Thanks To:
Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz,
State's Attorney John Connelly,
Gov. Jodi Rell
Editor's Note: The Smolinski family initially pledged $10,000, which was supplemented by $50,000 from the state reward fund for a total of $60,000.
News Brief In Waterbury Republican-American, 4-1-08
WATERBURY
Reward offered for information about fate of missing city man
Gov. M. Jodi Rell has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to arrests and convictions in the case of a Waterbury man who has been missing for more than three years.
In August 2004, Billy Smolinski Jr. went missing from his Waterbury home, leaving behind his keys, wallet and dog. His family has criticized the response of Waterbury police, who are now assisted in the investigation by the FBI.
After a meeting with Smolinski’s family, State Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz asked Waterbury State’s Attorney John A. Connelly would write Rell requesting the reward.
“It is the opinion of the Waterbury Chief of Police, Neil O’Leary, that foul play is suspected in Mr. Smolinski’s disappearance and the case is now being treated as a homicide,” Connelly wrote.
1 comment:
I always believed it was a homicide, and although the reward money is great, what really needs to happen is for the FBI to get more active and start questioning people involved. They should start with the last ones to see Billy Smolinski alive. And the politics should be removed. This is a homicide investigation now, so law enforcement must take it up a lot of notches.
Frankly, until the United States Attorney hauls some people before a Grand Jury or the State Attorney applies for a Grand Jury investigation and compels testimony from witnesses and suspects, I fear the case will remain unsolved.
I think about this outrage of corruption on a regular basis, but surely not as much as Billy's family. Perhaps others could see their pain and work harder to seek justice.
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