February 2nd 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  40. ^ Mother of strangled student sues U.S. government. Newsday.com (February 4, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
  41. ^ Mother of strangled student sues U.S. Government. Eyewitness News WPRI.COM & Associated Press (February 4, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  42. ^ ‘Shut The Falls,’ protesters say after murder. Downtown Express (March 17-23, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-03-18.
  43. ^ Flunking a Bar Exam - After the killing of Imette St. Guillen, scrutiny for the Falls dynasty. The Village Voice (March 21, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
  44. ^ Guilt By Association: The Pioneer and Imette St. Guillen. The Simon (March 9, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
  45. ^ a b c Portlock, Sarah (September 12, 2007). Trial Dates Asked for Bouncer Accused in Student's Murder. The New York Sun. Retrieved on 2007-09-12.
  46. ^ Imette judge is 'bounced'. New York Post (January 28, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  47. ^ Imette Suspect Trial. New York Daily News (September 20, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
  48. ^ Concerns Over Strength of St. Guillen Murder Case. Gothamist (August 20, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  49. ^ Celona, Larry (August 20, 2007). Imette Trial Lull Puzzles Experts. New York Post. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  50. ^ a b c d e f Imette suspect's lawyer challenges autopsy. New York Post (Saturday, March 1, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
  51. ^ a b Alleged Rapist Darryl Littlejohn in Court for Murder. Brooklyn Daily Eagle (March 3, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  52. ^ Murder/Rape Suspect Littlejohn Appears in Court. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  53. ^ a b Garden of hope to bloom. The Boston Globe (March 21, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  54. ^ Students in the News, Page 3. Landscape Institute - Community Outreach Group for Land Design (Summer, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  55. ^ Bereaved by violence, many walk for peace. The Boston Globe (May 14, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  56. ^ He'll fight crime in her honor. New York Daily News (February 25, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  57. ^ He'll fight crime in her honor-new-york-daily-news. Online Bad News (February 25, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  58. ^ One year since student's brutal slaying. New York Daily News (February 24, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  59. ^ Imette St. Guillen Memorial Scholarship. CUNY Newswire (March 1, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  60. ^ Imette memorialized in ‘bittersweet’ ceremony. Boston Herald (June 6, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  61. ^ A Crime Victim Is Missing From a Criminal Justice Graduation. New York Times (June 6, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
  62. ^ Imette St. Guillen Memorial Fund. OLAS, Organization of Latino American Students (April 13, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  63. ^ First Imette St. Guillen scholarship winner honors slain student. New York Daily News (February 24, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
  64. ^ Scholarship to honor slain student. Boston Globe (September 1, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  65. ^ [1] Flyer for the "A Night For Imette" Fundraiser, held in Boston, MA on 09/16/2006]
  66. ^ Menino signs "Imette's Law" requiring background checks for bar bouncers. SLRA/Boston Herald/ (March 17, 2007).
  67. ^ a b Fired WRKO host wins award in R.I. AP: DePetro show a best of talk radio. Boston Herald.com (Thursday, March 13, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
  68. ^ Translation of an interview with Paul Banks from Belgian Humo. Humo (October 12, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-12.
  69. ^ Schmidt joins Newark cops as they train for a grim day. New York Daily News (November 12, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
  70. ^ Sex crime and the city. The Scotsman (January 21, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  71. ^ "In books as in life, Linda Fairstein makes crime, and criminals, pay". New York Daily News (Sunday, March 2, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-03.

[edit] References

[edit] External links