Grossberg Pleads to Manslaughter by MARK E
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An Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award Winner FRIDAY April 24, 1998 • • Volume 124 THE Number 47 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid ewark, DE Permit o. 26 250 Student Center• University of Delaware • Newark, DE 19716 Sophomore's father murdered; mother missing BY CHARLES DOUGIELLO best fri e nd. sophomore Joe Ibrahim, have run departments across the East Coast about her Cil\ News Editor through many times training for the university's unusual disappearance. The murder of a university student's father track team. Eleven evidence markers were visible on the and the disappearance of his mother earlier this Ibrahim, who has been a close friend of th e property along with what appeared to be week continue to bafne police. who again came Pug li si family for years. said Michael and hi s footprints or tire tracks. Police wou ld not up empty-handed after an extensive search twin sister Melissa are holding up well and comment on what the markers were for or if yesterday of the wooded area near the family's praying for the safe return of their mother. there are witnesses who saw an automobile on Newark home. Debra's co-workers at Delaware Hos pice the lawn. Anthon) "Nino'' Puglisi. father of sophomore became concerned when she failed to pick up Neighbors and friends of the Puglisis said Michael. was found dead Monday o n the floor he r nursing ass ignments at 4 p.m . M onday and Debra and Nino were a wonderful couple and of his Academy Hill home with a single gunshot went to the ho use lO check on her. After getting a re stunned by the murder which has rocked wound to the head. His wife, Debra, has been help from neighbors, they noticed through a Newark. missing since the day of the murder. window the lifeless body of Nino. Chery Hamilton lives in Academy Hill and New Castle County Police said that after 50 Neighbors entered through an open door, but said e veryone in the neighborhood is s hocked interviews and more than 50 hours of evidence did not fi nd any sign of Debra, who was seen in and uneasy. gathering later, they do not have any suspects the backyard 30 minutes earlier. " Our ne ighborhood is not the type of place and have not ruled anyone out while exploring Public Information Offjcer Joseph Lavelle of where things like this happen," she said. a ll possible scenarios. the New Castle County Police said there was no Ibrahim described Nino as a loving husband The wooded area. in the southwest comer of sign of a forced entry and they do not believe and a very dedicated father who could be fo und Newark. has seemingly become a focus for any items are missing from the ho use. at most of hi s son's track meets and practi ces. police who combed the terrain twice in the last Lavelle said family members will be allowed Nino would stand o n the s ide of the track three days with the aid of helicopters and K-9 to return lO the ho use Thursday night or Friday. yelling to M ichael to pick up the pace. Ibrahim THE REVIEW I John Chabalko units. Debra has been li sted missing since Tuesday said. He would attend the meets with a neo n These are the same woods Michael and his and local police h ave notified police The Puglisi's home in the Academy Hills neighborhood off Elkton see MURDER page A4 Road is still surrounded by police tape and evidence markers. Grossberg pleads to manslaughter BY MARK E. JOLLY hairs. the coun of the three facts Grossberg ExecuTive Editor After the hearing. Grossberg and two stipulated with her plea: WILMINGTON Amy S. friends from the university encircled • The child had a separate existence Grossberg's words gradually became each o the r in a and was born alive; more and more punctuated with sniffles massive hug. a ll • Grossberg. th rough her acti ons or and suppressed tears as she pleaded sobbi n g See editorial inactions. caused her son's death; guilty in Superior Court Wednesday to uncontrollably. • By her "chilling indifference." she the charge of manslaughter in the Nov. Such emotiona l page AS allowed her baby to die. 12, 1996, death of her newborn son. displays. coupled "111at is the factual basi for this case President Judge Henry DuPont wi th Tane nbaum and for this plea:· he said. Ridgely asked the former university saying Grossberg "feels the remorse and The prosecution recommended student a series of questions under oath a ttrition of those unintended incarceration for Grossberg but made no to ensure she was pleading of her own consequences,'' led Wallace to remind free will. see PLEA page A5 "Yes, your honor," was Grossberg' s only answer as his questions progressed, her trio