Posted on 12/06/2003 4:01:28 AM PST by kattracks
A murdered Bronx-born federal prosecutor was tortured with dozens of stabbings before drowning in an icy creek, the coroner said yesterday.The body of Jonathan Luna was discovered Thursday in a Pennsylvania creek near his 1999 Honda Accord. The door and fender of the car were smeared with blood, and there was a large pool of blood on the passenger-side floor, according to an affidavit filed by a Pennsylvania State Police investigator.
Lancaster County coroner Dr. Barry Walp said Luna, a Baltimore federal prosecutor who had just completed a deal to send a pair of heroin dealers to prison, was stabbed numerous times. A law enforcement source told The Associated Press he had 36 knife wounds.
Though most wounds were shallow, "several stabs were deep enough to cause internal hemorrhaging," Walp told the Daily News, noting the injuries could have been caused by a penknife.
"We see these so-called knife-prick wounds when a person is being teased or questioned," Walp said. "It's a form of torture."
There also was a "traumatic wound" to the side of Luna's head, according to the affidavit.
Walp said there was no evidence that Luna's hands had been bound, and it was unclear whether Luna had been held underwater.
"He was probably unconscious when he went in the water," the coroner said.
Luna, who grew up in the Bronx and once worked as a Brooklyn prosecutor, still had his wallet with identification and cash, Walp said.
Luna, 38, disappeared Wednesday night, hours after he finalized a plea deal for rapper Deon [Papi Jenkinz] Smith, 32, and his one-time associate Walter Poindexter, 28. They were charged with running a heroin ring and faced up to 13 years in prison.
Investigators were interviewing people connected with cases Luna prosecuted, a law enforcement official said, but had no immediate leads.
Erin Murphy, an attorney who worked on Smith's case, said, "Mr. Smith is willing to speak with [the FBI] at any time," but the FBI has not scheduled an interview with him.
Luna also recently prosecuted three men involved in a crack dealing ring in Baltimore and a man who plotted to force six Mexican men out of a neighborhood by burning down their house.
Luna's parents, Rosezella and Paul, were too distraught to speak yesterday when reached at their home in Howard County, Md. They moved there from Mott Haven when Luna left the city in 1999 for the federal prosecutor's job.
Anna Ruby, 31, who attends the same church as Luna's family - his wife Angela and two sons, 5 and 1 - said friends and neighbors were heartbroken.
"Every time I see them or meet them they're just such friendly people. That's what kills me," she said.
With Rachel Green and Brooke Weese in Howard County, Md.
Originally published on December 5, 2003
(martin_fierro, M.A. in The Obvious)
I hope the DA in Michael Jackson's case is getting protection since he has aleady received large numbers of death threat.
Wonder if there was any bruising or defensive wounds? How do you get someone to submit to torture if you don't restrain him?
Very, very sad....but when the catch the person who did this, there should be no mercy.
I wonder why Luna wasn't packing a gun? Someone in his position would likely be the target of all sorts of crooks, thugs, and maybe even terrorists.
People discussing the case on Fox last night (forgot who or on what show) said there were.
There also was a "traumatic wound" to the side of Luna's head, according to the affidavit.
I'll guess that the traumatic wound was administered first, followed by the repeated stabbings.
As othwers have wondered, why wasn't the atty packing a gun? I'm a average joe and I carry one. He's putting all sorts of thugs in prison, so naturally, he's bound to make a few enemies.
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