NY - Christopher Porco - Another Menandez situation? - sentenced

[SheerLuck]

He is quoted in the article I read as calling the DNA evidnce as "junk science".

SheerLuck,that Spotlite article was very detailed!!

Hockeymom; I agree with you about Kindlon; he's very rattled by this latest evidence because this type of DNA is supposed to pinpoint accuracy of around 1 in 100,000. Not as strong as other DNA but seeing as Chris Porco is among the 1 in 100,000 who match this DNA; it's very strong evidence; especially when his van is caught on camera leaving campus shortly before the ticket was obtained. From a selfish stanpoint, but a realsitic one; hopefully the trial is not moved; it would cost the taxpayers over $100,000 and taxes in Albany are already high enough!

 

[SheerLuck]

Interesting about the questioning of the mother. I wonder what led the police to even ask about either of the sons? Did they know there were family issues because of the girlfriend?
I agree about the national interest,no pretty girl involved.

I don't know what led to the questioning, but Arduini was working that morning, so the second the name Porco popped up; he would have immediatley known about Chris as Chris was dating his daughter. And of course, cops usually first check on who else lives at the house; especially family members. Plus a quick check of the Porco address on a computer check, would show the 2 burgalries in 2 years and Chris being questioned each time; as he just happened to be home both times(hint hint). This should be a national news story and maybe it will be, but the news media is rarely interested if a young, pretty lady is not involved. The news media doesn't realize that most people who watch the news, can take their mind off of sex for 30 minutes because we have a brain; even some of us men can say that! Jury selection is this week I think...

 

[Jessica]

Regarding moving the trial to another location. I read last week in the Times Union that New York rarely permits change of venue. Sorry can't provide a link to the article. I hope it is tried locally.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

As he bent over to whisper in her ear-he bit off her ear. Did anyone ever hear of anything like this ? Some nuns were a little sadistic back then , so I don't know if she made this up..:sick:

I tried to search around a bit for a story like this but didn't find one. But if it was so many years ago, even if it happened, I don't know how easy it would be to track it down.

I didn't go to Catholic school but I've heard many of the scenarios from friends of mine that did. IMO, it's quite possible that she made that up. However, being a member here at WS, reading what we read, I believe that just about anything is possible in the range of human behaviors as well.

 

[jannuncutt]

I had my heart set on attending this trial. Now I can't, because they got a change of venue.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=491753&categ...

 

[hockeymom]

I'm not sure I'm totally surprised about the change of venue. I guess there has been alot leaked,but by the same token,I think people in this day and age don't believe alot of what they read in the paper,so I think they could be fair. Most people I talk to are leaning towrd guilty,but would never make that call until they heard all the evidence.(people also don't want to believe a son could do this to his parents).
Todays news is really annoying. The judge has ruled on admitting evidence yet it will not be announced yet. I certainly hope they admit the mother's "head nod' or what ever it was. Also,another sleazy defense atty. Kindlon is insinuating that the poor Bethlehem police officer who is not alive to defend himself,planted Chris' DNA on the thruway ticket!! Come on!! That is a huge stretch.
I can't wait for the trial to start.
Maybe we should write to court TV and see if they will cover it.

 

[SheerLuck]

Kindlon is insinuating that the poor Bethlehem police officer who is not alive to defend himself,planted Chris' DNA on the thruway ticket!! Come on!! That is a huge stretch.


What Kindlon said is disgusting, but also appears to be very desperate as well; as only 1 in 100,000 people could also have their DNA match the DNA on the thruway ticket and Porco's jeep is seen leaving Rochester on surveilleance video. No one at Rochester says that Porco slept on the couch that night, as he claims and he had 9 1/2 hours where no one sees him. So DNA evidence; if it fits the timeline and combined with all the other factors; looks to be the knockout punch. Personally, I've never found humor in any of Kindons' derogotory comments towards the police, but this really crosses the line from claiming they are limp; to claiming they tampered with evidence and claiming they broke the law. It also could backfire badly because Arduini's daughter was Porco's girlfriend and she could be called on to testify and she had just seen Porco 2 nights before the murder. For Kindlon to be so cold hearted towards her recently deceased dad is real stupid, as she now might want to testify! What if she tells the jury that Chris had a violent temper and privately spoke of extreme anger toward his father? Hmmm... I bet Kindlon didn't think of that.

