She was the wife of a famous attorney; writer claims neighbor was falsely accused and wrongly convicted, case should be investigated by DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit
Dear Editor:
Fifteen years ago, Lafayette resident Pamela Vitale was repeatedly and savagely bludgeoned, and stabbed numerous times within her home by those responsible for her violent death. I believe, and am of the opinion, that it was an incomplete, flawed, inadequate, and unfortunately misdirected investigation(s), initial defenses and prosecution. In the investigations’ haste the neighborhood’s poor teenager, Scott Dyleski, was quickly and questionably focused on as being the responsible party, to the exclusion of any others, even though law enforcement’s own leads and evidence suggested someone else, perhaps even two others, was/were responsible for her brutal death.
Vitale was the wife of famed attorney David Horowitz and friend of television host and legal commentator, Nancy Grace, who ran an episode about the case during a TV show, last year. Horowitz was an early suspect in the murder.
It is my opinion and belief that this murder case, with some notoriety involved, was where much investigative evidence was ignored and/or discounted in order to quickly bring someone forward as the responsible before the numerous news media and press that had pounced on the case. Scott Dyleski unfortunately was brought before the public and prosecuted as the responsible!
Years ago, I was hired by Scott Dyleski’s two appeals attorneys for the purposes of assisting them in their representation of Scott Dyleski’s conviction appeals and defense. it was my impression then, and still is, that the killing of Pamela Vitale was a personal rage type of murder by one who closely interacted with and knew her.
This very brief summary position is of my case analysis, evidence, investigation, opinion and beliefs, concerning the then investigations, defense and prosecution of the quickly suspected, accused, and I believe wrongly convicted Scott Dyleski in the vicious murder of Pamela Vitale. Scott Dyleski has been incarcerated for 15 years for a crime that he is seriously believed to NOT have committed, with the responsible(s) having yet to be clearly identified by law enforcement, held accountable, or brought to justice.
There’s so much that the case suggests and points to as to the sequence of events that fateful day. One significant part is, I truly believe, based upon the information and evidence, that the brutal victimization of Pamela Vitale was not a single continuation of events. No, the evidence points to there having been separate phases that ultimately led to her violent and savage unwarranted death. This I say with my own 50-plus years of hands-on public safety investigative training and experiences, which includes numerous Homicide investigations. I have been a state certified Homicide Investigator since 1980.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office reported in June 2019 that it had established the Conviction Integrity Unit to review cases where it’s suspected that someone may have been convicted of a crime that they did not commit. I quickly submitted a request in writing to the D.A.’s unit and to the Public Defender’s Office over a year ago. I haven’t heard from them since. This case definitely cries out for such reopening and renewed investigation of the case, including both the defense’s and prosecution’s involvements. I believe, and am of the opinion, that it was a serious injustice and unfortunately misdirected case investigation(s), his defense and prosecution.
It is my opinion and belief that this case cries out for a full and proper reopening and re-investigation of the case, including the activities of the police, the defense’s and the prosecution’s involvements. Not only is Scott Dyleski the loser in all of this but so is the foundation of our society wherein we all are entitled to a just and equal expectation of a fair, complete, and unbiased administration of Justice. Pamela Vitale’s death and Scott Dyleski deserve real Justice!
Your assistance in demanding such from the D.A.’s Office and Public Defender’s Office is more than warranted. Fifteen years of Scott’s young life has already been denied him and he still faces many more if this very serious matter is again just ignored by all. Her murder deserves that the whole truth is determined, not ignored! And those really responsible should be brought to justice!
Ralph A. Hernandez
Antioch
Not only is Scott innocent of this crime, he has not been in trouble while he has been incarcerated. He is working on getting a BS in Mathematics. He’s one of the kindest, intelligent, and hardworking people I know. I pray daily that one day, the truth about this case will be brought to the light.
He is guilty as sin. Did you see his high school picture? He looks scary and then he fantasized and drew painting about murder.
Unfortunately, the only picture of Scott that ‘looked’ scary was the picture published in newspapers and blasted on TV news. The prosecution continued demonizing Scott Dyleski throughout the trial, just as Nancy Grace did on the news back then and continues to do (for her own promotion). It amazing what people in a Democracy are willing to convict someone on…. don’t we demand more from our society? Shame on you, go did through some of the information on this case instead of promoting misinformation.