of defense lawyers huddled In feeding frenzy, around her as if for protection or support. "Are you in fact g uilty of this charge7 ' Ridgely asked. "Yes, your honor," the 19-year-old media gets its fill repeated, her voice cracking and faltering. BY RYAN CORMIER Hundreds of bystanders gawked at Both Grossberg's emotio nally Mw u1ginJ.: Nt'WS Editor Grossberg from the bus station terminal charged plea and a repeated emphasis WILMINGTON -T he media across the ~t.reet - >o me shaking their from her attorney, Ro bert K. circus was back in town. but thi s time it heads, some cheering. Tanenbaum, that the New Jersey teen wasn·t in front of Thompson Hall as it Meanwhile, an IS-wheeler which ager was taking "full responsibility" for was 17 months ago. was harreling down the street came to a her role in her son's death in a Newark With photographers dangling out of halt as 30 cameramen ran in front of it, motel seemed to signal some expression the second-floor window o f the surrounding Grossberg in hopes of a of remorse from the defendant. Wilmington Public Library across the shot ofhcr puffy, tear-stained face. Many believe such penitence will be street from the courtho use, Amy a key factor in the severity of the Grossberg left what has become her see MEDIA page A5 sentence she wi ll receive from Ridgely ho me away from after a sentencing hearing that begins ho me in tears after July 9. finally admitting Prosecutor Paul R . Wallace, publicly that she however, w as unconvinced of played a role in the REPORTER 1 S Grossberg's remorse. death of her son. '·It is an upsetting circumsLance to be After her sobbing NOTEBOOK in court [to plead guilty]," he said. "Her courtroom appearance, remorse and her contrition are things that she pu she d thro ug h will come out [in the next few months' the ho rde of media pre-sentencing investigation]." while her six-foot-fi ve attorney Raben Grossberg began sobbing almost K. Tanenbaum guarded her. immediately upon entering the During the flurry of acti vity, King courtroom. When another of her Street came to a standstill. attorneys, Jack L. Gruenstein, couldn' t Ali' traffic was blocked by a mob of console her, Grossberg joined her family photographers and people walking the in the audience, clutching a normally calm streets of Wilmington THE REVIEW I John Chabalko disintegrating ti ssue and alternating stopped in their tracks. glaring at the Attorney Robert K. Tanenbaum consoles his sobbing client, Amy Grossberg, and her mother, between staring despondently at the forme r univers ity stude nt who has THE REVIEW I John Chabalko Sonye, as they enter court Wednesday. Grossberg pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of floor and crying to her mother, Sonye, gained international attention for the Attorney Joseph A. Hurley her child, ending a 17 -month legal battle. who brushed aside her daughter's stray death of her newbom baby. pushes past a crowd of press. Godwin solidifies DUSC election unopposed again BY MICHAEL D. BULLARD need to step up and put them to work." students." advisory plan Assistant Emerrainmenl Editor University freshman Jer Medon said he was not Despite the lack of choice, Sauers said this year's Not one candidate in the Delaware Undergraduate aware of the upcoming elections or even what DUSC field of candidates is a strong one consisting of BY JE NIFER L. TOWERS the "Godwin Advisory Council." Student Congress election Monday and Tuesday wi ll is. He said he does not plan to vote. students who have come up through the ranks of Stuff Reporler "The objective of having this face an opponent. "''m too busy voting in my own groups,'' Medon DUSC. Students w ho want to play an counci l is so I can stay we ll This marks the third consecutive time officers said. "I can't see that they' re doing anything for me. I Junior finance major Andrew Wiedel, the current active role in c ity government may informed on all issues and points have run unopposed, said DUSC president Mike haven't had any contact with them and I can' t see DUSC vice president, is mnning for president. He get their c h a n ce thi s fall when of views from people of all walks Sauers. ,...-------, that they're doing me any good." said he has been thinking about running since he Mayor H a rold F. G o dwin will of life," Godwin said. "I don't know why," Sauers said. "It's a problem Sauers said when the student select members for what he calls The council will consist of see D USC page A4 we' ve been trying to fight all year." ~ee editorial body votes it sends a message to s elected students and residents The candidates agreed that the lack of choice in page AS the administration that it is unified from various districts 9f Newark.