 

[SheerLuck]

Here's a link to what's happening so far, with early testimony. 1 sidenote is that porco breaks down and cries when the paramedics describe his mom's condition, yet he showed no emotion to the same exact testimony, when it was presented by the same paramedics in pre-trial:

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=496099&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=6/30/2006

 

[June Cleaver]

I think Chris's tears are real.

In the pre trial hearings, graphic pictures of his mother were not shown. That has to be horrible for Chris to see.

I feel sorry for him, because I believe he is innocent. We must keep in mind that all we've read in the press so far are so called "facts" fed to the press by the police department.

The defense will give us a chance to hear another side to the story.

 

[curious1]

They way his attorny is playing dirty and grasping at so many straws just seals by belief that he did it. A lot of slight of hand 'look over here' not at the evidence. Is sounds like the Chewbacca defense from SouthPark.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Well, if Chris didn't do it then it must have been someone else that knew the code for the alarm.

Thanks for keeping us updated, SheerLuck.

 

[SheerLuck]

Well, if Chris didn't do it then it must have been someone else that knew the code for the alarm.

Thanks for keeping us updated, SheerLuck.

Yep and maybe I already mentioned about the house key; but if I didn't; also interesting is that after the security code was disarmed; the house key to the front door was used to enter the house. This key was hidden in a special place on the porch(under a certain flower pot on the porch). Only a few family members knew where this key was hidden(Chris being one of them). It looks like in the killers haste to kill the Porcos; they slipped up by leaving the key in the door. On a sidenote; earlier this week; I read in, I believe, The Times Union, that the Porcos net worth; cash and assets; was close to $1 million dollars; so this would appear to be the motive; or 1 of the motives; the prosecution might use.

 

[SheerLuck]

I feel sorry for him, because I believe he is innocent. QUOTE]

You think he's innocent, June Cleaver? Why? All the kids he was watching tv with that night say he didn't sleep on the tv room couch, as he claims, so his alibi looks like a lie. And if he really slept in Rochester that night as he claims, then why was his jeep seen leaving the campus about 4-5 hours before the murder happened? Plus his DNA was found on a toll booth ticket in Albany and a neighbor saw his jeep in the driveway a bit before 4:00 a.m. Is he going to say his jeep was stolen and DNA was planted? Sounds far fetched. But also, he sounds like a terrible kid, doesn't he?. I mean, he not only forged his dads info for a $32,000 loan, but he also stole his moms computer and sold it on Ebay! What kind of kid would ever steal a computer from their mom and sell it on Ebay? How heartless is that? And why would a 20 year upper middle class kid being stealing anyway; when he's got a summer job? Sounds like a drug and/or gambling problem to me. Oh and speaking of his job, he even stole from his employers, as about $3,000 worth of stolen vet equipment was found in his bedrooms safe. I didn't know this kid and maybe you do or did, but it sounds to me like he had a pattern of hurting everyone who trusted him

 

[mamaodyssey]

I've been following this case closely since it occurred. I reside not too far from where it happened so it has held my interest. I was disappointed that the trial was moved to Orange County as I had planned to attend as often as I could; now it is too far away so have to depend on the media reporting.
There are several aspects to this case which make it incredibly interesting and I agree that it deserves national attention based on the facts. I think the TV show 48 Hours is doing a piece on it and it will undoubtedly come out AFTER the trial.
One of the most surprising things that occurred a few weeks ago was when Terry Kindlon did not put in a Notice of Alibi for Christopher.....I thought that was rather significant since we were led to believe that Christopher was asleep on the sofa of his frat house the night of the murder.
I also find it incredible that the judge is not allowing the 6 hour interrogation video into evidence, although I have not yet heard the basis for this decision. I had heard that the Bethlehem PD did not fully Mirandize him, which, if true in this day and age is inexcuseable. I also wonder how the fact that a lawyer showed up at the police station asking to see Christopher the night he was being interrogated, yet was not allowed to see him, will play into this case. I'd like to hear all of the facts about this aspect of the case. Unfortunately, these two facts will work in Terry Kindlon's favor as he tries to portray the Bethlehem PD officers as Keystone Kops who did not know what they were doing.
One last point, and this has been bothering me since this case began....where is the direct physical evidence (i.e. blood evidence) tying the killer to the crime? In such brutal and personal attack as this was, there should be fingerprints, footprints, something.......there was a lot of blood around. How did the killer manage to get out unscathed.....and none was found in the jeep either! Seems to me that it would take a good deal of planning AND keeping a cool head during the attacks in order to not leave physical evidence.....that does not just happen by chance in an axe attack! What a scary individual that could have such forethought accompanied by such precise and clean carrying out of just such a plan. Wow!

