UPDATE-AT LAST BUFFALO BIKE PATH RAPIST/KILLER IS ARRESTED - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BuffaloBill · 01-15-2007, 04:01 PM

It took 23 years to get to this point, but authorities have finally captured and arrested the long illusive rapist/killer that has thwarded police for over 2 decades. Early this morning Mon, Jan 15, 2007 Buffalo police along with the FBI arrested 48 year old Altemio Sanchez of Cheektowaga,NY. Sanchez's DNA is a 100% match to the DNA of the previous murders of Yalem, Mazer, and Diver. The authorities zeroed in on Sanchez the last 10 days after numerous tips.DNA was obtained from Sanchez through a drinking glass, Sanchez had used while dining at the Cove Restaurant in Williamsville- not too far from were Diver was murdered in Sept. IRONICALLY the girl who PLAYED LINDA YALEM in the UM piece 13 years ago, was a waitress at that restaurant in which the police got the DNA....HOW FITTING IS THAT. Sanchez had 2 previous arrests in 1991 and 1999. He has been a crane operator for many years, thus he was in the area the whole time.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=44148

crystaldawn · 01-15-2007, 04:23 PM

Thanks, thats good news! Man that guy looks crazy with those bugged out eyes.

You should also post this on the update thread Buffalo Bill.

DarkDante · 01-15-2007, 04:32 PM

All I remember is that the original composite sketch for this case looked like a real pissed off version of Super Mario from the videogames (not the hockey player).

Just a random observation

An 80s Guy · 01-15-2007, 04:52 PM

This is great news!!!

nohwheregirl · 01-15-2007, 08:03 PM

Awesome. Yeah, I'm glad that slimeball looks surprised in his mugshot. He probably thought he was invincible.

BuffaloBill · 01-17-2007, 01:32 AM

Incredibly Sanchez has pled not guilty and hasnt confessed to anything. Kind of find this surprissing cause most serial killers confess right away and start spilling their guts to the crimes when caught.

kadrmas15 · 01-17-2007, 02:55 AM

Did Sanchez get bail set and stuff? I imagine for him it is probably a million dollars or more. However that is not unusual for a person to plead not guilty at an arraignment. It is unusual though for someone to keep all that to themselves and not talk to the cops about it. He must have lawyered up right away and his lawyer I am assuming told him to shut up. If Sanchez insists on taking this to trial it will probably be over a year before it gets there. As we have seen with Phil Spector people can delay trials for years. Spector recently won another appeal, it will be 4 years next month since he was charged and his trial was supposed to start this month but has now been delayed until March but who knows when it will start.

BuffaloBill · 01-17-2007, 03:43 AM

I'm 99.9% sure he did not get bail set. I think the chances of him getting bail, set are about as good as you and me suiting up for the Bills in this upcomming Super Bowl in 3 weeks. Interesting to note his family , wife and 2 kids are standing by him 100%.

Kane · 01-21-2007, 02:25 PM

Check out the New York Times article at the following link. It briefly mentions the fact that UM profiled the case.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/ny...21buffalo.html

Composite Sketch · 01-22-2007, 12:33 PM

This is the best news I've heard in ages. I am so happy that he's finally behind bars.

That mugshot of his is creepy and he looks EXACTLY like that terrifying sketch (except he has less hair now), especially in the eyes!

BuffaloBill · 03-29-2007, 01:43 AM

Perhaps truth indeed is stranger than fiction...Anthony Capozzi age 49 served 22 years in prison for 2 rapes commited in 1984 in Delaware Park in Buffalo. Both the victims positively ID'ed Capozzi as the rapist. Case closed, right ? Well at least till a few weeks ago. Recently Buffalo police decided just to make sure as they looked at old DNA evidence in the case, just to make sure they could put an end any doubt or question that this was their man all along. Now to the DA's credit and other local crime police who were involved in the case they had the GUTS to verify DNA evidence. Amazingly the DNA came back as a match for one Altemio Sanchez---better known as the alledged Bike Path Rapist. Luckily for Capozzi law enforcers and the DA conceeded they had the Wrong person in jail all these years- and will soon be freed and cleared 100% of all wrong doing in this case. It had been long rumored for years that the wrong person may have gone to jail, but there was no proof until old DNA evidence was finally tested. Interestingly enough both men grew up on in the same part of town and may have even gone to the same high school....both men looked strikingly similar in facial appearence in the early 80's. Police now feel that unsolved rape cases going as far back as the early 70's could be linked to Sanchez--totaling about 20 in all. Thirty years of terror could be the total of this maniacs spree. On a personal note, I knew of this possible release of Capozzi a few months back but I didnt want to mention it on this board cause I didnt want to jinx things. My sister and I knew the family very well , growing up in the same neighborhood and belonging to the same church parish. I went to school with his younger brother in grade school and high school, while my sister is a few years younger than Anthony attended grade school with him. Her and her circle friends always thought he was innocent of the crimes. Bottom line both his parents and family are about as respectable and classy as people could be. They fought 22 years for his freedom and they finally got to see their sons freedom a reality. I Give credit to all the authorities involved admitting a mistake was made, and they admitted it, unlike some police municipalities we often see keeping inocent people in jail just not to make themselves look bad. Here's a link to the story -- http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=46641

Awsi Dooger · 03-29-2007, 03:03 AM

Yeah, really charming. They admitted they made a mistake and cost Capozzi his freedom and reputation for 22 years. How many lifetimes does he have, anyway? Just a minor error.

