NY - Christopher Porco - Another Menandez situation? - sentenced

[LovelyPigeon]

Porco finds GPS systems on vehicles
Son of beating victims gives tracking devices back to the police

By BRENDAN LYONS, Staff writer
First published: Tuesday, February 15, 2005

BETHLEHEM -- An investigation into the savage murder of a Delmar man and the vicious beating of his wife has turned into a cat-and-mouse game between police and the couple's youngest son, Christopher Porco, who recently removed two satellite tracking devices that had been secretly attached to vehicles he drives.
The satellite devices had been installed by State Police investigators. They were returned to authorities Thursday by Porco's attorney, Terence L. Kindlon.

It apparently was not unlawful for Porco to remove the devices. But their discovery by Porco, on whom authorities have focused much of their efforts, underscores the struggles police are having with a grisly murder that unsettled town residents, many of whom expected a quick arrest.--->>

On Wednesday, Christopher Porco apparently suspected police were following him. He searched his yellow Jeep Wrangler -- which had been seized by police on the day of his father's murder -- and found a police tracking device attached to the inside of a bumper, according to law enforcement officials close to the case.

The Jeep had been seized and combed for evidence before police returned it to Christopher Porco last month. But before they gave it back, they apparently hard-wired a satellite device on it. Porco also searched his mother's car, which he has been driving, and found another satellite tracking device hidden in that vehicle, the sources said.--->>

On the same afternoon Christopher Porco discovered the electronic devices, prosecutors met with Bethlehem Police Chief Louis Corsi and town Supervisor Theresa Egan. Sources close to the case said the meeting included a discussion of whether State Police, who have had a limited role in the investigation, should become more involved.

The dissension apparently stemmed from frustration by prosecutors that the town's police force, which has five detectives and little experience in homicide investigations, wasn't pursuing other leads unrelated to Christopher Porco.--->>

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/st...ategory=ALBANY&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=2/15/2005

 

[max]

I believe Kindlon (Porco's lawyer) is the only person publicly saying that the Bethlehem Police are refusing help from the State Police and not investigating every angle. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. The fact: State Police collected evidence at the crime scene (so how are they not involved?) The town police and State police are cooperating and are leaving 'no stone unturned'. Kindlon is stirring up the dissention angle. Kindlon is an accomplished DEFENSE lawyer. GJ has yet to review financial records of the Porco family (reported on local news Friday 2/11.) It was reported weeks ago that hundreds of pieces of evidence need to be reviewed.

 

[max]

WRGB news had a report at 6pm. Kindlon was VERY dramatic!

 

[LovelyPigeon]

A little of information I hadn't seen before:

As for the investigation by Bethlehem police, Kindlon says he has information from a Bethlehem elementary school teacher that she knew of death threats against the Porco family while Christopher Porco and his brother were in elementary school.

“That teacher called the Bethlehem police and shared that information with them on that very day. And you want to know something? They never even asked her name. They never even asked her her phone number,” Kindlon alleged. “What the hell kind of investigation is that?” - http://www.wnyt.com/x2289.xml?ag=x156&sb=x183

 

[Bobbisangel]

I agree. I don't think that the Bethlehem police are able to handle this case - they seem to be in over their heads - and stuck. The State Police needs to be fully involved in this case, if there is any hope in solving it.

A lot of police departments have a problem with calling in other law enforcement to help investigate a murder. They dig their heels in even when they know that they don't know how to investigate a murder. You would think they would welcome all the help they could get. Happens all of the time though. I think it has to do with who will get the credit for solving the case.
If this police dept has only worked 3 homicides in the last how many years...15? They need all the help they can get.

The home breakins sound like someone with an addiction of some kind. They took expensive laptop computers and a camera. Easy to get rid of and would get a pretty penny for them. I wonder how the police will be able to tell if the security system was disarmed on the day of the murders? After the first breakin you would think the parents would have made sure all of the windows were locked all of the time. The person used the same window both times.
Course they can't ask the parents if the windows were always locked. I wonder if someone disarmed the alarm and unlocked the window?

Has the mother been able to tell the police anything yet? If she said Chris's name when she was taken to the hospital she could have just been calling for him as she knew he was at home. That poor woman.

