Angelo Desideri Murder - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Starbright726 · 08-16-2003, 06:13 PM

This segment played Friday (8/15), on a show that was one of the earliest broadcasts. Angelo Desideri (sp) was a quiet, devout Catholic who was close to his parents and owned several stores. He vanished from his Arizona home and his car was found burning later. An update revealed that a man, last name Majors was the prime suspect in his death and was already charged with several other murders (!). Property of Desideri's was found in Majors's locker. A fellow burgular who was a friend of Majors had given police this information and said Major confessed to him he had killed Desideri.

UM never updated the case further. Does anyone know if Majors was charged with Desideri's murder (the body was eventually found). Was Majors ever convicted for the other murders he was accused of committing? This case has always bothered me, maybe someone living in the area remembers the newspapers covering the trials for the other murders. Thanks.

Starbright726 · 08-23-2003, 05:25 PM

Okay, I did a bit of exhaustive research on Google and came up with this. I'm putting up for anyone familiar with the Angelo Desiseri segment on UM.

http://venus.soci.niu.edu/~archives/...ay98/0737.html

***

CALIFORNIA:

In San Francisco, the state Supreme Court upheld the death sentence Monday of an Arizona man who was convicted of a triple murder in a
Sacramento suburb, and was accused by a confessed murderer of killing
7 other people in Arizona.

Rulings were unanimous.

James J. Majors, 50, of Phoenix, was convicted of murdering Jeanine
Copeland, 30; her boyfriend, Thomas Probst, 30, described by prosecution
witnesses as a drug dealer; and Patrick Mugavin, 24. Copeland's
8-year-old son found his mother's body on the floor of their Fair Oaks
home in January 1989. All 3 had been shot and the house had been robbed.

Majors admitted traveling from Phoenix to Sacramento with Robert Reese
of Peoria, Ariz., who had dealings with Probst, but he denied
accompanying Reese to the house or killing anyone. No incriminating
fingerprints were found. A prostitute, testifying for the prosecution,
said Majors had a gun and a pair of gloves when he was with her, and
that he and Reese divided up drugs, money and jewelry.

Reese was found shot to death in the Arizona desert a month after the
murders. A Phoenix restaurant owner, Giuseppe "Joe" Calo, pleaded guilty
in 1992 to the murders of Reese and 6 other people and said in a sworn
declaration that Majors had been the hitman for all 7, at the orders of
local drug dealers. Majors has never been charged with those killings.
Calo was sentenced to life in prison.

Majors' appeal argued that the jurors were exposed to inadmissible
outside information that could have influenced their verdict.

Richard Power, Majors' appellate lawyer, said future challenges to the
death sentence would be based on claims that Majors' trial lawyer,
Michael Brady, was unprepared and incompetent. Power also said Majors
had "a rotten upbringing" and was not connected to the murders by any
physical evidence.

Deputy Attorney General Alan Ashby declined comment.

(source: Associated Press)

***

Thanks, Starbright!

Starbright726 · 09-05-2003, 08:16 PM

More info on our smiling, blond critter? He is on death row (never charged with Desideri's murder), and is seemingly lonely.

California Death Row Prisoner Pen Pal Requests - Page 2
www.ccadp.org/CA2.htm
JIM MAJORS

I turned 51 on January 31st 1999. I have blond hair and blue eyes. I have a good sense of humor and a fair grip on reality. I have been locked up in California for 10 years and have been on death row for 8 of those years. Not one day of the last 10 years has gone by that I didn't hope to be free again. When you are without the money to hire yourself a good Attorney and under sentence of death hope is about all that's left. To occupy my mind I like to read Western, Sci-Fi and Adventure books, Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines and I do Pen & Ink Art work. I'm not into any organized religion but have my own beliefs about higher powers. I really enjoyed fixing up old cars, boating, camping and fishing, when I was a free man. My dream for tomorrow is to find someone who will help me uncover the truth about my conviction and to get back into a court room with that truth to prove the case against me was manufactured. If you would care to contact me my address is:
JIM MAJORS NS-17-N
SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON E-86700
SAN QUENTIN, CA 94974

mjopper · 05-08-2008, 11:11 AM

Hi. I would love to have a conversation with you about the Jim Magors /Joe Calo murders. My uncle was one of the victims. If interested please write me thank you. June

mjopper · 05-08-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbright726

More info on our smiling, blond critter? He is on death row (never charged with Desideri's murder), and is seemingly lonely.

