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The Mad Batter: Difference between revisions
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By the time Lazzaro encountered New York City police officer Grayson Gaynes in 2013, his psychosis would have been well established. When he then suffered a traumatic event at Gaynes' hand, the fact that it was entirely accidental made no difference; his rage and hatred of Di Buca—and his thirst for revenge—easily grew to encompass Gaynes as well. That traumatic event was his arrest (on drug charges) from a public bathroom stall, during which Gaynes failed to give him adequate time to pull up his pants and fasten his belt. While being escorted to Gaynes' police cruiser, Lazzaro's pants came free, exposing him on a crowded sidewalk, drawing laughter and ridicule from bystanders. | By the time Lazzaro encountered New York City police officer Grayson Gaynes in 2013, his psychosis would have been well established. When he then suffered a traumatic event at Gaynes' hand, the fact that it was entirely accidental made no difference; his rage and hatred of Di Buca—and his thirst for revenge—easily grew to encompass Gaynes as well. That traumatic event was his arrest (on drug charges) from a public bathroom stall, during which Gaynes failed to give him adequate time to pull up his pants and fasten his belt. While being escorted to Gaynes' police cruiser, Lazzaro's pants came free, exposing him on a crowded sidewalk, drawing laughter and ridicule from bystanders. | ||
During his subsequent yearlong prison sentence, Lazzaro began plotting to pit Di Buca and Gaynes against one another. His hatred for the Di Bucas had only grown when the crime family "left him out to dry," providing him no legal or monetary assistance despite the fact that he had allegedly been working for the family when arrested. In January 2015, Lazzaro called in his first [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title= | During his subsequent yearlong prison sentence, Lazzaro began plotting to pit Di Buca and Gaynes against one another. His hatred for the Di Bucas had only grown when the crime family "left him out to dry," providing him no legal or monetary assistance despite the fact that he had allegedly been working for the family when arrested. In January 2015, Lazzaro called in his first [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anonymous_tip anonymous tip] to police, asking for Gaynes by name and implicating Di Buca in two of the four murders Lazzaro had by then committed. Other tips followed, and Lazzaro's dreams came true when a very public rivalry developed between Gaynes and Di Buca. And yet, despite Lazzaro's best efforts, which led to the March 27, 2015 arrest of Matteo Di Buca, New York City police were unable to make charges stick. Di Buca was released days later on April 1. So Lazzaro took matters back into his own hands. | ||
On April 5, Lazzaro made his first attempt to murder Gaynes, fully expecting that suspicion would fall squarely on Di Buca as a result of the widely publicized antagonism between him and Gaynes. However, it was in the execution of this attack that Lazzaro made his two biggest mistakes in the entire series of killings. First, he let fear immobilize him for several hours; by the time he finally "psyched himself up" for the attack, Di Buca had arrived at a night club across town, which gave the alleged mobster an alibi for the attack. Second, Lazzaro failed to kill Gaynes; though the beating he administered left the officer in a short-lived coma, Gaynes ultimately survived. Gaynes' wife, who was also present for the attack, did not. | On April 5, Lazzaro made his first attempt to murder Gaynes, fully expecting that suspicion would fall squarely on Di Buca as a result of the widely publicized antagonism between him and Gaynes. However, it was in the execution of this attack that Lazzaro made his two biggest mistakes in the entire series of killings. First, he let fear immobilize him for several hours; by the time he finally "psyched himself up" for the attack, Di Buca had arrived at a night club across town, which gave the alleged mobster an alibi for the attack. Second, Lazzaro failed to kill Gaynes; though the beating he administered left the officer in a short-lived coma, Gaynes ultimately survived. Gaynes' wife, who was also present for the attack, did not. | ||
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September 2, 1991—March 27, 2008 (aged 16) | September 2, 1991—March 27, 2008 (aged 16) | ||
Amanda Morrissey was Lazzaro's very first victim. Her murder was not planned, but it set the tone for Lazzaro's later premeditated killings, establishing the Mad Batter's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modus_operandi modus operandi] and giving him a taste for the power a killer wields over his victims. | [[Amanda Morrissey]] was Lazzaro's very first victim. Her murder was not planned, but it set the tone for Lazzaro's later premeditated killings, establishing the Mad Batter's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modus_operandi modus operandi] and giving him a taste for the power a killer wields over his victims. | ||
