Police thought the murders were a Mafia hit
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Michael Zmedi Jr. and Chester Roberts were found murdered at Allstate Concrete Pumping on March 13, 2006.
- ❖Mike Jr. was shot twice (face and chest), Chester once (back), both with a 16-gauge shotgun.
- ❖The crime scene showed no signs of forced entry or struggle, suggesting the killer was known or snuck up on victims.
- ❖Surveillance footage showed a green pickup truck arriving at 7:44 AM and leaving at 7:50 AM, between Mike Jr.'s arrival and Mike Sr.'s discovery.
- ❖Mike Jr.'s wife, Michelle, initially withheld information about her affair with neighbor Shawn Fitzpatrick.
- ❖Shawn Fitzpatrick initially denied the affair and had an alibi that placed him 100 miles away, but this was later amended.
- ❖A ransom-style note, 'Close business now or more family will die,' was sent to the Zmedi family, intended to implicate the mob.
- ❖DNA from the envelope of the ransom note matched Shawn Fitzpatrick, proving his involvement.
- ❖Shawn stole a green pickup truck from a neighbor to commit the murders and return, creating a false alibi.
- ❖Shawn Fitzpatrick received two consecutive life sentences for the murders.
Insights
1Initial Mafia Theory and Red Herring
Investigators initially considered the murders a mafia hit due to the victims' Italian-American background and their concrete company's involvement in Boston's 'Big Dig' project, which was known for corruption. The crime scene's 'cleanliness' and execution-style killings also fit this profile. This theory was reinforced by a ransom-style note sent to the Zmedi family.
The Zmedis' involvement in the 'Big Dig' project, the execution-style murders, and the 'ransom note' demanding the business close. The note was later discovered to be a deliberate misdirection by the killer.
2Discovery of the Love Triangle
Michelle Zmedi, Mike Jr.'s wife, eventually confessed to an affair with their lake house neighbor, Shawn Fitzpatrick. This revelation immediately shifted the focus of the investigation, providing a strong motive for both Michelle and Shawn.
Michelle Zmedi's call to police and subsequent interview where she admitted to the affair with Shawn Fitzpatrick and that Mike Jr. knew about it.
3Shawn Fitzpatrick's False Alibi and Its Collapse
Shawn Fitzpatrick initially denied the affair and presented an alibi, claiming a neighbor saw him at his Freedom, New Hampshire home at 9:00 AM, making it impossible for him to have committed the murders in Wakefield (a two-hour drive away) by 7:50 AM. However, this neighbor later amended her statement, stating she saw Shawn later in the day, creating a window of opportunity for him to have committed the crime.
Shawn's initial alibi confirmed by a neighbor, and the subsequent amendment by the same neighbor, which created enough time for Shawn to travel, commit the murders, and return.
4Forensic Evidence from the Ransom Note
A ransom-style note, made from newspaper clippings, was sent to the Zmedi family, instructing them to 'Close business now or more family will die.' This note, initially seen as supporting the mafia theory, became a crucial piece of evidence when DNA found on the envelope flap matched Shawn Fitzpatrick, exposing his attempt to mislead the investigation.
The receipt of the ransom note by Pat Zmedi, the discovery of DNA and a palm print on the note by the crime lab, and the subsequent match of the DNA to Shawn Fitzpatrick.
Lessons
- Maintain skepticism regarding initial alibis, especially if they rely on single witness accounts, as details can be misremembered or deliberately altered.
- Investigate all potential motives, including personal relationships, even when a seemingly plausible 'business' motive (like organized crime) is present.
- Prioritize forensic analysis of all physical evidence, no matter how minor, as seemingly insignificant items (like an envelope flap) can yield crucial DNA evidence.
Q&A
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