The one Dallas cop killer who got away
Posted on 09/01/2002 9:52:20 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
The one Dallas cop killer who got away
Research indicates suspect fell through cracks in 1916 slaying
09/01/2002
When Officer Steve Elwonger was a rookie in 1982, he was told that the Dallas Police Department always "caught our man" when one of its officers was killed in the line of duty.
But after looking into the January 1916 slaying of Officer W. Roy Thornton, he's not so sure the police have caught every cop killer.
"As I was doing the research ... I found out that isn't the case," said Officer Elwonger, who is updating ... In the Line of Duty, his 1991 book about Dallas' fallen officers. "This is one where it's not clear. The search is still on to see if we did."
 Remember the old police adage: We always catch our man? "As I was doing the research ... I found out that isn't the case," said Officer Elwonger. (CHERYL DIAZ MEYER / DMN) |
According to Officer Elwonger's research, Officer Thornton was arresting Frank Bonano on misdemeanor charges in a downtown alley. A friend of Mr. Bonano's, Veto Cortal, ambushed Officer Thornton, shooting him with a 10-gauge shotgun, Officer Elwonger found.
A second officer chased the two suspects, but he was struck by gunfire.
Officer Thornton died before he reached the hospital, and he was buried in Ardmore, Okla.
Mr. Bonano was cleared in the killing after his wife turned in an affidavit stating that he did not have anything to do with the crime.
Officer Elwonger spent many hours scouring police and court records and newspapers and interviewing retirees to find out what happened to Mr. Cortal.
Mr. Cortal also went under the aliases Frank Casabeno and Vito Cottone, according to Officer Elwonger's research.
"The newspaper articles said that they were just guessing that he skipped the country, that he went back to Italy," Officer Elwonger said. "They were still looking, and that was the end of the trail as far as I could find.
"There's a pretty good chance that Cortal isn't alive anymore. If we can't have the assailant brought to justice, we can always have the story brought to justice."
Anyone with information about Mr. Cortal can call Officer Elwonger at 214-670-7253.
E-mail teiserer@dallasnews.com
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