Hearthlist Digest #138 - Wednesday, April 15, 1998
 
Special Edition - Fear and Loathing in the Hearth Industry
  by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
 

(back)
Subject: Special Edition - Fear and Loathing in the Hearth Industry
From: Craig Issod <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 22:26:59 -0400
 
Most hearth industry members have heard of Century Fireplace, a CT firm
known for high-quality screens and fenders. Seems as if they have made the
news in the last few weeks, but not in the way you'd expect!
 
According to the AP and other sources, a partner in the firm was arrested
for plotting the murder of the other partner. The hired gun turned out to
be a bounty hunter, and promptly turned the man in to the police.
 
Now, in a bizarre turn of events, the bounty hunter was found beaten and
handcuffed to a tree...supposedly as a warning to him. Here's today's AP
story on that part:
 
Wednesday April 15
 
=A9_1998 The Hartford Courant
 
 
=46igure in sting arrest found cuffed to a tree
 
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) A bounty hunter who posed as a hired killer in a
sting operation that led to the arrest of a Shelton man, claims he was
abducted and beaten as a warning.
 
Stephen Ferrente, 42, was found handcuffed to a tree early Tuesday near the
Hemlock Reservoir in Easton. He was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center,
Bridgeport, where he was treated for cuts and abrasions and later released.
 
Russell Detuzzi, 55, president and chief executive officer of Century
=46ireplace and Furnishings in Wallingford, was arrested April 1 and accused
of offering a man $7,000 to kill his partner and make it look like a
botched robbery.
 
=46errente told the Connecticut Post Tuesday that he was abducted by three
men he believes are connected to the Shelton case.
 
''I think this was a warning. There's no question they could have killed me
if they wanted to,'' he said.
 
DeTuzzi's lawyer, Salvatore DePiano, Tuesday night denied that his client
had anything to do with Ferrente's alleged kidnapping.
 
The apparent abduction is being investigated by the State Police Major
Crime Squad.
 
AP-ES-04-15-98 0956
 
Sources in the know speculate that this affair may be linked to organized
crime.
 
 
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Craig Issod             HearthNet at http://www.hearth.com
[email protected]    Everything your Hearth Desires
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Buddha says "avoid error"
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