Found Deceased CT - Thomas Paternostro, 24, Waterbury, 6 Feb 2008

[hoppyfrog]

http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2008/...log/317055.txt

11 Feb 08

Police are looking for a city man missing since Wednesday.
Thomas Paternostro, 24, was last seen at his home in the Bunker Hill section of the city just after a family dinner Wednesday evening.

Family members became worried when Paternostro did not return home Thursday and his car was in the driveway, police Capt. William Covel said.

The family reported Paternostro missing Friday.

Covel said police have actively been investigating the case since Friday. They would like the public's help in locating Paternostro. Anyone with information is asked to call the detectives bureau at 574-6941 or Crime Stoppers at 755-1234.

pic

[hoppyfrog]

http://www.wfsb.com/news/15304969/detail.html

15 Feb 08

Police continue to search for a missing Waterbury man who disappeared in a manner similar to another Connecticut man.

Thomas Paternostro, 24, was last seen a week ago from Wednesday. His car was found parked with his keys and wallet inside.

Billy Smolinsk[sic], 35, disappeared three and a half years ago. However, his keys and wallet were also found inside his parked vehicle.

Paternostro and Smolinsk are both described as family men who enjoyed working on cars.

more at link

[hoppyfrog]

http://www.wfsb.com/news/15367893/detail.html

21 Feb 08

Officials are offering a $10,000 reward for information in the case of Thomas Paternostro, who disappeared from his home in Waterbury on Feb. 6.

The 24-year-old man's parents reported him missing two days later after his mother found his four-door tan Hyundai running on Kendall Circle.

Investigators continue to interview dozens of people in hopes of gathering more information.

Paternostro, a Waterbury native, is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police have said Paternostro has no criminal history or medical problems.

If you have information regarding this investigation, contact Waterbury police by dialing 203-574-6941.

[Peter J.]

www.wfsb.com/news/15435853/detail.html

Men Charged After Body Found In Waterbury

Police: Missing Man Killed Execution-Style In Woodded Area

UPDATED: 11:51 am EST February 28, 2008
WATERBURY, Conn. -- Waterbury police have charged two men in the fatal shooting of a missing man whose body was found in a wooded area on Wednesday.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Katy Zachry reported the man's body remained covered by thick brush and snow when forensics officials arrived to a wooded area on Whitewood Road between a housing complex and a medical facility near Oakville Avenue at about 12:30 p.m.

Police identified the man on Thursday morning as Thomas Paternostro, 24, saying he drove up to his home earlier this month, where a former high school classmate was waiting for him with a gun.

Quincy Rapp forced Paternostro to walk more than mile to a wooded area where police believe Rapp shot Paternostro execution-style, police said.

"Preliminary reports revealed that Paternostro sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body," Waterbury police Lt. Fred Spagnolo said in a written statement.

Police charged Rapp with murder and first-degree kidnapping with a firearm. A second man, Nicholas Garrity, 25, was charged with first-degree hindering of prosecution. Rapp remains held on $1.5 million bond and Garrity remains held on $75,000 bond.

The location where Paternostro's body was found is less than a mile from his family's home.

"That's what's so scary about this. I grew up on Bunker Hill Avenue, not far, and I've never seen anything like this around here," said Sharon Morales, a witness.

Rapp, 26, of Waterbury, had feuded with Paternostro for about a year, leading to the shooting earlier this month, police said.

Paternostro's car was found blocking the family driveway early on Feb. 7, with the engine still running.