Paul Scharff's Blog, page 7

Humbling Moments…

Last week I wrote about a radio show that I did. It was Denny Griffin’s show, We Knowa Guy Radio. There was a special surprise guest on that show, Frank Cullotta. I mentioned that I was flattered that Frank would take the time to be on the show with me. It was very humbling for me that he was there. Ever since I started my pursuit of having Larry Neumann named as the killer of my father and Patricia Freeman, I have had many humbling moments. Yesterday was no exception.

I had sent out two books as a way of saying thank you for the help that I received from Carol Marin and Don Moseley. I can’t begin to tell you how instrumental they were in my campaign in naming Larry Neumann as the murderer of my father and Pat. When I reached out to the co-author of the book CULLOTTA, Denny Griffin, he had mentioned he had news contacts in Chicago. At the time I didn’t ask him who his contacts were, I was hoping that it was Carol Marin. The reason was that I admired her and respected her. For whatever reason as a kid I took the interest in watching the news at a young age. It was Carol Marin that I would watch. And if you want to talk Chicago politics or about the Chicago Outfit she is an expert in both. When Denny got back to me and said that his Chicago contacts were interested in talking to me I was excited. Then when he told me it was Carol Marin, I was just floored. Not only was I impressed with Denny’s contact, I knew my father’s story was going to be told by the best.

 

My point of contact to get the story told was Don Moseley. He is the producer for Carol Marin. I remember they wanted to meet us at the bar, the PM Pub, but it was no longer there. It was a very old building, and the city of Lakemoor took it over and they used it as their parking lot. However that’s where Holly and I were told to meet them. It was cold out that day in November of 2008. I remember being excited and nervous about doing the interview. As Holly and I were cruising down route 120 we could see that they were already there. I was so excited I don’t even remember the introductions but that they had to be warm because I was quickly at ease.

 

I had a London Fog coat that kept me nice and warm but I took it off and put it in Holly’s car. I was so concerned with everything and that included my appearance. I didn’t want to be perceived as looking weak because I was cold. I think everybody thought that I was a little strange. It was obviously cold out and everybody was wearing coats, I should have been wearing my coat to. We walked around were the bar used to be and then we went across the street by the lake. Lily Lake as the backdrop was not something that I would have recommended but if you look at the interview it worked out rather well. We filmed for about 45 minutes. Afterwards, I was going to take Don and Carol to see the old Al Capone’s house that was near my old house, but they didn’t have time.

 

From there on I was in contact with Don trying to figure out when our interview was going to air. There were a few delays. The Sheriff’s office was trying to get their act together so they can make a statement. Our governor was trying to sell President Barrack Obama’s Senate Seat and got caught. It finally did air in December 2008.

 

When it did air, I believe that to be the moment of my official launch in my pursuit of justice. If you’re talking business, the most critical moment of your product or your service is its launch. I could not have asked for a better launch of my campaign. On one level, Carol asked an obvious question, was a small town mob murder covered up? But that obviously asked question gave me a large arrow to put in my quiver. It allowed me to put on the table the Sheriff’s office connection to the Chicago Outfit. Since it was Carol Marin then had asked the question, it gave me the credibility to ask it to. It was Carol Marin and Don Moseley that set the pace for this campaign. I will forever be so grateful to them both because if it wasn’t for them, naming Larry Neumann is the killer would have been so much harder.

 

When my book was released, one of the first things that I did was to inscribe a book each for Carol and Don. They were both on vacation so I had a coordinate a date that I could send them the book, so they would have it when they both got back. I received a thank you email from them both. I’m going to share with you the email that was sent to me by Carol Marin.

 

Paul,

Thanks very much for sending us your book.

And for so generously mentioning us…..But the credit for keeping this case alive in behalf of justice all goes to you. And to Holly.

We are grateful to have played any part at all.

One of your lovely tributes is to Susan Murphy-Milano….She would have loved it.  As you probably know, she lost her battle with cancer late last year.  But she fought the fight for justice and against violence.

Best wishes to you on the success of this book.

Your father without doubt is proud.

Take care,

Carol

 

Now you know why in my life I’m so fortunate to have these humbling moments. Thank you ever so much and again, Carol Marin and Don Moseley.

 

If you can take the time, take a look at the interview that kicked it all off. I am so proud of this interview but what makes it more special, is Don and Carol both told me that they are very proud of it to. Here’s the link, enjoy!

 

http://www.mchenrycounty1981.com/archives/2009/01/the-murder-of-ron-scharff-and-patricia-freeman-nbc-news-interview/

 

This is the Amazon link to the book Murder In McHenry by Paul Scharff and Keith Bettinger

It has been a while…

First I like to thank everybody from home for all the great support and help with the release of the book Murder In McHenry. It has been out for less than a month and is already sold out twice on Amazon. This is my first blog since the release of the book. I have decided that I will use my old website www.McHenryCounty1981.com. This website already has a lot of content on it and receives lots of traffic. I will also be updating the website with more pictures, newspaper articles, and videos too.

You will also notice that I’ve added a section called the Library to the website. The Library is there on every page. In the library will be books related to my father’s murder and the Chicago Outfit itself. Over the years I’ve become quite the mob expert. This is in part because I’ve done a lot of reading on the subject. I’ve added those books and a few more to this library so please take a look. In the future, will be adding book reviews and other supporting information about the books and there relevancy to my father’s case or the Chicago Outfit.