mamaodyssey

 

[SheerLuck]

I've been following this case closely since it occurred....One of the most surprising things that occurred a few weeks ago was when Terry Kindlon did not put in a Notice of Alibi for Christopher.....I thought that was rather significant since we were led to believe that Christopher was asleep on the sofa of his frat house the night of the murder.
I also find it incredible that the judge is not allowing the 6 hour interrogation video into evidence, although I have not yet heard the basis for this decision...
One last point, and this has been bothering me since this case began....where is the direct physical evidence (i.e. blood evidence) tying the killer to the crime? In such brutal and personal attack as this was, there should be fingerprints, footprints, something.......there was a lot of blood around. How did the killer manage to get out unscathed.....and none was found in the jeep either! Seems to me that it would take a good deal of planning AND keeping a cool head during the attacks in order to not leave physical evidence

mamaodyssey; the Bethlehem Police royally screwed up by not reading Porco his Miranda rights and not letting him talk to a lawyer, so the judge really had no choice but to throw out the 6 hour interogation. Pretty pathetic, but what I was wondering was; where was the Police Cheif??? Bethlehem's had 3 murders in 15 years, so how does the Polcie Chief not run the show here initially and make sure everything was done right; at least at the start? Porco said nothing to implicate himself, so maybe it wouldn't help anyway, but it really makes the Bethlehem Police look like clowns. As for no notice of alibi, I didn't hear about that, but I agree; thats very interesting. It also could be a major problem for Porco because it suggests his original alibi is very weak; since his frat brothers all say he didn't sleep there that night. Its his word against all of their words and the prosecutors should bring these kids to testify. Now Kindlon can shred the BP, but how does he shred all of Porco's friends and make Porco more credible than all of them? As to your last point; you basically hit the nail on the head-a good deal of planning by someone with a cool head; I'll add; someone intelligient and someone totally lacking in humanity. Fingerprints and footprints wouldn't help because this was Porco's home and if you attack people with an axe while they are sleeping, you could easily not get cut yourself, but still, not getting blood of the victims in the jeep or on a new set of clothes, would be super tough...unless as you said; he planned this in advance and covered the jeep, brought an extra set of clothes, wore gloves, etc,etc. I think Porco planned it and did it all himself, but the only other posiibility I could think of would be if Porco drove the jeep, but someone he drove with; did the actual murder.

 

[SheerLuck]

One thing to remember about the lack of blood in the jeep is that there also was never any mention of any blood outside of the house; like on the driveway. Maybe some blood found outside the house, but I think they only reported blood being found inside the home. This is important, maybe because it would show the killer would have really cleaned up well before leaving the house, which is actually pretty odd; if this was just some sort of random killing. If blood was found outside the home; like on the driveway; then that would make it very hard for Porco to have done this and not gotten blood in his jeep, but I don't remember ever reading that there was a blood trail that left the house

 

[mamaodyssey]

