For Immediate Release May 29, 2001 GAY & LESBIAN ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT ANNOUNCES ARREST OF POSSIBLE SERIAL KILLER IN DISMEMBERMENT MURDERS
New York - Today the NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP), announced that an interstate task force comprised of investigators from Rockland County, NY, Ocean County, NJ, and the New Jersey State Police had made an arrest in the murders of two gay men in the early 1990's. At the time of the murders, the community was shocked when missing persons' investigations became murder investigations as parts of the victims' dismembered bodies were found in Rockland County, NY and areas of Southern NJ. Richard W. Rogers, 50, of Staten Island is being charged with the murders of Thomas Mulcahy and Anthony Marrero. On July 10, 1992, portions of the dismembered body of Mulcahy were recovered in Woodland Township, NJ, and on the Garden State Parkway, in Ocean County, NJ. On May 10, 1993, portions of Anthony Marrero's body were recovered also in Ocean County, NJ. "There can be no doubt that these murders were some of the most chilling that the New York community has experienced in recent history and AVP worked with investigators from the task force since the murders occurred and we are grateful that there has finally been some resolution in these cases," said Carl Locke, AVP's Director of Client Services. "We think that the work of the task force has been exceptional and should serve as a model for future police investigative work in similar cases," continued Locke.
"We are also grateful for the community response to AVP entreaties for information over the years in these cases," said Clarence Patton, AVP's Director of Community Organizing & Public Advocacy. "All of the bars known to be frequented by the victims were more than cooperative in providing information and posting appeals from AVP and the police during this investigation," continued Patton. "We also had a tremendous response from individuals in the community who felt that they might have something to offer the investigation, in fact, these cases marked the impetus for the creation of our own Safe Bar program" concluded Patton.
The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is the nation's largest service agency for victims of bias crimes against the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected communities. For over twenty years, AVP has provided counseling and advocacy for thousands of victims of bias-motivated violence as well as for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, HIV-related violence, and police misconduct. AVP documents incidents of bias-motivated violence, educates the public about violence against or within our communities, and works to reform public policies impacting all lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected people. |
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