 

[max]

Does Kindlon really think we are so STUPID we would believe that the Bethlehem Police did not ask for a name and a phone number of an informant on the day of the murder? Remember he is a defense lawyer and will say anything to get his client "off". I once called the Bethlehem Police to report a dog that had been hit by a car in front of my house and they knew where the call was coming from. They also took A LOT of info from me for a DEAD DOG. Does Kindlon really want us to believe this crap about police not taking a name or phone number of an informant in a murder case? He is getting so much media attention for this case he must be in his glory...so much free advertising. Rumor in Delmar: Kindlon is doing the case pro bono.

 

[Sudzi]

I believe Kindlon (Porco's lawyer) is the only person publicly saying that the Bethlehem Police are refusing help from the State Police and not investigating every angle. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. The fact: State Police collected evidence at the crime scene (so how are they not involved?) The town police and State police are cooperating and are leaving 'no stone unturned'. Kindlon is stirring up the dissention angle. Kindlon is an accomplished DEFENSE lawyer. GJ has yet to review financial records of the Porco family (reported on local news Friday 2/11.) It was reported weeks ago that hundreds of pieces of evidence need to be reviewed.

From the TU yesterday it's seems Kindlon is not the only person calling for more SP involvment. The prosecutors are also frustrated by the town's police force.
I agree Kindlon is an accomplished defense Lawyer, but it looks as if he's not alone in feeling that the Bethlehem police (who have investigated 3 murders prior to this one) should be seeking more SP help.


On the same afternoon Christopher Porco discovered the electronic devices, prosecutors met with Bethlehem Police Chief Louis Corsi and town Supervisor Theresa Egan. Sources close to the case said the meeting included a discussion of whether State Police, who have had a limited role in the investigation, should become more involved. The dissension apparently stemmed from frustration by prosecutors that the town's police force, which has five detectives and little experience in homicide investigations, wasn't pursuing other leads unrelated to Christopher Porco.

 

[max]

A "source" can be anyone. A "source" can say anything. It does not have to be true. It could be Terry Kindlon or your Aunt Mary who lives on Brockley Drive, both would be close to the case. The TU is in the business to sell papers!

 

[jannuncutt]

A "source" can be anyone. A "source" can say anything. It does not have to be true. It could be Terry Kindlon or your Aunt Mary who lives on Brockley Drive, both would be close to the case. The TU is in the business to sell papers!

Are you convinced that Chris Porco is guilty of these crimes?

 

[max]

Maybe..how about you? Didn't you mention something about a red flag?

 

[Sudzi]

I'm not convinced he did it, but I'm not ready to say he didn't do it either. I do think if they had any evidence they would have already taken action.

The GPS on his vehicles smacks a little of desperation on LE side, if he did do it, they can't prove it yet. If he didn't do it- they have wasted a lot of time.

 

[jannuncutt]

The red flag that I was referring to was Chris' deception regarding the fraudulent loan - which, is an indication to me that there were problems with him in his home. I pointed that out because some on this board have implied that he was incapable of doing these things because he was such a good kid because of where and how he grew up. Do I think he is guilty? Max, I really don't know. I do think that it is unsettling that the grand jury is taking so long. It just seems like this case should be further along. There are so many rumors going around and, they all seem plausible - because we don't know. All I am convinced of is that a murderer is free in the community and this was not a random crime.

 

[max]

Jann, You are right that all rumors seem plausible, MOST of which revolve around Chris. You were also right that Chris was deceptive. I think his deception is a clear indicator that he is capable of the crimes.

 

[jannuncutt]

Max,
Have you heard any of the rumors which don't involve Chris? Have you heard anything about a case that the father was working on?

 

[LovelyPigeon]

Is the loan related to Chris actually an established fact or is it rumor?

 

[jannuncutt]

That is hard to answer. All I know is that information about a $32,000 loan has been reported and not disputed since the beginning of the case. Apparently, the police have angry e-mails between Chris and his father about this loan, which he didn't sign for. This is one thing that I haven't heard Kindlon deny.

 

[Sudzi]

Has there been anything else said about the reported "gambling link" another theory that Kindlon said was "garbage".

