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Gaudenzi, Lisa
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Police: 13-year-old murder case cracked in Caroline
Virginia State Police arrested a man this morning in the murder of his wife more than 13 years ago.
Date published: 5/16/2008
BY ELLEN BILTZ
The Virginia State Police arrested a man this morning in the murder of his
wife more than 13 years ago.
Lisa Kathy Gaudenzi, who was 31 when she disappeared, has been on missing
persons lists since January 1995, but no one was ever charged—until today,
when Lawrence Gaudenzi, 44, was arrested for her murder.
No body was ever recovered, but Caroline County Commonwealth’s Attorney
Tony Spencer said he would try the case anyway, something that is extremely
rare in murder cases of missing persons.
According to state police, Spencer recently presented evidence to a special
grand jury, which then returned the indictment for murder.
Spencer, who would not specify yesterday what new evidence had come about to
lead to the charge, said Lawrence Gaudenzi would be held at Pamunkey
Regional Jail under no bond after today’s arrest in Shenandoah County.
Lisa Gaudenzi, who was last seen with Lawrence Gaudenzi Jan. 26, 1995 in
Ruther Glen, was reported missing when she never showed up for scheduled
officer training school with the Army.
Originally, the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office handled the case, but the
state police began investigating in 1997.
Joe Marto, Lisa Gaudenzi's father, said he's overwhelmed at the news.
"It's a great feeling after all this time to know that I'll get a good
night's sleep tonight," he said. "You don't know what a feeling it is."
Marto said he always knew the day would come that Lawrence Gaundenzi would
be arrested, but when he finally got that phone call today, he started
crying tears of happiness.
"I wanted to bring my daughter's body home to New Jersey," he said. "But at
least this is some closure, if not completely."
Online missing person reports state that Lawrence Gaudenzi told police he dropped her off at a Greyhound bus station in Richmond to arrive at Ft. Lee.
It was later determined however, that there was no bus that took that route.
According to online court records, Lawrence Gaudenzi has a long criminal history - in both Virginia and New Jersey - that includes multiple forgeries and perjuries as well as unlawful possession of a firearm.
He will be arraigned on the murder charge in Caroline County Circuit Court next Wednesday, Spencer said.
Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
ebiltz@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Caroline
Date published: 5/16/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Agreed, but don't forget the state highway patrol
(posted by
Getitright
, May 16, 2008 11:07 pm)
The state troopers who made this case are the ones who should get most of the credit. I'm not surprised they had to pick up the investigation from the Caroline County Sheriffs. At least the sheriff they have now used to be a trooper. I'm sure he's doing a professional job. It used to be a lot different in them there parts...
Good work...
(posted by
theREALdeal
, May 16, 2008 3:13 pm)
It's about time Caroline County got a Commonwealth Attorney that is willing to do his job...unlike the old one who just played Let's Make A Deal
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