California Death Row Prisoner Pen Pal Requests - Page 2
www.ccadp.org/CA2.htm
JIM MAJORS

I turned 51 on January 31st 1999. I have blond hair and blue eyes. I have a good sense of humor and a fair grip on reality. I have been locked up in California for 10 years and have been on death row for 8 of those years. Not one day of the last 10 years has gone by that I didn't hope to be free again. When you are without the money to hire yourself a good Attorney and under sentence of death hope is about all that's left. To occupy my mind I like to read Western, Sci-Fi and Adventure books, Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines and I do Pen & Ink Art work. I'm not into any organized religion but have my own beliefs about higher powers. I really enjoyed fixing up old cars, boating, camping and fishing, when I was a free man. My dream for tomorrow is to find someone who will help me uncover the truth about my conviction and to get back into a court room with that truth to prove the case against me was manufactured. If you would care to contact me my address is:
JIM MAJORS NS-17-N
SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON E-86700
SAN QUENTIN, CA 94974

kadrmas15 · 05-12-2008, 08:25 AM

Ah, good ol James Majors. I am actually surprised he was never charged in Arizona. It is actually thought that Majors not only was involved in Angelo Desideri's murder but that he was also involved in Jeanne Tovera's murder as well. Majors was from San Diego and knew Hap Tovera. Majors had also been in Jeanne's house before where he worked as a painter.

mphs95 · 05-13-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

Ah, good ol James Majors. I am actually surprised he was never charged in Arizona. It is actually thought that Majors not only was involved in Angelo Desideri's murder but that he was also involved in Jeanne Tovera's murder as well. Majors was from San Diego and knew Hap Tovera. Majors had also been in Jeanne's house before where he worked as a painter.

Wow, that boy Majors really got around, didn't he?

mjopper · 06-17-2008, 10:46 PM

where is Joe Calo.... does anyone know?

kadrmas15 · 06-22-2008, 09:15 AM

Calo is currently serving multiple life sentences in Arizona. Giuseppe "Joe" Calo is now 53 years old. He is currently serving his time at the Lewis State Prison Complex in Buckeye, Arizona. http://test.azcorrections.gov/isearc...ype=SearchInet

This link should produce a photo of what Calo looks like now.

mjopper · 06-30-2008, 09:44 AM

Thank you kadrmas 15

june

tnrtt · 12-10-2008, 09:54 PM

Calo used to be in Florence AZ.

Majors is in San Quentin.

The reason Majors wasn't charged in AZ, is because they had zero evidence. Just what Calo said to get out of facing the needle.

truthseeker · 12-11-2008, 01:28 PM

I would love to talk with you about majors and Calo.....I have a lot of information about them that may help answer some of your questions.
truthseeker

mozartpc27 · 12-14-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbright726

This segment played Friday (8/15), on a show that was one of the earliest broadcasts. Angelo Desideri (sp) was a quiet, devout Catholic who was close to his parents and owned several stores. He vanished from his Arizona home and his car was found burning later. An update revealed that a man, last name Majors was the prime suspect in his death and was already charged with several other murders (!). Property of Desideri's was found in Majors's locker. A fellow burgular who was a friend of Majors had given police this information and said Major confessed to him he had killed Desideri.

UM never updated the case further. Does anyone know if Majors was charged with Desideri's murder (the body was eventually found). Was Majors ever convicted for the other murders he was accused of committing? This case has always bothered me, maybe someone living in the area remembers the newspapers covering the trials for the other murders. Thanks.

It was? I never heard that.

phillipscurve · 12-15-2008, 12:14 AM

I have just recently watched this case, and the Update mentions that Angelo Desideri's body was eventually found on April 29th 1989 by 2 campers, buried beneath a tree in Kitchen Creek, California, 45 miles east of San Diego.

davmaj2 · 09-03-2009, 02:32 PM

Would love to talk to you about this case.
I have alot of information also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by truthseeker

I would love to talk with you about majors and Calo.....I have a lot of information about them that may help answer some of your questions.
truthseeker

08-16-2003, 06:13 PM	#1
Starbright726 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 30, 2003 Posts: 50	Angelo Desideri Murder This segment played Friday (8/15), on a show that was one of the earliest broadcasts. Angelo Desideri (sp) was a quiet, devout Catholic who was close to his parents and owned several stores. He vanished from his Arizona home and his car was found burning later. An update revealed that a man, last name Majors was the prime suspect in his death and was already charged with several other murders (!). Property of Desideri's was found in Majors's locker. A fellow burgular who was a friend of Majors had given police this information and said Major confessed to him he had killed Desideri. UM never updated the case further. Does anyone know if Majors was charged with Desideri's murder (the body was eventually found). Was Majors ever convicted for the other murders he was accused of committing? This case has always bothered me, maybe someone living in the area remembers the newspapers covering the trials for the other murders. Thanks.

06-17-2008, 10:46 PM	#8
mjopper Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 08, 2008 Location: MA Posts: 5	jim majors where is Joe Calo.... does anyone know?
	Last edited by mjopper; 06-17-2008 at 11:03 PM.

12-10-2008, 09:54 PM	#11
tnrtt Member First Time Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2008 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 1	I know Majors and Calo Calo used to be in Florence AZ. Majors is in San Quentin. The reason Majors wasn't charged in AZ, is because they had zero evidence. Just what Calo said to get out of facing the needle.