According to other students of Barbera Academy High School at that time, Morrissey was "very popular and knew it." If Matteo Di Buca was the king of the clique that included so many of Lazzaro's future victims, Morrissey was its undisputed queen. On March 27, 2008, during Morrissey's sophomore year and Lazzaro and Di Buca's junior year, Morrissey encountered Lazzaro in a school hallway following the completion of late afternoon sports practices. As often happened, Di Buca had forced Lazzaro to carry his baseball equipment back to his locker, where Lazzaro was expected to retrieve Di Buca's books and homework as well. Upon seeing Lazzaro struggling under the load, Morrissey reportedly "burst into laughter, and something snapped inside me" (Lazzaro's testimony from 2016). Dropping everything but one of Di Buca's wooden baseball bats, Lazzaro beat Morrissey to death in a rage. | According to other students of Barbera Academy High School at that time, Morrissey was "very popular and knew it." If Matteo Di Buca was the king of the clique that included so many of Lazzaro's future victims, Morrissey was its undisputed queen. On March 27, 2008, during Morrissey's sophomore year and Lazzaro and Di Buca's junior year, Morrissey encountered Lazzaro in a school hallway following the completion of late afternoon sports practices. As often happened, Di Buca had forced Lazzaro to carry his baseball equipment back to his locker, where Lazzaro was expected to retrieve Di Buca's books and homework as well. Upon seeing Lazzaro struggling under the load, Morrissey reportedly "burst into laughter, and something snapped inside me" (Lazzaro's testimony from 2016). Dropping everything but one of Di Buca's wooden baseball bats, Lazzaro beat Morrissey to death in a rage. | ||
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May 22, 1992—February 21, 2013 (aged 20) | May 22, 1992—February 21, 2013 (aged 20) | ||
Alivia Odette was Lazzaro's second victim, and like all those who followed, her murder was premeditated. By this time, Lazzaro was almost four years out of high school, and had been unofficially employed by the Di Buca crime family that entire time as a drug trafficker. Although Lazzaro had little interaction with Odette following graduation, she remained friendly with Di Buca, and the two were known to be romantically involved at the beginning of 2013. Seeing this as an opportunity, Lazzaro sneaked into Di Buca's office at one of the crime family's warehouses and used Di Buca's own mobile phone to engage in a text message conversation with Odette. Under the impression she was speaking with Di Buca, Odette agreed to meet him at their favorite café later that day. Lazzaro immediately deleted the conversation history from Di Buca's phone. | [[Alivia Odette]] was Lazzaro's second victim, and like all those who followed, her murder was premeditated. By this time, Lazzaro was almost four years out of high school, and had been unofficially employed by the Di Buca crime family that entire time as a drug trafficker. Although Lazzaro had little interaction with Odette following graduation, she remained friendly with Di Buca, and the two were known to be romantically involved at the beginning of 2013. Seeing this as an opportunity, Lazzaro sneaked into Di Buca's office at one of the crime family's warehouses and used Di Buca's own mobile phone to engage in a text message conversation with Odette. Under the impression she was speaking with Di Buca, Odette agreed to meet him at their favorite café later that day. Lazzaro immediately deleted the conversation history from Di Buca's phone. | ||
Two hours later, Lazzaro intercepted Odette on the curb outside the café, explaining that plans had changed and Di Buca had sent him to pick her up. Knowing that Lazzaro worked for the Di Bucas, Odette accepted this story at face value, oblivious to the danger her old bullying victim now posed. She climbed readily into the car Lazzaro had rented for the occasion, where he incapacitated her with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform chloroform]-soaked cloth. Lazzaro then drove her out of the city to upstate New York, where he killed her with another baseball bat and disposed of her body at leisure. | Two hours later, Lazzaro intercepted Odette on the curb outside the café, explaining that plans had changed and Di Buca had sent him to pick her up. Knowing that Lazzaro worked for the Di Bucas, Odette accepted this story at face value, oblivious to the danger her old bullying victim now posed. She climbed readily into the car Lazzaro had rented for the occasion, where he incapacitated her with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform chloroform]-soaked cloth. Lazzaro then drove her out of the city to upstate New York, where he killed her with another baseball bat and disposed of her body at leisure. | ||
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Vittorio: January 8, 1991—June 1, 2014 (aged 23) | Vittorio: January 8, 1991—June 1, 2014 (aged 23) | ||
Ann-Marie Toscani and Edward Vittorio were the victims of Lazzaro's third attack against members of the clique that bullied him in high school, and Lazzaro's first double homicide. More than a year had passed since the previous murder, mostly because Lazzaro had been incarcerated following his March 2013 arrest by Grayson Gaynes. Following Lazzaro's release on April 17, 2014, he fell back into working for the Di Buca crime family, where he was welcomed back as if nothing had happened. This only served to enrage Lazzaro further, considering the family's lack of assistance in his criminal defense, and he began actively looking for another opportunity to sate his needs while hurting Matteo Di Buca at the same time. When Lazzaro discovered that Di Buca was now romantically involved with Ann-Marie Toscani, another member of the old clique, the killer knew he'd identified his next victim. | [[Ann-Marie Toscani]] and [[Edward Vittorio]] were the victims of Lazzaro's third attack against members of the clique that bullied him in high school, and Lazzaro's first double homicide. More than a year had passed since the previous murder, mostly because Lazzaro had been incarcerated following his March 2013 arrest by Grayson Gaynes. Following Lazzaro's release on April 17, 2014, he fell back into working for the Di Buca crime family, where he was welcomed back as if nothing had happened. This only served to enrage Lazzaro further, considering the family's lack of assistance in his criminal defense, and he began actively looking for another opportunity to sate his needs while hurting Matteo Di Buca at the same time. When Lazzaro discovered that Di Buca was now romantically involved with Ann-Marie Toscani, another member of the old clique, the killer knew he'd identified his next victim. | ||
