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'95 casegoing to trial Tuesday

Trial set to start this week in 14-year-old disappearance of Caroline woman


Date published: 5/3/2009

BY ELLEN BILTZ

A Caroline County jury is expected to hear four days of testimony this week in the murder trial of Lawrence Gaudenzi, charged with killing his wife, who has been missing for 14 years.

One thing the jury won't hear, though, is the whereabouts of Lisa Gaudenzi's body.

Caroline Com-monwealth's Attorney Tony Spencer has said that the case will be a tough one to prove, because in the 14 years since her mysterious disappearance the victim's body has not been found.

Gaudenzi, 45, was charged a year ago with killing his then-31-year-old wife.

According to authorities, Lisa Gaudenzi was in the Army and scheduled to report to Fort Lee in January of 1995.

But she was reported missing when she didn't show up for officer training.

Lawrence Gaudenzi was the last person to have seen his wife, authorities said, and he has claimed that he dropped her off at the Richmond Greyhound bus station for her trip to the Army post Jan. 26, 1995.

Gaudenzi is being represented by attorneys Kathy Hancock and Russell Booker in the trial that begins Tuesday.

Lisa Gaudenzi's father, Joe Marto and stepmother, Nancy Marto, have been very active over the past decade in spreading the word of her disappearance.

Both are expected to be in attendance this week.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Joe Marto said last year about the pending trial.

Gaudenzi was arrested last May and charged with murder by the Virginia State Police, but the Caroline County Sheriff's Office has also been involved in the investigation.

Lawrence and his wife used to live in Ruther Glen, but he has moved to Shenandoah County since her disappearance, Spencer said.

According to online court records, Gaudenzi has a criminal history in both Virginia and New Jersey. His convictions include counts of forgery, perjury and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com


The Free Lance-Star will be providing regular online reports from the Caroline County Circuit Court during the jury trial. Check freder icksburg.com during the trial for constant updates on the Gaudenzi murder case.


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Date published: 5/3/2009


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Guilty... (posted by BLK , May 6, 2009 5:13 pm)   
That didn't Take Long....,I think He knew he was going to be found guilty,so he copped a plea, Knowing the the Jury would have given Him Much More time Behind Bars than the 25 years his lawyer got him ...

Zorro (posted by 2centsworth , May 5, 2009 11:03 am)   
What circumstantial evidence? What kind of evidence were you able to gather from the 200 or so words in this story? Good thing for this woman's family that the defendants fate is not decided by folks like you, but instead in a court of law.

Considerable doubt, no body (posted by MrZorro , May 3, 2009 9:12 am)   
Couldn't she have just left her spouse for another, and assumed a new identity for personal reasons? The circumstantial evidence sounds doubtful.

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