BROWARD COUNTY, Florida-- A discarded shopping bag reportedly gave Broward investigators the vital clue they needed to not only solve a grisly murder, but also arrest the men they believe are responsible.
The investigation began last April when a fisherman found a human head floating in a canal near mile marker 36 on Alligator Alley. Forensic experts found that the head was originally inside a plastic grocery bag when it was thrown into the canal. The bag, with the words "Waldbaum's Red Tag Reduction,” gave detectives their first real clue since Waldbaum's stores are only located in Long Island, New York.
BSO investigators got their second big break in the case in July when Douglas Stein went to police in Port Orange, south of Daytona Beach, and told them that two of his roommates, 33-year old Paul Trucchio and 39-year old Robert Mackey had bragged about murdering a white female and dumping her body parts in Florida. Stein also allegedly went on to provide other valuable details such as where Trucchio and Mackey discarded the New York license plate taken off of the blue pick up truck he saw them cleaning with bleach and meiotic acid.
Port Orange police told BSO a search of their database revealed Trucchio and Mackey had been stopped by Daytona Shores police officer and Trucchio was issued two traffic citations. The vehicle they were driving, a 1988 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck, bore a New York tag registered to Lorraine Hatzakorzian of Mastic, New York.
Investigators then learned that Hatzakorzian had been reported missing, and was last seen leaving her home in the company of Trucchio and Mackey. New York investigators also learned that Hatzakorzian picked up a money order from Waldbaum's grocery in Long Island five days before she was reported missing.
BSO detectives traveled to Port Orange to in July to take statements from Stein and another witness. They also questioned question Trucchio and Mackey who were being held in a Volusia County jail on unrelated charges.
During a search of the home shared by Mackey and Trucchio police collected various tree trimming items, such as pole saws and chain saws that could have possibly been used to dismember Hatzakorzian. That same day, members of the Volusia County Dive Team also recovered the New York tag from a bay where Stein said it would be found.
BSO detectives also reportedly talked with a Volusia County jail inmate who said Trucchio had discussed the murder with him.
Earlier this month, DNA test results positively identified the human head as belonging to Hatzakorzian. BSO detectives also spoke with Hatzakorzian's mother who confirmed that her daughter had left New York with Trucchio and Mackey. At some point there was a disagreement, said BSO detectives, Hatzakorzian was bound, and beaten unconscious, dismembered and her body parts disposed of. So far, only her head has been found.
Trucchio and Mackey have each been charged with one count of first degree murder. They remain in a Volusia County jail without bond.
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