Lazzaro bided his time, however, fearing it might bring suspicion upon him if another Di Buca girlfriend disappeared so soon after Lazzaro's release from prison. Instead, he kept a careful watch on Toscani, who was employed at the time as a purchaser for her parents' small chain of discount clothing outlets. When Lazzaro learned (from Di Buca, ironically) that Toscani was driving to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] on an apparent business trip the first week of June, he rented another car and followed. Toscani never made it to Pittsburgh, however, for her true destination was a remote cabin getaway near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan_Valley Canaan Valley, West Virginia]. | Lazzaro bided his time, however, fearing it might bring suspicion upon him if another Di Buca girlfriend disappeared so soon after Lazzaro's release from prison. Instead, he kept a careful watch on Toscani, who was employed at the time as a purchaser for her parents' small chain of discount clothing outlets. When Lazzaro learned (from Di Buca, ironically) that Toscani was driving to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] on an apparent business trip the first week of June, he rented another car and followed. Toscani never made it to Pittsburgh, however, for her true destination was a remote cabin getaway near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan_Valley Canaan Valley, West Virginia]. | ||
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November 2, 1989—April 5, 2015 (aged 25) | November 2, 1989—April 5, 2015 (aged 25) | ||
Rose Moynihan was Lazzaro's fifth victim, and the only non-brunette woman he murdered (she was a redhead). By Lazzaro's own confession, Moynihan's death was nothing more than a "bonus"; his true target was Grayson Gaynes, Moynihan's husband, who had arrested and humiliated Lazzaro years earlier. By that time, Gaynes was actively investigating Matteo Di Buca for the murders Lazzaro had committed. Lazzaro intended to kill both Moynihan and Gaynes, and for Di Buca to take the fall. Considering the well-publicized animosity between Gaynes and Di Buca, and the fact that Gaynes had only just arrested and released Di Buca days prior, Di Buca would have made for a very plausible killer. With Gaynes dead and Di Buca in prison the rest of his life, Lazzaro believed his "debt" would finally be settled, both his "tormentors" repaid in kind for the humiliation they had visited upon him. | [[Rose Moynihan]] was Lazzaro's fifth victim, and the only non-brunette woman he murdered (she was a redhead). By Lazzaro's own confession, Moynihan's death was nothing more than a "bonus"; his true target was Grayson Gaynes, Moynihan's husband, who had arrested and humiliated Lazzaro years earlier. By that time, Gaynes was actively investigating Matteo Di Buca for the murders Lazzaro had committed. Lazzaro intended to kill both Moynihan and Gaynes, and for Di Buca to take the fall. Considering the well-publicized animosity between Gaynes and Di Buca, and the fact that Gaynes had only just arrested and released Di Buca days prior, Di Buca would have made for a very plausible killer. With Gaynes dead and Di Buca in prison the rest of his life, Lazzaro believed his "debt" would finally be settled, both his "tormentors" repaid in kind for the humiliation they had visited upon him. | ||
On April 5, 2015, Lazzaro stalked Gaynes and Moynihan as they entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park Central Park] for a picnic. They were celebrating their first wedding anniversary. The killer watched them for hours while awaiting his chance to kill them with a baseball bat, then get away clean. This was Lazzaro's second attempted double homicide (after Toscani/Vittorio), but the first killing he had attempted in public. He found himself unexpectedly afraid to act, and he delayed the murders until the sun was beginning to set, casting the park in deep shadow. Only then did he approach the young couple, attacking from behind with a few quick swings at their heads, then running. He did not stay long enough to confirm their wounds were fatal. | On April 5, 2015, Lazzaro stalked Gaynes and Moynihan as they entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park Central Park] for a picnic. They were celebrating their first wedding anniversary. The killer watched them for hours while awaiting his chance to kill them with a baseball bat, then get away clean. This was Lazzaro's second attempted double homicide (after Toscani/Vittorio), but the first killing he had attempted in public. He found himself unexpectedly afraid to act, and he delayed the murders until the sun was beginning to set, casting the park in deep shadow. Only then did he approach the young couple, attacking from behind with a few quick swings at their heads, then running. He did not stay long enough to confirm their wounds were fatal. | ||