Looking scary doesn’t make someone a criminal…
Jane Doe, you are absolutely wrong! To put it bluntly: Scott Dyleski was framed! He is completely innocent in regards to the brutal murder and or any involvement in the murder of Pamela Vitale. Like Pamela, Scott is a victim of not only an absolute miscarriage of justice in perpetrated by Contra Costa County’s own legal system and on both sides of the aisle: prosecution and defense. Former judge, Barbara Zuniga, who presided over the trial, along with both prosecuting attorney, Hal Jewett, and defense attorney, Ellen Leonida, should all be reprimanded if not imprisoned for orchestrating the absolute obfuscation and misrepresentation of the trial’s evidence, not to mention for their complicity in the obvious cover up and protection of the true murderer(s) of Pamela Vitale; one of which is ‘very-likely’ high-powered, high-profiled attorney and husband to Pamela Vitale, Daniel Horowitz! Period…case closed! All exculpatory evidence that surely would have exonerated Scott Dyleski was not allowed in the trial. The jurors never got to hear or see the wealth of information including depositions from both Pamela Vitale’s sister and her husband, both of whom were investigators at the time, who both state that Daniel had a terrible temper and exhibited rage and even said he wished Pamela would die in an argument he and Pamela had a couple years before. In fact, they both asked the investigators to investigate Horowitz as a suspect because of his past issues with anger, rage and abuse not only with Pamela but with his former wife too. All this information was stricken from the trial. I recommend people go to the following web site created to get justice for Scott Dyleski: I will be absolutely blunt! Scott Dyleski was framed! He is completely innocent in regards to the brutal murder or any involvement in the murder of Pamela Vitale. Like Pamela, Scott is a victim of not only an absolute miscarraige of justice in the legal system of Contra Costa bith on the prosecutions and the defenses side of the aisle. Former judge, Barbara Zuniga, who presided over the trial, along with both prosecuting attorney, Hal Jewett, and defense attorney, Ellen Leonida, should all be put in jail for their orchestration in regards to absolutely obfuscating and misrepresentation the true facts and evidence of the trial, not to mention the obvious cover up of the true murderer(s) of Pamela Vitale; one of which is obviously high-powered, high-profiled attorney and was the husband Pamela Vitale, Daniel Horowitz! Period! All exculpatory evidence that surely would have exonerated Scott Dyleski was not allowed in the trial. The jurors never got to hear or see the wealth of information including depositions from Pamela Vitale’s sister and husband, both of whom were investigators, where they stated that Daniel had stated before her murder and in a rage that he wished Pamela would die. In fact, they both asked the investigators to investigate Horowitz as a possible suspect because of his past issues with anger, rage and abuse not only with Pamela but with a former wife too. All this information was stricken from the trial. Please learn the real facts and truths that the courts and the media in 2006 didn’t and still don’t want their viewers and audiences to see in 2021! This young man was framed at the age of sixteen. Can you imagine if this was your kid? He and Pamela deserve better! Here is a web site to help people learn the real facts of the case: I will be absolutely blunt! Scott Dyleski was framed! He is completely innocent in regards to the brutal murder or any involvement in the murder of Pamela Vitale. Like Pamela, Scott is a victim of not only an absolute miscarraige of justice in the legal system of Contra Costa bith on the prosecutions and the defenses side of the aisle. Former judge, Barbara Zuniga, who presided over the trial, along with both prosecuting attorney, Hal Jewett, and defense attorney, Ellen Leonida, should all be put in jail for their orchestration in regards to absolutely obfuscating and misrepresentation the true facts and evidence of the trial, not to mention the obvious cover up of the true murderer(s) of Pamela Vitale; one of which is obviously high-powered, high-profiled attorney and was the husband Pamela Vitale, Daniel Horowitz! Period! All exculpatory evidence that surely would have exonerated Scott Dyleski was not allowed in the trial. The jurors never got to hear or see the wealth of information including depositions from Pamela Vitale’s sister and husband, both of whom were investigators, where they stated that Daniel had stated before her murder and in a rage that he wished Pamela would die. In fact, they both asked the investigators to investigate Horowitz as a possible suspect because of his past issues with anger, rage and abuse not only with Pamela but with a former wife too. All this information was stricken from the trial. I recommend people go on a web site that was created to ilicit justice for Scott Dyleski. Please learn the real facts and truths that the courts and the media didn’t want their viewers and audiences to see! This young man was framed at the age of sixteen. Can you imagine if this was your kid? He and Pamela deserve better! Here is the link: http://www.scottdyleski.org/ Please help Scott get the justice he deserves by demanding the news sheds light on these facts; something they never did during the trial! This young man was framed at the age of sixteen. Can you imagine if this was your kid? He and Pamela deserve better!