Now those prosecutors should do 22 years. Sorry, but that's the way I see it. And it's a bunch of hogwash they did such a great job of rectifying a mistake. That article says Capozzi's legal team was looking for physical evidence in the EARLY '90s to exonerate him. But it wasn't located until very recently. Another minor error. I'm sure the authorities really tried to help. A metal drawer in the pathology department. Yeah, who could have thought to look there?

Now the media needs to do its job and retreat to that Capozzi trial. Dig up all the transcripts and print the exact comments made by the prosecutors to convict Capozzi, all the emphatic point blank statements of his guilt. The people involved in wrongful convictions should be publicly disgraced.

The Third Man · 03-30-2007, 11:57 AM

Well, this article (http://www.buffalonews.com/101/story/42936.html) has a lot more on the prosecution of the case. Apparently Capozzi "resembled" Sanchez (other than weighing about 70-80 pounds more, and with a facial scar that Sanchez didn't have), was hanging around at least one site of a rape, and--crucially--was being treated for mental health problems at the time. The last one I think did it for him. Cops in the 80's weren't too keen on "crazies."

Yes, heads should roll on this one. Even the cop who was lauded for "catching" him now claims that he wasn't sure all these years. Yeah, right.

LooksLikeCRicci · 03-30-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

Now those prosecutors should do 22 years. Sorry, but that's the way I see it. And it's a bunch of hogwash they did such a great job of rectifying a mistake. That article says Capozzi's legal team was looking for physical evidence in the EARLY '90s to exonerate him. But it wasn't located until very recently. Another minor error. I'm sure the authorities really tried to help. A metal drawer in the pathology department. Yeah, who could have thought to look there?

Now the media needs to do its job and retreat to that Capozzi trial. Dig up all the transcripts and print the exact comments made by the prosecutors to convict Capozzi, all the emphatic point blank statements of his guilt. The people involved in wrongful convictions should be publicly disgraced.

Yowza. Have a heart, Awsi!

In all seriousness, though, I agree with the thoughts that are being expressed on the board. While I don't think the prosecutors should serve time in prison, I do believe that they should be held accountable for sending an innocent man to prison. One of the things that I don't think I'm going to be able to change about the legal system is that when you have a high profile crime, such as the Buffalo Bike Path Rapist, there is an extraordinary amount of pressure put on law enforcement officials to make an arrest. It angers to me no end when an arrest is made based on shoddy evidence simply to appease the public and get someone behind bars.

BuffaloBill · 03-31-2007, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

Well, this article ([url] Cops in the 80's weren't too keen on "crazies."

You hit the nail right on the head. Indeed he was an easy suspect and target with the cops cause they probably felt like ...." we got the sicko lets put him away." Interestingly enough the prosecutor for the case is now a judge. Go figure.......

01-15-2007, 04:01 PM	#1
BuffaloBill Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 07, 2004 Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo),NY Posts: 439	UPDATE-AT LAST BUFFALO BIKE PATH RAPIST/KILLER IS ARRESTED It took 23 years to get to this point, but authorities have finally captured and arrested the long illusive rapist/killer that has thwarded police for over 2 decades. Early this morning Mon, Jan 15, 2007 Buffalo police along with the FBI arrested 48 year old Altemio Sanchez of Cheektowaga,NY. Sanchez's DNA is a 100% match to the DNA of the previous murders of Yalem, Mazer, and Diver. The authorities zeroed in on Sanchez the last 10 days after numerous tips.DNA was obtained from Sanchez through a drinking glass, Sanchez had used while dining at the Cove Restaurant in Williamsville- not too far from were Diver was murdered in Sept. IRONICALLY the girl who PLAYED LINDA YALEM in the UM piece 13 years ago, was a waitress at that restaurant in which the police got the DNA....HOW FITTING IS THAT. Sanchez had 2 previous arrests in 1991 and 1999. He has been a crane operator for many years, thus he was in the area the whole time. http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=44148

01-15-2007, 04:23 PM	#2
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Thanks, thats good news! Man that guy looks crazy with those bugged out eyes. You should also post this on the update thread Buffalo Bill.

01-15-2007, 04:32 PM	#3
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	All I remember is that the original composite sketch for this case looked like a real pissed off version of Super Mario from the videogames (not the hockey player). Just a random observation

01-15-2007, 04:52 PM	#4
An 80s Guy legen-wait for it-dary! Senior Member Join Date: Sep 03, 2005 Location: Austin,Texas Posts: 1,870	This is great news!!!

01-15-2007, 08:03 PM	#5
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	Awesome. Yeah, I'm glad that slimeball looks surprised in his mugshot. He probably thought he was invincible.

01-17-2007, 01:32 AM	#6
BuffaloBill Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 07, 2004 Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo),NY Posts: 439	Incredibly Sanchez has pled not guilty and hasnt confessed to anything. Kind of find this surprissing cause most serial killers confess right away and start spilling their guts to the crimes when caught.

