Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 11:07:44 -0400 Subject: File 9--Summary of NBC's Coverage of Danny Casolaro/Inslaw The NBC coverage of the Danny Casolaro death in the Inslaw case, which aired last week, didn't seem to add many new facts, but I was surprised to see that the incident hadn't been forgotten--in fact, it seems to finally be making its way back into the spotlight. Interviewed were Jack Anderson, a personal friend of Danny; Timothy Hutton, who is playing Danny in a forthcoming HBO docu-drama; John Connolly, the investigative reporter who has continued Danny's research on behalf of HBO, and the chief counsel for INSLAW, an ex-head of the Department of Justice who's name I can't remember. Connolly felt that there wasn't an "Octopus" as Danny thought--eight men at the highest levels of government, working in concert to further their own desires. He did think, however, that these eight men were involved in wrongdoings involving illegal aid to the Contras, the BCCI scandal, the INSLAW theft, drug running, and possibly other things. They simply weren't in cahoots. There was also a taped interview with a forensic expert who claimed that the entire autopsy was poorly performed, that it didn't follow standard procedures, and that the report looked like the conclusion regarding the cause of Danny's death had been reached a priori, and that the rest of the report was then written to justify the conclusion. Items that went unmentioned or were glossed over include: multiple large contusions, including one to the head; that three of Danny's fingernails had either been pulled off or were broken off (possibly during a struggle); and that the wounds on his wrists were deep and unhesitating, which is extremely rare in suicide victims. (In fact, one of his wrists had been slashed eight times, cutting through tendons all the way to the bone.) It was Connolly's hypothesis that Danny had been jumped in his hotel room in the early morning hours, subdued, interrogated (traces of "strange drugs" were found in his system), and then killed. Adding to the suspicions of foul play include the fact that none of Danny's personal effects have been returned to the family, and that investigators have been unable to view any of his personal effects, reportedly including some notes that were found hidden in one of his shoes. Also, his reporter's note are still missing. I could probably flesh this out, add disclaimers, and touch it up if you can't find anyone who managed to record the segment. Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253