Sheerluck: Yes, I agree that based on the screw ups by the Bethlehem Police
by not reading Porco his Miranda rights and not letting him talk to a lawyer, the judge had no choice but to throw out the interrogation. From what I have heard about the interrogation, it contained some inconsistencies in Chris' story, but now that is not available to the prosecution. Yes, I also agree that the Police Chief should be called to task about the screw ups, but the individual officers involved also need to be given remedial lessons on BASIC police procedure and criminal procedure regarding Miranda and lawyers. Geez, I am basically a supporter of the police, but to screw up so badly is sheer idiocy.
As for the other students testifying against Christopher, I heard that the judge has not yet determined whether or not to allow them to testify. Their testimony was apparently the subject of one of the pretrial motions and Judge Berry has not yet made a decision about some of those motions........makes for real difficulty in giving an opening statement when you don't even know if certain evidence is being permitted at the trial. I fault Judge Berry for this one. His job is to make decisions so he should grow a backbone and make them! The last thing this trial needs is a weak judge......that was the downfall of the OJ Simpson case.....hope it's not going to be the death knell of this case!
About the fingerprints/footprints, etc. .....yes, Chris' would be in the house as he resided there as well, but if those prints were in blood, WELL that would be a whole different ball game, right!? And along the line of this physical evidence (or should I say lack thereof) mystery......if he did wear gloves, where are they? Were there no bloody shoes? If he changed his clothes, where are the bloody ones? What did he do, wrap himself in saran wrap, do the deed, somehow make it to the shower without leaving footprints, wash off the plastic wrap and himself and then somehow dispose of the saran wrap????? It's such an improbability to cause such carnage and not get something on yourself don't you think? That's why I would love to have attended the trial......I really want to see what evidence they have. Hopefully the media will do a thorough job in covering the case.
So far they have done pretty well. The fact that the key was in the front door (which I did not know before) is an interesting fact. Also that the fireman's axe was left on the bed, handle sticking up out of the covers......strikes me as interesting because if the perpetrator were standing on the floor during the attack, it would be more natural that the axe would be put down on the floor.....because of the length of the handle of the thing. The fact that it's on the bed tells me that the killer/assaulter was either standing on the bed while attacking or actually placed the axe up on the bed after the attack (which indicates an additional act of insult of sorts to the victims.
I also agree with you that Porco did this crime himself.....no accomplice.
There's one more thing that absolutely fascinates me about this case.......that is that he left both victims alive after the attacks. If he was smart enough to cover ( or not leave) physical evidence, and planned the thing so that he would be thought to have been in Rochester at the time, why was he stupid enough not to have made certain that he finished the job. Did he just make a mistake (actually 2 mistakes since they were both alive after the attacks - Peter dying later after having made his way downstairs) OR (God forbid) did he mean to leave them alive but dying....calculating that they would suffer for a while as they bled out and then die? Stupid mistake or heinous cruelty? Hmmmm.

 

[SheerLuck]

mamaodyssey

I totally agree with you on the Bethlehem Police's pathetic handling at the start of the case. And if Porco had inconsistantcies, that's really awful; as bad as it gets really. And then not allowing Porco's uncle who is an attorney; to talk to Porco; is equally as bad. The detectives screwed up royally, but notice too; how quiet the police chief has been throughout the investigation? Basically, in my opinion; the Bethlehem Police are a joke, but hopefully there is enough evidence to convict anyway. As to whether the frat brothers are allowed to testify; that makes no sense to me, to not allow them to. Porco claims he slept on the couch and they say he didn't. How could the judge not allow this testimony? It directly relates to his alibi, as to where he was when the crime was committed. They've got to testify.

Great point about bloody footprints; the police have never said a thing about this, so we don't know if any were found. Maybe he simply smashed each parent a bunch of times quickly and then bolted, so maybe most of the blood in the house came as a result of his dad walking around the house before collapsing. Maybe the killer thought that 4 or 5 quick blows with the axe to each parent would be enough to quickly kill them and that it would also minimize the blood he'd get on himself? He might have figured he has to move fast and minimize blood. Who knows though; trying to figure out the mind of a psychopath is near impossible. I'd really like to know if there was any blood found outside of the home. To me this is very important because if the only blood found was inside the home; then it would explain why the jeep also had no blood in it. It would mean that the killer did some planning and thought of a way to not have any blood on him BEFORE he left the house. Maybe its not that hard? It was winter time so he'd be fully clothed, with gloves, so most of the blood; if not all; would be on clothes; especially if he wore a mask. So if you simply throw all the clothes in a large bag and change; all the blood would be in the bag; then you have to discard the bag and get back on the highway. I know this isn't easy, but maybe a smart person who plans could pull this off, without too much difficulty. The police and media have given a fair amount of details, but no specifics on possible bloody footprints or if the blood was only found inside the house. Does anyone know more about where the blood was found?

 

[jannuncutt]

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=497215&categ...

 

[SheerLuck]

The killer had to have planned this murder because there was no blood found outside of the home, so if Chris Porco was the killer and I;m sure he was; that would explain why no blood was found in his jeep. Not a drop was found anywhere outside the home. And working for a vet would give him access to vet clothes; including surgical gloves. So he'd need to have bags to throw bloody clothes in; a change of clothes and maybe something like a drop cloth to stand on to prevent footprints. The TU reported the security code was used at 2:15 and the phone lines cut at 4:45, so the killer had time to cover his tracks and clean up; which explains no blood outside of the home or in the jeep. Porco was seen at 8:00 a.m.; 3 hours and 15 minutes after the phone lines are cut. Rochester is a 3 hour dive if driving 80. Its a shaky time frame , but just enough. What about thruway cameras? Aren't there cameras at toll booths or on the thruway?