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[disnut8]

I don't usually post here but this one hits close to my heart.

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Police haul off trash bin in missing student case
Search for 2nd student believed to be unrelated


Thursday, March 30, 2006

Staff and wire reports


EWING -- The search for a missing college student from Mantua moved into its fifth day today with officials carting off a large trash bin from behind a dorm at The College of New Jersey.

Earlier in the day, cadaver-sniffing dogs were used to search dormitories, including the one where John Fiocco Jr. lived, said state police Sgt. Stephen Jones, who added that authorities planned to search other locations on the campus of about 7,000 students near Trenton.

Meanwhile, a second College of New Jersey student has been reported missing, but authorities believe her disappearance is unrelated to Fiocco's disappearance.

In an internal e-mail to students at the college, the university's president said that a female commuter student from Manalapan was last seen at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The mother of the 20-year-old sophomore told police that her daughter had "separate stresses" and that a roommate believed she was on her way to south Florida.

The news of the second missing student added to students' nervousness oncampus, several said today.

Students said they were afraid to go outside, were going to bed early and taking the unusual step of locking their dorm room doors.

"I haven't told my parents yet" about Fiocco's disappearance, said Amanda Adams, a student from Flemington.

When asked about the Manalapan student, Adams said, "I feel like my parents would pull me out if they knew a girl was missing."

Fiocco, 19, a 2005 Clearview Regional High School graduate, was last seen at 3 a.m. Saturday in his dormitory, said Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr.

Friends said the freshman had been at an off-campus party and appeared to have been drunk but otherwise seemed fine. His roommate reported him missing about 36 hours later, a college spokesman said.

On Wednesday, authorities removed students from Fiocco's dormitory for a three-hour sweep of the 10-story, 400-unit building, state police said. All the residents were being interviewed, officials said.

"One of the major things was to be absolutely, positively sure we scoured that entire building," state police Capt. Al Della Fave said.

About 3 p.m. today, one of the large metal trash bins from behind the dorm was taken away, though police officials had no comment on its removal.

Bocchini said his office executed several search warrants Tuesday and Wednesday, concentrating on Fiocco's dorm. The prosecutor said the investigation was being treated as a missing person's case.

But by Wednesday, the state police's Major Crimes Unit, which handles kidnappings and homicides, was involved in the investigation.

The anxiety on campus prompted school President R. Barbara Gitenstein to send an e-mail to students Wednesday, cautioning them not to jump to conclusions.

"There is a great deal we do not yet know, and making reckless assumptions will only exacerbate the stress, sadness, and fear that have gripped our campus," Gitenstein said.

At Clearview, Fiocco was a standout scholar-athlete, officials said. Fiocco, who has two siblings at the high school, graduated 11th in a class of 303.

He was a member of the school's varsity track and field team, both winter and spring, for all four years, and served as team captain in his senior year.

Fiocco is studying art at The College of New Jersey, formerly known as Trenton State College.

State police Maj. James Fallon said authorities have communicated with Fiocco's family, and that he has no history of running away or avoiding friends or relatives. The family did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

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It's since been detemined that the boy's bood was in the dumpster.  The police theory is that the student was killed in the dorm and then his body sent down the garbage shoot into the dumpster where it was retrieved and taken somewhere else.

How do I know this?  A very good friend of mine has a son who lives in that dorm.  One floor door.  Everyone knew the kid, everyone liked him.  He was considered a "party guy" but that doesn't mean his life should end like this.  Rudy is still at the school and doesn't consider himself "at risk".  He says it's a shock to everyone.  He gets the dean's frequent emails.  My friend is going a little nuts about the whole thing, of course.  She's a mom.

This sounds like a stupid random act of violence.  I guess our mailbox getting whacked just isn't that important anymore.

[Vengeance]

Wow! I'll bet she's terrified. Tell her that I'm thinking of her.

[Vengeance]

EWING, New Jersey (AP) -- Authorities planned Saturday to search two Pennsylvania landfills for a missing college student after his blood was found in and around a trash bin outside his dormitory.

John Fiocco, 19, was last seen early March 25 at his dormitory at The College of New Jersey after attending an off-campus party. Friends told police the art major from Mantua Township appeared to be drunk but otherwise fine. His roommate reported him missing about 36 hours later.
Authorities said they were investigating whether Fiocco had gone down a dorm trash chute and into the bin. They would not say whether they thought he had been forced down the chute, or whether they believed he was still alive.

The trash from the dorm is compacted, then taken to the two landfills in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Investigators used a cadaver dog Friday to search around the campus' two lakes, state police said.
Meanwhile, the college circulated an e-mail to students notifying them that a $2,000 reward was being offered for information regarding the disappearance.

"Just keep praying," Fiocco's father, John Fiocco Sr., said Thursday night. He acknowledged the family's crisis might have a tragic end but said people "should forgive anybody who was involved."
Through a family spokeswoman, Fiocco's parents declined to comment Friday.
Authorities this week conducted a sweep of Fiocco's 10-story, 400-unit dormitory at the college of about 7,000 students near Trenton. All the residents were being interviewed, officials said.

"This is a horrific event whatever the outcome because what the students are going through is something that none of us would want to go through at any point in their lives," said school President R. Barbara Gitenstein.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[disnut8]

Adrienne emailed me and she's still very upset as she should be.  The students are being asked not to talk to the media and I think that's very wise.  But that doesn't stop the press from being there.  Rudy (her son) said it's like being on parade every day.  Adrienne wanted Rudy home this weekend but his life continues.  He's part of a school production (he's thinking of a theatre major) and has to do lights and sound for a dress rehearsal.  And this weekend, of all weekends, is the open house for incoming freshmen.  What a welcome to the College of New Jersey.

Adrienne said the local news station is broadcasting live shots from the landfills on their website.  Showing the bulldozers going through trying to find the body.  I find that intrusive, to be polite.  The poor family of this student have absolutely no rights at all.  They won't be able to find out any information in private.  It's all being played out live.  It's just wrong.

We are hoping it turns out to be another runaway bride or something.  But no one is very hopeful.  I have to give the college very high praise for the way they are handling things.  The students there are fine - it's the parents at home who are freaking out.