Opinion ID: 1200797
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Events Subsequent to the Murder

Text: On the day following the murder, Sacramento police officers executed a search warrant at defendant's apartment. Defendant had not returned to the apartment. During the search a manila folder was seized from atop a desk in the living room. Numerous handwritten documents were inside the folder; expert testimony established they had been written by defendant. The bulk of the documents contained notations of defendant's feelings about Lisa and various schemes for revenge. They outlined plans to get the victim to various locations, and items that defendant would have to procure in order to carry out his intentions of kidnapping or harming her. Several of the plans tracked the testimony of D'Antonoli, Bennett, Winn, Thompson, and Kruhalski concerning the events leading up to Lisa's murder. One writing described plans for D'Antonoli to direct Lisa to a chosen spot, ostensibly to help him move, with references to an alternate plan if she balked. There was a reference to D'Antonoli removing her blindfold and gag. Other documents contained notations about how Lisa's confidence might be gained. Another, entitled Contract, made reference to a $1,000 contract with Orra for the befriending of Lisa. Yet another appeared to be a packing list, and included items such as acid, an ax, a sleeping bag, rope, tape, and things to get from car. Another document, entitled Disposal, made reference to various Sacramento bars and contained the notations dumpster, hospital, and church. Several documents evidenced defendant's scorn and hatred of religion, in particular the sect of Christianity to which his ex-wife belonged. Others revealed his apparent intense hatred of Lisa, her mother Ione, a couple surnamed the Nieces, and the wrongs he believed they had all committed against him. He referred to Lisa and her mother as the Satanic Sisterhood, evil incarnate, and the two main ultimate causes of my children's demise. Lisa was characterized in one document as the accursed whore ... who destroyed all possible chances for a good life for my children and myself, and as the archdemon of destruction in a document dated January 1, 1985 (less than two months prior to the murder), which read: It is my single resolve to avenge my children's destruction before I enter my 52nd year, so that I may slip away from this world at peace with myself. Woe to the archdemon who destroyed us almost 21 years ago. [¶] Before I entered my 32nd year, my children were destroyed. Before I enter my 52nd year, the archdemon who destroyed my children will be brought to book, so I swear. The archdemon of destruction will itself suffer destruction. I swear this. Some people, the fortunate, die quickly. Other people, the unfortunate, die slowly. I am one of the unfortunates. (Defendant turned 52 years old exactly 6 days before killing his ex-wife.) Deke Bennett testified he learned about Lisa's death from news reports. He received a collect call from defendant on the day following her murder. Defendant asked Bennett whom he had hurt; Bennett replied that as far as he knew, only Lisa, who had died. Defendant said nothing to indicate any surprise at hearing this news. When Bennett asked defendant where he was, defendant replied, I'm buried. Although contacted by a Sacramento detective the following day, Bennett did not reveal that he had spoken with defendant at that time. Bennett received another collect call from defendant 10 days after the murder. Defendant wanted to know who had been questioned or arrested for the crime. This time Bennett informed police defendant had called. Bennett's telephone bill reflected that the call had been placed from New York City. Defendant was arrested by FBI agents in York, Pennsylvania on July 20, 1985. At first he claimed his name was Pasco D'Antonoli. After admitting his true name and waiving his Miranda rights, defendant asserted he had no knowledge of the murder of his ex-wife. He claimed he left Sacramento a day or two before the date of the murder and traveled to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. He admitted feeling the victim owed him $5,000, but claimed he did not know where she lived and had not spoken to her since sometime in 1984. He denied knowing he was wanted for murder and maintained he had not touched a handgun since 1964. When confronted with the fact that Lisa had named him as her murderer in her dying declaration, he suggested she was confused or lying and that he was being framed.