I will be absolutely blunt! Scott Dyleski was framed! He is completely innocent in regards to the brutal murder and or any involvement in the murder of Pamela Vitale. Like Pamela, Scott is a victim of an absolute miscarriage of justice perpetrated by Contra Costa County’s own legal system and on both sides of the aisle: prosecution and defense. Former judge, Barbara Zuniga, who presided over the trial, along with both prosecuting attorney, Hal Jewett, and defense attorney, Ellen Leonida, should all be reprimanded if not imprisoned for orchestrating the absolute obfuscation and misrepresentation of the trial’s evidence, not to mention for their complicity in the obvious cover up and protection of the true murderer(s) of Pamela Vitale; one of which is ‘very-likely’ high-powered, high-profiled attorney and husband to Pamela Vitale, Daniel Horowitz! Period…case closed! All exculpatory evidence that surely would have exonerated Scott Dyleski was not allowed in the trial. The jurors never got to hear or see the wealth of information including depositions from both Pamela Vitale’s sister and her husband, both of whom were investigators at the time. They both stated that Daniel had a terrible temper and exhibited rage and even said he wished Pamela would die in an argument he and Pamela had a couple years before the murder. In fact, they both asked the investigators to investigate Horowitz as a suspect because of these widely known issues of anger, rage and abuse that he had, not only when he was married to Pamela, but with a prior wife too. All this information was stricken from the trial. Please learn the real facts and truths that the courts and the media in 2006 didn’t and still don’t want their viewers and audiences to see in 2021! This young man was framed at the age of sixteen. Can you imagine if this was your kid? He and Pamela deserve better! This young man was framed at the age of sixteen. Can you imagine if this was your kid? He and Pamela deserve better!
Here is the link: http://www.scottdyleski.org/
Scott Dyleski
Scott Dyleski … the real Scott Dyleski loves animals, is respectful and inclusive with others, is nonviolent, is well read in various subjects, is artistic and intellectual, and has a well developed set of spiritual beliefs that are earth-centered
http://www.scottdyleski.org
wow, i do feel Scott should be given another trial.
What about the DNA evidence against Scott? I haven’t heard anyone explain that away. It was pretty conclusive.
I hope an explanation for this goes beyond the “the cops planted it” excuse, because that would be lame.
Second verse, same as the first!
He’s guilty!
Vecuccio, there was not and still is NOT a single piece of DNA evidence that EVER proved Scott to be guilty in any shape or form regarding Pamela’s murder. In fact, all DNA evidence found at the site of the murder proved not to be Scott’s! For some bizarre reason the defense and prosecution NEVER ran additional DNA tests to see whose DNA was indeed found via blood, etc.. Strange, huh!? These are absolute FACTS! Daniel Horowitz with the help of local and national media whores, the boight and sold court system and NANCY GRACE, FRAMED a sixteen-year-old child for a murder Daniel Horowitz committed! Period! Case closed!! I won’t stop telling this truth until Horowitz rots in prison and Scott goes free! If anybody wants to call ne and discuss this case, here is my phone number: 925-383-9927
HOW can some commenters ignore the DNA evidence and obvious course of actions that took place in this crime by this offender? It sickens me that someone would help a murderer get out of prison.
For those of you who don’t know the truth regarding Scott Dyleski being framed, here is a great interview exposing this FACT!: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/136961/teen-serving-life-for-murder-jack-the-ripper-or-framedrevisited