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September 27, 1992—February 24, 2016 (aged 23) | September 27, 1992—February 24, 2016 (aged 23) | ||
Alyssa Lori was Lazzaro's sixth murder victim, and the first of his victims (aside from Moynihan) against whom he held no preexisting grudge. Lazzaro could not conscience the fact that ten months had passed since Moynihan's death and both Di Buca and Gaynes remained alive and free. Killing Lori was primarily about restarting the feud between the mobster and the police officer, though Lazzaro's psychosis also created an itch he "desperately needed to scratch." | [[Alyssa Lori]] was Lazzaro's sixth murder victim, and the first of his victims (aside from Moynihan) against whom he held no preexisting grudge. Lazzaro could not conscience the fact that ten months had passed since Moynihan's death and both Di Buca and Gaynes remained alive and free. Killing Lori was primarily about restarting the feud between the mobster and the police officer, though Lazzaro's psychosis also created an itch he "desperately needed to scratch." | ||
For the first time since killing Morrissey in 2008, Lazzaro renewed a relationship with his intended victim before killing her. Citing a desire for assistance with legal matters arising from his 2013 arrest, Lazzaro entered into something like an attorney-client relationship with Lori, though she was only a first year law student at the time and had not yet been admitted to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Bar_Association New York State Bar]. Lazzaro then used that relationship to set a meeting with Lori at a night club known as Flāmz on February 23, 2016—a meeting he never intended to keep. Rather, his purpose was to place Lori and Di Buca in the same room with one another for the first time since Di Buca's 2009 graduation from high school; Lazzaro was well aware that Di Buca frequented Flāmz. | For the first time since killing Morrissey in 2008, Lazzaro renewed a relationship with his intended victim before killing her. Citing a desire for assistance with legal matters arising from his 2013 arrest, Lazzaro entered into something like an attorney-client relationship with Lori, though she was only a first year law student at the time and had not yet been admitted to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Bar_Association New York State Bar]. Lazzaro then used that relationship to set a meeting with Lori at a night club known as Flāmz on February 23, 2016—a meeting he never intended to keep. Rather, his purpose was to place Lori and Di Buca in the same room with one another for the first time since Di Buca's 2009 graduation from high school; Lazzaro was well aware that Di Buca frequented Flāmz. | ||
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October 23, 1993—February 29, 2016 (aged 22) | October 23, 1993—February 29, 2016 (aged 22) | ||
Jennifer Thompson was the seventh and final victim in Lazzaro's series of murders. She was killed less than a week after Lori, and is one of the few victims (with Lori) whose death Lazzaro has ever expressed remorse over. In a February 2019 interview marking the third anniversary of that crime, Lazzaro called Thompson's murder "a necessary evil." | [[Jennifer Thompson]] was the seventh and final victim in Lazzaro's series of murders. She was killed less than a week after Lori, and is one of the few victims (with Lori) whose death Lazzaro has ever expressed remorse over. In a February 2019 interview marking the third anniversary of that crime, Lazzaro called Thompson's murder "a necessary evil." | ||
Thompson worked professionally as an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_girl escort], and just days before her death had come forward to provide Matteo Di Buca with an alibi for Lori's murder. Her statement to police indicated that she had been with Di Buca "all that night." Lazzaro later confessed to murdering Thompson first and foremost so she could never testify in court to Di Buca's innocence; however, Lazzaro also leveraged Thompson's death in an attempt to implicate homicide detective Patrick McMurphy in the earlier murder of Rose Moynihan. Lazzaro accomplished this by planting DNA evidence within McMurphy's apartment, along with the remainder of the money he had stolen from the Di Bucas, knowing that comparison of serial numbers would suggest McMurphy had gotten the money from the Di Bucas. In this way, Lazzaro hoped Di Buca would be held accountable for Moynihan's murder after all, even though he had an alibi proving he could not have killed the woman personally. | Thompson worked professionally as an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_girl escort], and just days before her death had come forward to provide Matteo Di Buca with an alibi for Lori's murder. Her statement to police indicated that she had been with Di Buca "all that night." Lazzaro later confessed to murdering Thompson first and foremost so she could never testify in court to Di Buca's innocence; however, Lazzaro also leveraged Thompson's death in an attempt to implicate homicide detective Patrick McMurphy in the earlier murder of Rose Moynihan. Lazzaro accomplished this by planting DNA evidence within McMurphy's apartment, along with the remainder of the money he had stolen from the Di Bucas, knowing that comparison of serial numbers would suggest McMurphy had gotten the money from the Di Bucas. In this way, Lazzaro hoped Di Buca would be held accountable for Moynihan's murder after all, even though he had an alibi proving he could not have killed the woman personally. | ||
