Police make arrest in murder of lawyer's wife
Prominent TV legal pundit Daniel Horowitz prepares funeral eulogy
Updated: 12:51 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2005
OAKLAND, Calif. - Police arrested a 16-year-old boy Thursday in connection with the murder of the wife of high-profile legal analyst Daniel Horowitz, NBC News reported.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on its Web site that 16-year-old Scott Dyleski was arrested Wednesday night at a relative's house on a warrant alleging murder.
Sources told NBC that the arrest occurred near the scene of the murder.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that investigators believe he killed Pamela Vitale by striking her 39 times in the head with a piece of crown molding. He then carved some kind of gothic signature into her back, one source told the newspaper. When arrested, Dyleski had scratches on his face and legs consistent with a violent altercation, it said.
The motive in the killing appears to be related to a credit-card theft scheme allegedly carried out by Dyleski and another teenage friend, who has not been implicated in the killing, the Chronicle quoted the sources as saying.
Police have questioned dozens of people, including Horowitz and Joseph Lynch, who lived on the property where Horowitz and his wife were building a 7,000-square-foot estate.
Horowitz had taken out a restraining order against the 54-year-old Lynch, describing him as a drug addict who had harassed the couple, but the order was never served.
Earlier, Contra Costa County sheriffs spokesman Jimmy Lee has called Lynch a point of interest.
Horowitz returned to his rural hilltop estate in the San Francisco suburb of Lafayette on Saturday evening and reported finding the Vitale's body.
She fought back very hard. That was very obvious from the scene, Horowitz said Wednesday. I saw the wounds to the head that killed her and the rest just looked like a fight that she might have even been winning. That coward needed a weapon to beat her.
It just looked like a crime scene photo Ive seen over and over, said Horowitz, who was widely seen as a cable news commentator during the Scott Peterson murder trial.
Twilight Zone hell
On Wednesday, Horowitz visited the home to collect personal items and clothing, worked on his wifes eulogy and sat for interviews, calling his life a Twilight Zone hell.
Horowitz was in the midst of a murder trial, representing a woman accused of beating and stabbing her husband to death. Just last week during opening statements, he flashed pictures on a screen for jurors of the dead mans bloodied body, pointing out a gash on the top of his head, and his battered and beaten face.
In the wake of the Vitale slaying, a judge declared a mistrial in the case.
Recalling the scene from Saturday, Horowitz said he approached the front door of the trailer home where the couple had been living on the property and noticed the door was smeared with something dark.
My baby, my baby!
At that point I saw her and I just collapsed, he said, adding that she was wearing only underwear and a T-shirt. The reality hit and I just started screaming ... from the deepest part of my soul, My baby, my baby!
At this point, theres just hope, and I touch her to see if theres any pulse, even though I know there isnt, but Im going to do it anyway, he continued.
Horowitz called police, then returned to the body, he said.
All I remember is just looking at Pamelas face ... He paused and sobbed uncontrollably.
Horowitz said he cant imagine who would want his wife dead. It had to be somebody who knew us and knew our schedule and our house and our property, he said.
Prominent TV legal pundit Daniel Horowitz prepares funeral eulogy
Updated: 12:51 p.m. ET Oct. 20, 2005
OAKLAND, Calif. - Police arrested a 16-year-old boy Thursday in connection with the murder of the wife of high-profile legal analyst Daniel Horowitz, NBC News reported.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on its Web site that 16-year-old Scott Dyleski was arrested Wednesday night at a relative's house on a warrant alleging murder.
Sources told NBC that the arrest occurred near the scene of the murder.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that investigators believe he killed Pamela Vitale by striking her 39 times in the head with a piece of crown molding. He then carved some kind of gothic signature into her back, one source told the newspaper. When arrested, Dyleski had scratches on his face and legs consistent with a violent altercation, it said.
The motive in the killing appears to be related to a credit-card theft scheme allegedly carried out by Dyleski and another teenage friend, who has not been implicated in the killing, the Chronicle quoted the sources as saying.
Police have questioned dozens of people, including Horowitz and Joseph Lynch, who lived on the property where Horowitz and his wife were building a 7,000-square-foot estate.
Horowitz had taken out a restraining order against the 54-year-old Lynch, describing him as a drug addict who had harassed the couple, but the order was never served.
Earlier, Contra Costa County sheriffs spokesman Jimmy Lee has called Lynch a point of interest.
Horowitz returned to his rural hilltop estate in the San Francisco suburb of Lafayette on Saturday evening and reported finding the Vitale's body.
She fought back very hard. That was very obvious from the scene, Horowitz said Wednesday. I saw the wounds to the head that killed her and the rest just looked like a fight that she might have even been winning. That coward needed a weapon to beat her.
It just looked like a crime scene photo Ive seen over and over, said Horowitz, who was widely seen as a cable news commentator during the Scott Peterson murder trial.
Twilight Zone hell
On Wednesday, Horowitz visited the home to collect personal items and clothing, worked on his wifes eulogy and sat for interviews, calling his life a Twilight Zone hell.
Horowitz was in the midst of a murder trial, representing a woman accused of beating and stabbing her husband to death. Just last week during opening statements, he flashed pictures on a screen for jurors of the dead mans bloodied body, pointing out a gash on the top of his head, and his battered and beaten face.
In the wake of the Vitale slaying, a judge declared a mistrial in the case.
Recalling the scene from Saturday, Horowitz said he approached the front door of the trailer home where the couple had been living on the property and noticed the door was smeared with something dark.
My baby, my baby!
At that point I saw her and I just collapsed, he said, adding that she was wearing only underwear and a T-shirt. The reality hit and I just started screaming ... from the deepest part of my soul, My baby, my baby!
At this point, theres just hope, and I touch her to see if theres any pulse, even though I know there isnt, but Im going to do it anyway, he continued.
Horowitz called police, then returned to the body, he said.
All I remember is just looking at Pamelas face ... He paused and sobbed uncontrollably.
Horowitz said he cant imagine who would want his wife dead. It had to be somebody who knew us and knew our schedule and our house and our property, he said.
