Letter to the editor
I was charged with the murder of Angel Padilla, AKA Big Cheese and attempted murder of Robert Mokeshefsky, AKA Bob. Two of my friends. I heard the detectives handling this case wanted to talk to me back on February 14, 2009. Therefore, I went to 8th and Race with my mother and sister to inquire why they needed to speak with me.
Upon entering the Police Headquarters, an officer asked me “Can I Help You”? I responded, “I heard word on the street is they were looking for me to question me about this murder”. The officer suggested I contact the Homicide Detective in charge of the case. He mentioned the detective’s name is Kenneth Rottisieri. They provided me with his contact information. I used the phone on the wall at Police Headquarters to contact the detective. There was no response when I called. Therefore, I left many messages which included my name and phone number. I did not receive a call back that night. I continued to try to make contact, but received no response for all my attempts.
At the end of February 2009 I was walking down Ella Street, an officer by the name William Hunter approached me and told me “We’ve been looking for you with pictures and you haven’t turned yourself in”. For the record, I live only two blocks from the murder scene and not once did I receive a visit from a police officer, detective or other law enforcement. I replied, “Yes, I did”. I went to Police Headquarters with my mother and sister. My mother and I left several messages for Detective Rottisieri and never received a response. The officer said “stay in the car and let me call Homicide”. While I sat in the car the officer was on a speaker call, I heard the officer tell the detective “I have Joseph Viruet, AKA Joey in custody. What do you want me to do with him”? The detective responds “tell Joey we are really sorry we haven’t gotten back to him, but let him go.
We have the guy who did it in custody”. They let me go and I never heard anything else about this case until I was picked up again by the same officer on August 25, 2009. I asked “Why am I being taken into custody”? The officer replied “I don’t know, Homicide wants to talk to you”. As they were taking me into the building, they put me in a room and told me “You are already here, just say you did it”. I responded “you got the wrong MF here. It wasn’t me”. They left the room and returned 13 hours later. I told them “if you believe I did it, give me a polygraph test and you will see I will pass it”. The detective responded “we can’t use that in court because it will not be admissible”. I believed a polygraph test would have been good evidence. Polygraph tests do not lie and I could have proven my innocence had they allowed for this test to be done back then. They never interrogated me and an official interrogation of me doesn’t exist. I was never asked “Where I was the night of the murder”? My rights were never read to me. After 13 hours of being in custody, I was booked and charged with murder and attempted murder. No weapon was ever found to link to the murder. They found 5 casings at the murder scene at trila they asked Forensic if DNA was done to those casings they responded we didn’t find it necessary, i believe if they wouldv’e done DNA on those casings they wouldv’e known who put those bullets in that gun.
In December 2010, a judge heard my case and the case was thrown out. The judge found I had nothing to do with this murder and attempted murder, there was no evidence found against me. The DA immediately re-opened the case 24 hours later, I went back to trial. The first trial was a hung-jury where several witnesses stated under oath “they were being threatened by the DA Mr. Carlos Vegas to say I did the murder, they would face consequences on their pending cases. One of the witnesses who did not follow the DAs order Mr. Carlos Vegas to say “I did it” one of them were locked up on the spot”. On the second trial, witnesses were noted to have a different demeanor with simply providing yes/no responses when asked questions (where on the first trial they were not fully intimidated by the DA Mr. Carlos Vegas.
As of now i’ve been incarcerated for 12 years, I am locked up doing life in prison as charged for something I have nothing to do with. I’ve been found guilty and I AM INNOCENT, doing life without parole FOR A MURDER I DID NOT COMMIT. I repeat, I live two blocks from the crime scene AND NOT ONCE DID I GET A VISIT BY A POLICE OFFICER, DETECTIVE OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I SHARE MY STORY TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF THE DYSFUNCTION IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. INJUSTICES DO EXIST. MY FAMILY AND I PRAY FOR JUSTICE AND ARE AWAITING A MIRACLE. WE BELIEVE GOD WILL SEND HELP OUR WAY. We need a lawyer that will take my case and be the voice I need to prove my innocence.
Murder happened January 17th 2009. I got incarcerated on August 25th 2009
till now still here :(.
“I Can DO All things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me”. ~ Phil 4:13…
“The Truth Will Set You Free”. ~ John 8:32.