12-15-2008, 12:14 AM	#14
phillipscurve Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 18, 2007 Location: planet earth Posts: 71	I have just recently watched this case, and the Update mentions that Angelo Desideri's body was eventually found on April 29th 1989 by 2 campers, buried beneath a tree in Kitchen Creek, California, 45 miles east of San Diego.
	__________________ Rational Expectations

08-23-2003, 05:25 PM	#2
Starbright726 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 30, 2003 Posts: 50	Okay, I did a bit of exhaustive research on Google and came up with this. I'm putting up for anyone familiar with the Angelo Desiseri segment on UM. http://venus.soci.niu.edu/~archives/...ay98/0737.html * CALIFORNIA: In San Francisco, the state Supreme Court upheld the death sentence Monday of an Arizona man who was convicted of a triple murder in a Sacramento suburb, and was accused by a confessed murderer of killing 7 other people in Arizona. Rulings were unanimous. James J. Majors, 50, of Phoenix, was convicted of murdering Jeanine Copeland, 30; her boyfriend, Thomas Probst, 30, described by prosecution witnesses as a drug dealer; and Patrick Mugavin, 24. Copeland's 8-year-old son found his mother's body on the floor of their Fair Oaks home in January 1989. All 3 had been shot and the house had been robbed. Majors admitted traveling from Phoenix to Sacramento with Robert Reese of Peoria, Ariz., who had dealings with Probst, but he denied accompanying Reese to the house or killing anyone. No incriminating fingerprints were found. A prostitute, testifying for the prosecution, said Majors had a gun and a pair of gloves when he was with her, and that he and Reese divided up drugs, money and jewelry. Reese was found shot to death in the Arizona desert a month after the murders. A Phoenix restaurant owner, Giuseppe "Joe" Calo, pleaded guilty in 1992 to the murders of Reese and 6 other people and said in a sworn declaration that Majors had been the hitman for all 7, at the orders of local drug dealers. Majors has never been charged with those killings. Calo was sentenced to life in prison. Majors' appeal argued that the jurors were exposed to inadmissible outside information that could have influenced their verdict. Richard Power, Majors' appellate lawyer, said future challenges to the death sentence would be based on claims that Majors' trial lawyer, Michael Brady, was unprepared and incompetent. Power also said Majors had "a rotten upbringing" and was not connected to the murders by any physical evidence. Deputy Attorney General Alan Ashby declined comment. (source: Associated Press) * Thanks, Starbright!

09-05-2003, 08:16 PM	#3
Starbright726 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 30, 2003 Posts: 50	More info on our smiling, blond critter? He is on death row (never charged with Desideri's murder), and is seemingly lonely. California Death Row Prisoner Pen Pal Requests - Page 2 www.ccadp.org/CA2.htm JIM MAJORS I turned 51 on January 31st 1999. I have blond hair and blue eyes. I have a good sense of humor and a fair grip on reality. I have been locked up in California for 10 years and have been on death row for 8 of those years. Not one day of the last 10 years has gone by that I didn't hope to be free again. When you are without the money to hire yourself a good Attorney and under sentence of death hope is about all that's left. To occupy my mind I like to read Western, Sci-Fi and Adventure books, Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines and I do Pen & Ink Art work. I'm not into any organized religion but have my own beliefs about higher powers. I really enjoyed fixing up old cars, boating, camping and fishing, when I was a free man. My dream for tomorrow is to find someone who will help me uncover the truth about my conviction and to get back into a court room with that truth to prove the case against me was manufactured. If you would care to contact me my address is: JIM MAJORS NS-17-N SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON E-86700 SAN QUENTIN, CA 94974

05-08-2008, 11:11 AM	#4
mjopper Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 08, 2008 Location: MA Posts: 5	Hi. I would love to have a conversation with you about the Jim Magors /Joe Calo murders. My uncle was one of the victims. If interested please write me thank you. June

05-12-2008, 08:25 AM	#6
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Ah, good ol James Majors. I am actually surprised he was never charged in Arizona. It is actually thought that Majors not only was involved in Angelo Desideri's murder but that he was also involved in Jeanne Tovera's murder as well. Majors was from San Diego and knew Hap Tovera. Majors had also been in Jeanne's house before where he worked as a painter.

06-22-2008, 09:15 AM	#9
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Calo is currently serving multiple life sentences in Arizona. Giuseppe "Joe" Calo is now 53 years old. He is currently serving his time at the Lewis State Prison Complex in Buckeye, Arizona. http://test.azcorrections.gov/isearc...ype=SearchInet This link should produce a photo of what Calo looks like now.

06-30-2008, 09:44 AM	#10
mjopper Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 08, 2008 Location: MA Posts: 5	Thank you kadrmas 15 june

12-11-2008, 01:28 PM	#12
truthseeker Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 28, 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 29	I would love to talk with you about majors and Calo.....I have a lot of information about them that may help answer some of your questions. truthseeker