 

One of the things I get to do a lot of is radio interviews. I really enjoy getting on the show and telling my father’s story. When doing these shows, I often meet some very interesting people. I’ve met some ex-mobsters, famous lawyers, famous journalists, world-class law enforcement people, true crime author’s and others. I find it fascinating to tell my father’s story and listen to all these people’s different perspectives. Plus, it creates a lot of interest to my father’s story and help circulates it around. They do serve an important function as well. I will have to admit though, my favorite guest to do a radio show with, is Frank Cullotta. This past Wednesday, I was on Denny Griffin’s We Knowa Guy Radio. My friend Denny had a surprise special guest on the show for me. It was no other than Frank Cullotta himself.

 

One of the reasons he is my favorite guest is I’m just absolutely flattered that he is there. If your mob enthusiasts or watch mobster shows, then you know that you have seem Frank on the Discovery Channel, the Biography channel, the National Geographic Channel, and recently on the History2 channel. Every show that he’s on he’s a paid guest. When I was in Las Vegas having breakfast with Frank, he explained that to me. He tells how the TV producers will say, “the FBI agent is not asking for any money.” Frank’s reply, “the FBI guy is trying to make a name for himself, you already know who I am, so pay me.” At that same breakfast, he also told me if I ever need help with anything with my father, he would help and I should not worry about it. I guess that holds true even when I’m not expecting it.

 

The radio show that I did on Wednesday is easily one of my favorites. I discuss what I found through the Freedom of Information Act. How through FBI reports, I traced Adam Bourgeois, the Chicago Outfit’s attorney, to George Hendle the lead investigator of my father’s murder himself. In a newspaper article, I found that Adam Bourgeois was actually going to subpoena George Hendle on behalf of Larry Neumann. That’s correct, the lead investigator of my father’s murder George Hendle, was going to testify on the behalf of already convicted triple murderer, Larry Neumann, in a different murder trial. I also discussed the Bourgeois connection. Everyone we know that has a connection or role in my father’s case was represented by him. Larry Neumann, the murderer himself. Debbie Neumann, the woman that incite this whole hideous tragedy. Finally, Tommy Amato, who is the driver of the car that night when Larry killed my father and Patricia, they all were represented by Adam Bourgeois. Frank was very impressed with the information that I was able to use to connect George Hendle and the rest to the Outfit.

 

Frank also provided new information. He told us at the first trial of Larry Neumann of the murder of Robert Brown a jeweler, ended in a mistrial. It was due to the Adam Bourgeois making inappropriate contact with the juror. Frank also told us that in 2009, the McHenry County Sheriff’s office, was trying to get immunity for Tommy Amato for his testimony. The state’s attorney’s office wouldn’t extend it to him. Tommy maintained that he was never there that night when Larry killed my father and Patricia.

 

There was so much more. Those are just a couple of the highlights. Frank was on the show with us between 30 to 40 minutes, so is quite some time. If you have some time, follow the link below, and take a listen for yourself.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/insidelenz/2013/04/17/we-knowa-guyradio

This is the Amazon link to the book Murder In McHenry by Paul Scharff and Keith Bettinger

 

Freedom of Information Act Appeal to get the remainder of my father’s file.

After the book Murder In McHenry was sent to the publisher, I filed for the freedom of information act to get my father’s file from the McHenry County Sheriff’s office. My co-author Keith Bettinger had filed for the freedom of information act twice before and it was refused. As they say the third time must be the charm. I received most but not all of my father’s file. I filed an appeal with you Illinois State’s attorney’s office to get the remaining of my father’s file from the McHenry County Sheriff’s office. What I uncovered in my father’s file, was an investigation started by the FBI of George Hendle, the lead investigator of my father’s case. They were reacting to a subpoena by Tony Spilotro’s attorney in a burglary case. What is more heinous to the fact that he was going to testify on behalf of Tony Spilotro is that he was also going to testify on behalf of Larry Neumann in another murder case. You read that correctly, the lead investigator for my father’s murder investigation was going to testify on the behalf of the murderer in another murder case.

 

Please take a review of my appeal and read the FBI files for yourself. You also see that I’ve connected George Hendle to the Chicago Outfit through the Chicago Outfit’s attorney Adam Bourgeois. You also find other supporting evidence that George Hendle was in the pocket of the Chicago Outfit.

http://www.mchenrycounty1981.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Appeal2PUB1.pdf

 

Paul Scharff on the Dr. Laurie Roth Show

Here is the podcast from the radio show with Dr Laurie Roth!! It was a great show and I had a good time. When you listen, I promise that I am not ill mannered purposely talking over the Shut Your Mouth Now music. I honestly could not hear it.

http://www.therothshow.com/demos/recent/hour1Apr1013.mp3

 

This is the Amazon link to the book Murder In McHenry by Paul Scharff and Keith Bettinger

 

 

 

Paul Scharff Reunited with Simon Barrett after the release of the book “Murder In McHenry”

Paul Scharff appears on Simon Barrett’s radio show for the first time in a long time after the release of his book, Murder In McHenry – A Sons Pursuit of Justice.

Simon had actually read and reviewed the book before this interview.

 

This is the Amazon link to the book Murder In McHenry by Paul Scharff and Keith Bettinger

Sun Times : Bar Slaying Case Closed

The baby-sitter, it turns out, got it right.

The McHenry County sheriff’s office has concluded that a now-dead mob hit man named Larry Neumann, in all likelihood, killed two people in 1981 in the small town of Lakemoor — a long-cold case that was reopened last summer on the basis of a tip from Holly Hager, who baby-sat for the children of one of the pair back then.

Read the full Sun Times article on the Scharff/Freeman murder.

 

This is the Amazon link to the book Murder In McHenry by Paul Scharff and Keith Bettinger