Like Joseph Guarascio, Gaetano Foti, Karlene Kovacs, Joseph Graydon and others before them, two new witnesses have come forward to state that Joey "Guns" Creedon admitted his involvement in the Tankleff murders to them. The two new witnesses say they took their information to the Suffolk County District Attorney last August, two months before oral arguments in the Appellate Division, Second Department. They said Assistant DA Leonard Lato and investigator Walter Warkenthien interviewed them, took no notes, defended Creedon, made jokes, then left, and that was the last they heard from them.
Neither the Tankleff defense nor the judges were informed of the new witnesses prior to the oral arguments on October 4th. The witnesses recently contacted Tankleff’s investigator, Jay Salpeter, because the DA never got back to them, they said.
Tina Molloy, who had dated Joey “Guns” Creedon and said Creedon had involved her in several robberies, said Creedon showed her his son’s photo on a website, saying he couldn't believe his son had told people what he had told his son. Later, she says, Creedon “brought up an idea he had to write a book or make a movie about the Tankleff case. He said he was going to play himself in the movie. I then said ‘but did you actually kill those people [meaning the Tankleffs]?’ He said ‘Yeah, I did but they can’t prove it. They have no proof. I am untouchable.’”
Molloy told her current boyfriend, Dennis Piecente, what Creedon had told her. Piecente, who has known Creedon since their Selden Junior High School days, said
that Creedon moved into his house last July, and the two went to Creedon’s mother’s place to move his belongings. In the garage, Piecente said, Creedon opened a safe and “took out a black bag which contained ‘work items.’ He showed me his work items, 22 cal automatic, leg irons, hand cuffs, security guard badge on a neck chain and a black pull over stocking hat.”
Piecente said he called the Suffolk County Police in early August and spoke to Detective Bob Doyle. About two weeks later, said Piecente, he and Molloy were visited by ADA Lato, Warkenthien and “another tall skinny detective.” Piecente said, “Tina told Lato who asked the questions about Joe Creedon admitting to the Tankleff murders. Lato sat in my house defending Creedon and making jokes. Lato took no notes and I observed no writing materials from any of the three. I asked them when they were leaving, where does this information go from here. Warkenthien said 'I report directly to [District Attorney Thomas] Spota, and I will get back to you if we need to.'”
Molloy said, "Mr. Lato made jokes. He seemed not to care at all. Lato said, 'We already have one guy in jail, why would you want to put another one in there.' Mr. Lato also made fun of me by saying things like "who is to say anyone is going to believe you.'"
In a new 440 Motion
filed in Suffolk County Court today, Tankleff’’s attorneys write:
“The information that this new witness, and her boyfriend, reported to Mr. Salpeter corroborates other evidence implicating Joseph Creedon in the Tankleff murders. But that is not all it does. The new information also disturbingly reveals that the Suffolk DA knew all about these new witnesses and their confirmation of the allegations against Creedon approximately two months before the Second Department heard oral argument on Mr. Tankleff’s appeal. Unfortunately, the DA never informed the Second Department, this Court or Mr. Tankleff’s counsel that two new witnesses had come forward with yet more evidence implicating Creedon in the murder of Arlene and Seymour Tankleff.”
Marty’s lawyers sent a letter summarizing the motion to the appellate court now preparing to issue a ruling in Marty’s case.
Marty’s motion points out a number of instances in which key testimony in the case has been corroborated by the new evidence:
“In his testimony, Joseph Jr. stated that his father showed him “a safe . . . about three or four feet tall” at his house, and that his father also showed him “a black bag with a gun and ankle shackles and handcuffs.”
Piacente says at the house, Creedon showed him a safe and a black bag which contained ‘work items,’ including leg irons and hand cuffs.
Marty’s motion asks:
“Why would ADA Lato “ma[k]e jokes” during an interview about Creedon’s potential participation in a brutal double murder? Why would ADA Lato “laugh” when handed a bullet from an unlawful firearm possessed by Creedon? Why would ADA Lato “ma[k]e fun of” citizens who were coming forward voluntarily to inform the authorities about serious crimes? Why would ADA Lato “defend” Creedon against the accusations of these complaining witnesses? And why would the DA’s representatives, including ADA Lato, “t[ake] no notes” whatsoever during these interviews? None of these questions can be answered in any manner that is consistent with the fair and impartial administration of justice. It is time for this Court to intervene. Until then, admitted murderer Joe Creedon is walking the streets of Suffolk County spreading the word that he is “untouchable” by Suffolk authorities. And amazingly, the Suffolk DA is actually reinforcing the accuracy of that statement by refusing to investigate Creedon for “3 robberies/attempted robberies” of which Ms. Molloy has first-hand knowledge, for his unlawful possession of a firearm of which Mr. Piacente has first-hand knowledge and not for the cold blooded murder of Arlene and Seymour Tankleff for which over a dozen witnesses have provided evidence.”
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440 Motion
Molloy Affidavit
Piecente Affidavit
New York Times article
