Stafford murder charges advance
Murder charge sent to grand jury
Date published: 10/24/2009
BY KEITH EPPS
Michael E. Null Sr. told police that he never noticed the smell of decaying flesh near his bedroom.
He also was not aware of the blood on the floor or the shotgun pellets in his walls, according to testimony yesterday in Stafford General District Court.
Null, 64, a former Prince William County police officer, is accused of killing his landlord, 73-year-old John Paul Rosso Jr.
Judge Sarah Deneke sent a first-degree murder charge to a Stafford grand jury following a preliminary hearing yesterday.
According to the evidence, Null rented the bottom portion of Rosso's home at 683 Holly Corner Road in the Hartwood area.
He had lived in the home off and on for about a decade.
Rosso's body was found in a closet covered with items on Aug. 3. Rosso, who was shot twice in the throat, hadn't been heard from since July 28.
Anthony Rosso, the victim's son, said his father was fine when he talked to him July 28. Rosso said he talked to his father almost every day.
After he was unable to reach his dad over the next several days, Rosso, who lives in the Washington area, asked his mother to go check on him.
The mother, one of the deceased Rosso's ex-wives, did not find Rosso Aug. 3 but told her son the home was unusually messy.
Anthony Rosso said he then left work and came to Stafford. He found numerous items out of place in his father's living area, but saw no signs of his father.
He said an apparently intoxicated Null told him he hadn't seen his father for a couple of days and didn't know where he was.
Anthony Rosso said he knew of no bad blood between his father and Null and thought they were friends.
Police were called and found the body in Null's living area. In Null's vehicle they found a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition and jeans with blood on them, Detective Rich Leonard said.
He also had prescription bottles belonging to the victim in his pockets and other property of Rosso's among his belongings.
Leonard, who used to work with Null on the Prince William force, said the smell was so strong it was not believable that Null would not have noticed it.
Detective Chris Cameron interviewed Null for three hours that day before arresting him.
Null did not admit to shooting Rosso, but made other statements that Cameron felt were suspicious.
Cameron said that when he mistakenly told Null that Rosso had been shot and had his throat cut, Null quickly blurted out, "his throat was not cut."
Cameron said Null was also unable to satisfactorily explain why he was hiding ammunition when police arrived, or how he got the scratches that were on his body at the time.
Prosecutors Amy Casey and Ed Lustig put on four witnesses yesterday. They said the motive for the slaying is unclear.
Defense attorney Alexander Raymond is representing Null, who is being held without bond.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404 Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Stafford
Date published: 10/24/2009
Most recent reader comments:
is a former Prince William detective and is quite excellent at his job. Stafford County is lucky to have him as a member of the Sheriff's Department. He is definitely not a "lamer".
its also safe to say that
(posted by
easyrider
, Oct. 24, 2009 5:08 pm)  
Mr. Null has no sense of smell.
I wonder if thats the same officer Leonard
(posted by
Jaes
, Oct. 24, 2009 7:51 am)  
who was a school cop... what a lamer.
I suppose it's safe to say
(posted by
lickasense
, Oct. 24, 2009 6:52 am)  
Michael E Null Sr. won't be honored, at the next PWC Police Ball.
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