They brought it up in the Times Union early in December but I haven't heard anything about it since then.

 

[jannuncutt]

I haven't heard anymore about gambling. I have heard though that Chris was involved in some sort of e-bay scam, which is separate and has nothing to do with this case.

 

[SheerLuck]

I've read this board for a few months, with great interest. As a former resident of Delmar, who now lives in Albany; I finally decided to join the board and make a few comments. There are so many posts, I'd like to reply to, but I'll try to keep it brief. I think in cases like this one, where the police do not have someone who was caught in the act or has confessed, that often it works best for the police and the prosecutors to work very patiently and to build the strongest possible case that they can. I'm guessing and hoping, that's what's going on here. The risk involved is if the "person of interest" snaps and hurts another victim. But the more evidence that can be tested, the more people who might come forward and give info and the possibility of other clues that might be found, are just a few examples as to why prosecutors move at what seems like a snails pace; in this sort of case. The key is to gather every possible piece of evidence to build the strongest possible case. Aother key is for police to watch closely the strongest suspect or suspects, so as to protect the community. I sense this is happening 24 hours a day. Remember too to put yourself in the killers shoes and that sometimes time dragging on, can eat away at a criminal. The Scott Peterson case can serve as a good example. People were pulling their hair out that he should be arrested, but his movements and statements over the many months before he wasn't arrested, served only to hurt him. The fact that he was arrested wearing a disguise, with $5,000 cash and heading towards Mexico; certainly had to play in the minds of the jury, as well. Combining strong evidence, with the way Peterson was arrested; served to help the prosecutors to convict him. Remember that quickly arresting a suspect in a circumstantial case, often prevents key evidence from being used, as it can be found out after the caseis heard. By the way, I'm not saying Chris Porco is guilty, but it certainly seems like the evidence points very strongly towards him. So my point is that IF he's guilty and I'm only saying "if", then the dragging out of time by the prosecutors, might be the smartest angle that law enforcemnet can take; in order to convict him.

 

[jannuncutt]

I've read this board for a few months, with great interest. As a former resident of Delmar, who now lives in Albany; I finally decided to join the board and make a few comments. There are so many posts, I'd like to reply to, but I'll try to keep it brief. I think in cases like this one, where the police do not have someone who was caught in the act or has confessed, that often it works best for the police and the prosecutors to work very patiently and to build the strongest possible case that they can. I'm guessing and hoping, that's what's going on here. The risk involved is if the "person of interest" snaps and hurts another victim. But the more evidence that can be tested, the more people who might come forward and give info and the possibility of other clues that might be found, are just a few examples as to why prosecutors move at what seems like a snails pace; in this sort of case. The key is to gather every possible piece of evidence to build the strongest possible case. Aother key is for police to watch closely the strongest suspect or suspects, so as to protect the community. I sense this is happening 24 hours a day. Remember too to put yourself in the killers shoes and that sometimes time dragging on, can eat away at a criminal. The Scott Peterson case can serve as a good example. People were pulling their hair out that he should be arrested, but his movements and statements over the many months before he wasn't arrested, served only to hurt him. The fact that he was arrested wearing a disguise, with $5,000 cash and heading towards Mexico; certainly had to play in the minds of the jury, as well. Combining strong evidence, with the way Peterson was arrested; served to help the prosecutors to convict him. Remember that quickly arresting a suspect in a circumstantial case, often prevents key evidence from being used, as it can be found out after the caseis heard. By the way, I'm not saying Chris Porco is guilty, but it certainly seems like the evidence points very strongly towards him. So my point is that IF he's guilty and I'm only saying "if", then the dragging out of time by the prosecutors, might be the smartest angle that law enforcemnet can take; in order to convict him.

You have made some very valid points. However, I think that what is unsettling is the fact that the grand jury on this case began convening months ago. Doesn't law enforcement have to be in possession of evidence to present to the grand jury, in order for the jury to convene? The grand jury for the Peterson case was not convening while Scott was still walking around as a "person of interest" was it? I think that the fact that the grand jury seems to be crawling at a snail's pace does cast doubt or uncertainty on the strength of law enforcement's case against Chris. I reiterate that I have no idea whether he is guilty or not.