PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Edward James Graziano, father of the man injured in the Nick Bollea automobile crash, has been arrested and accused of plotting to kill his estranged wife Debra.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the arrest came as a result of a two-and-a-half month investigation in which Graziano is alleged to have held multiple meetings and negotiations with a tipster and an undercover detective posing as go-between to a hit man in order to solicit the murder of his wife.
Authorities said he later paid to have the crime committed.
According to detectives Graziano, 53, paid $1,100 in cash, another $1,000 in a personal check and a $13 gift card to Westshore Pizza to have his estranged wife murdered.
The Criminal Investigative Division began its investigation in mid-December.
Detectives believe the motive was divorce/financial related. They also say Graziano wanted Debra killed in an automobile accident.
Bay News 9 is told Debra and her lawyer were informed of the investigation in December.
Graziano was arrested at his home in Palm Harbor Thursday morning.
The Graziano's son John was severely injured in August of 2007 while riding in Nick Bollea's Toyota in Clearwater. The crash resulted in Bollea pleading no contest on reckless driving charges and being sentenced to eight months in the Pinellas County jail.
The Graziano family later filed a lawsuit against the Bollea family.
In the midst of the proceedings surrounding that lawsuit, Debra and Edward wound up in court to dispute the care and guardianship of their son.
Courtesy of BayNews9
No comments:
Post a Comment