01-17-2007, 02:55 AM	#7
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Did Sanchez get bail set and stuff? I imagine for him it is probably a million dollars or more. However that is not unusual for a person to plead not guilty at an arraignment. It is unusual though for someone to keep all that to themselves and not talk to the cops about it. He must have lawyered up right away and his lawyer I am assuming told him to shut up. If Sanchez insists on taking this to trial it will probably be over a year before it gets there. As we have seen with Phil Spector people can delay trials for years. Spector recently won another appeal, it will be 4 years next month since he was charged and his trial was supposed to start this month but has now been delayed until March but who knows when it will start.

01-17-2007, 03:43 AM	#8
BuffaloBill Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 07, 2004 Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo),NY Posts: 439	I'm 99.9% sure he did not get bail set. I think the chances of him getting bail, set are about as good as you and me suiting up for the Bills in this upcomming Super Bowl in 3 weeks. Interesting to note his family , wife and 2 kids are standing by him 100%.

01-21-2007, 02:25 PM	#9
Kane Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 07, 2001 Location: MA, United States Posts: 3,367	Check out the New York Times article at the following link. It briefly mentions the fact that UM profiled the case. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/ny...21buffalo.html

01-22-2007, 12:33 PM	#10
Composite Sketch Staring at you Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 26, 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 304	This is the best news I've heard in ages. I am so happy that he's finally behind bars. That mugshot of his is creepy and he looks EXACTLY like that terrifying sketch (except he has less hair now), especially in the eyes!

03-29-2007, 01:43 AM	#11
BuffaloBill Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 07, 2004 Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo),NY Posts: 439	Perhaps truth indeed is stranger than fiction...Anthony Capozzi age 49 served 22 years in prison for 2 rapes commited in 1984 in Delaware Park in Buffalo. Both the victims positively ID'ed Capozzi as the rapist. Case closed, right ? Well at least till a few weeks ago. Recently Buffalo police decided just to make sure as they looked at old DNA evidence in the case, just to make sure they could put an end any doubt or question that this was their man all along. Now to the DA's credit and other local crime police who were involved in the case they had the GUTS to verify DNA evidence. Amazingly the DNA came back as a match for one Altemio Sanchez---better known as the alledged Bike Path Rapist. Luckily for Capozzi law enforcers and the DA conceeded they had the Wrong person in jail all these years- and will soon be freed and cleared 100% of all wrong doing in this case. It had been long rumored for years that the wrong person may have gone to jail, but there was no proof until old DNA evidence was finally tested. Interestingly enough both men grew up on in the same part of town and may have even gone to the same high school....both men looked strikingly similar in facial appearence in the early 80's. Police now feel that unsolved rape cases going as far back as the early 70's could be linked to Sanchez--totaling about 20 in all. Thirty years of terror could be the total of this maniacs spree. On a personal note, I knew of this possible release of Capozzi a few months back but I didnt want to mention it on this board cause I didnt want to jinx things. My sister and I knew the family very well , growing up in the same neighborhood and belonging to the same church parish. I went to school with his younger brother in grade school and high school, while my sister is a few years younger than Anthony attended grade school with him. Her and her circle friends always thought he was innocent of the crimes. Bottom line both his parents and family are about as respectable and classy as people could be. They fought 22 years for his freedom and they finally got to see their sons freedom a reality. I Give credit to all the authorities involved admitting a mistake was made, and they admitted it, unlike some police municipalities we often see keeping inocent people in jail just not to make themselves look bad. Here's a link to the story -- http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=46641

03-29-2007, 03:03 AM	#12
Awsi Dooger Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 1,537	Yeah, really charming. They admitted they made a mistake and cost Capozzi his freedom and reputation for 22 years. How many lifetimes does he have, anyway? Just a minor error. Now those prosecutors should do 22 years. Sorry, but that's the way I see it. And it's a bunch of hogwash they did such a great job of rectifying a mistake. That article says Capozzi's legal team was looking for physical evidence in the EARLY '90s to exonerate him. But it wasn't located until very recently. Another minor error. I'm sure the authorities really tried to help. A metal drawer in the pathology department. Yeah, who could have thought to look there? Now the media needs to do its job and retreat to that Capozzi trial. Dig up all the transcripts and print the exact comments made by the prosecutors to convict Capozzi, all the emphatic point blank statements of his guilt. The people involved in wrongful convictions should be publicly disgraced.

03-30-2007, 11:57 AM	#13
The Third Man Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 21, 2007 Posts: 92	Well, this article (http://www.buffalonews.com/101/story/42936.html) has a lot more on the prosecution of the case. Apparently Capozzi "resembled" Sanchez (other than weighing about 70-80 pounds more, and with a facial scar that Sanchez didn't have), was hanging around at least one site of a rape, and--crucially--was being treated for mental health problems at the time. The last one I think did it for him. Cops in the 80's weren't too keen on "crazies." Yes, heads should roll on this one. Even the cop who was lauded for "catching" him now claims that he wasn't sure all these years. Yeah, right.