Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Murder Mystery: Who Killed Yale Student Suzanne Jovin? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jeffrey S. Mitchell who wrote (1222)	12/2/2007 8:17:14 PM
From: Jeffrey S. Mitchell	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1397

Re: 11/30/07 - New Haven Register: 4 ex-cops studying Jovin case 4 ex-cops studying Jovin case By Randall Beach, Register Staff Posted on Fri, Nov 30, 2007 NEW HAVEN — State’s Attorney Michael Dearington and other law enforcement officials are expected to announce today that four former state police troopers have been working on the unsolved murder of Yale student Suzanne Jovin for the past seven months. News about the investigative squad caught many followers of the 9-year-old case off guard, including James Van de Velde, named as a suspect shortly after Jovin was murdered Dec. 4, 1998, and his attorney, David Grudberg. Van de Velde, who was Jovin’s adviser at Yale and taught one of her classes, has maintained his innocence and recently called on the state’s Cold Case Unit to follow a series of forensic steps to find the murderer. Jovin, 21, was stabbed 17 times and left for dead near the corner of East Rock and Edgehill roads. She had been last seen walking downtown near the Yale campus about a half-hour before her death. Dearington’s office has scheduled the news conference for today at 2 p.m. on the steps of the New Haven Superior Court building, 235 Church St. The development follows a New Haven Register story three weeks ago in which Van de Velde, now a national security affairs consultant near Washington, D.C., and independent journalist Donald Connery of Kent questioned whether the state’s Cold Case Unit was actively investigating the case. Dearington turned over the investigation to the unit in September 2006. But Dearington reportedly decided later to form the special team of former state troopers. They have been identified as John Mannion, a former head of the central district major crime squad; Patrick Gaffney, a former sergeant in that unit; Richard Wardell, a former member of the eastern district major crime squad; and Joseph Sudol, a retired state police sergeant who worked at the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory under the supervision of renowned investigator Henry Lee. Dearington and Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane, who oversees the Cold Case Unit, never mentioned the four-man team when questioned by the Register several weeks ago about how the Jovin murder was being investigated. Dearington said at that time, “It is being diligently investigated by the Cold Case Unit on a weekly basis.” Kane told the Register, “We’re working on it.” Van de Velde could not be reached for comment Thursday, and Grudberg said he would not discuss the matter until after the news conference. But Connery said Thursday night, “What’s the case doing back in the grip of Dearington and company if he announced in August 2006 that it was being handed over to Kevin Kane’s office and the supposedly more experienced and objective cold case professionals?” Connery said, “Apparently these ‘four horsemen’ have been functioning for seven months, and only now, for some reason, is it being announced.” “I think this deception is appalling,” Connery added. “There’s no reason why the top legal officers of the state should be misleading serious, concerned citizens.” Dearington could not be reached for comment Thursday. Connery did note the news of the four-man team is “kind of a breaking of the ice. But we don’t know where it’s going.” Connery said he told Van de Velde Thursday of the new development. “He’s concerned about where this is going.” But he said Van de Velde still hopes some authority figure will announce he is no longer a suspect, especially in light of the fact his DNA did not match DNA found under Jovin’s fingernails. © 2007 New Haven Register - a Journal Register Property. All Rights reserved. nhregister.com