Tony Costa: Difference between revisions
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==1969 murders== |
==1969 murders== |
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The case gained international attention when district attorney Edmund Dinis, in comments to the media, claimed "The hearts of each girl had been removed from the bodies and were not in the graves…Each body was cut into as many parts as there are joints." Dinnis also claimed that there were teeth marks found on the bodies. These claims produced a stream of national and international media outlets into local [[Provincetown, Massachusetts]].<ref name="recap"/> The media attention was so great that [[Kurt Vonnegut]] (whose daughter Edith had met Costa) compared him to Charles Manson in his collection of essays ''[[Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons]]''.<ref name="kurt"> Vonnegut, Kurt (1974). ''Wampeters, Foma and Granfaloons''. Dell Publishing, ISBN 0385333811.</ref> |
The case gained international attention when district attorney [[Edmund Dinis]], in comments to the media, claimed "The hearts of each girl had been removed from the bodies and were not in the graves…Each body was cut into as many parts as there are joints." Dinnis also claimed that there were teeth marks found on the bodies. These claims produced a stream of national and international media outlets into local [[Provincetown, Massachusetts]].<ref name="recap"/> The media attention was so great that [[Kurt Vonnegut]] (whose daughter Edith had met Costa) compared him to Charles Manson in his collection of essays ''[[Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons]]''.<ref name="kurt"> Vonnegut, Kurt (1974). ''Wampeters, Foma and Granfaloons''. Dell Publishing, ISBN 0385333811.</ref> |
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Costa was convicted of killing four women, Susan Perry and Sydney Monzon of Provincetown, and Patricia Walsh and Mary Anna Wysocki of Providence, Rhode Island. On February 8, 1969, while looking for the bodies of Patricia Walsh and Mary Anne Wysocki, police discovered Susan Perry. Perry had been missing since the previous Labor Day.<ref name="recap"> Albright, EJ. [http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2007/09/11/the_tony_costa_cape_cod_murders?blog=149 "The Tony Costa Cape Cod murders"]. ''Cape Cod Confidential''. CapeCodToday.com 9 November, 2007.</ref> |
Costa was convicted of killing four women, Susan Perry and Sydney Monzon of Provincetown, and Patricia Walsh and Mary Anna Wysocki of Providence, Rhode Island. On February 8, 1969, while looking for the bodies of Patricia Walsh and Mary Anne Wysocki, police discovered Susan Perry. Perry had been missing since the previous Labor Day.<ref name="recap"> Albright, EJ. [http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2007/09/11/the_tony_costa_cape_cod_murders?blog=149 "The Tony Costa Cape Cod murders"]. ''Cape Cod Confidential''. CapeCodToday.com 9 November, 2007.</ref> |
Revision as of 15:06, 21 March 2010
Tony Costa | |
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Born | Antone Charles Costa |
Cause of death | Suicide |
Conviction(s) | 3 counts murder |
Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
Details | |
Victims | Four |
Span of crimes | 1968–1969 |
Country | United States |
State(s) | Massachusetts |
Date apprehended | 1969 |
Antone Charles "Tony" Costa (August 2, 1944-May 12, 1974) was a Cape Cod, Massachusetts carpenter who achieved notoriety for committing murders in the town of Truro in 1969.
1969 murders
The case gained international attention when district attorney Edmund Dinis, in comments to the media, claimed "The hearts of each girl had been removed from the bodies and were not in the graves…Each body was cut into as many parts as there are joints." Dinnis also claimed that there were teeth marks found on the bodies. These claims produced a stream of national and international media outlets into local Provincetown, Massachusetts.[2] The media attention was so great that Kurt Vonnegut (whose daughter Edith had met Costa) compared him to Charles Manson in his collection of essays Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons.[3]
Costa was convicted of killing four women, Susan Perry and Sydney Monzon of Provincetown, and Patricia Walsh and Mary Anna Wysocki of Providence, Rhode Island. On February 8, 1969, while looking for the bodies of Patricia Walsh and Mary Anne Wysocki, police discovered Susan Perry. Perry had been missing since the previous Labor Day.[2]
Perry's body had been cut into eight pieces. When Wysocki's body was found about a month later, her torso and head had been buried separately. Not long after, Walsh and the rest of Wysocki's bodies were found in a field that Costa had used for growing marijuana.[2] This "garden" of marijuana plants and the greater case inspired the book In His Garden, by Leo Damore.[2]
Costa's account
Costa described the murders of Walsh and Wysocki in his unpublished novel, Resurrection, written while Costa was in prison. In his account, Costa and a friend named "Carl" were out with the two women consuming LSD and Dilaudid. Carl then shot Walsh and Wysocki. Costa claimed he was able to subdue his friend, and upon realizing that Mary Anne Wysocki was still alive, Costa used a knife to end her suffering. According to Costa, he and Carl buried the bodies.[4]
The novel also describes the deaths of Susan Perry and Sydney Monzon as due to drug overdoses. Costa claims it was Carl who dismembered and buried their bodies and that he had no knowledge until after their deaths.[2]
Trial and imprisonment
On June 3, 1969, Costa was arraigned on charges of murder for three of the deaths.[5] In May, 1970 he was convicted and imprisoned to life in prison at Massachusetts' Walpole Correctional Institution. Four years after his incarceration, Costa committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell.[6]
References
- ^ Damore (1981). In His Garden. Dell. p. 245. ISBN 044020707X.
{{cite book}}
: Text "first-Leo" ignored (help) - ^ a b c d e Albright, EJ. "The Tony Costa Cape Cod murders". Cape Cod Confidential. CapeCodToday.com 9 November, 2007.
- ^ Vonnegut, Kurt (1974). Wampeters, Foma and Granfaloons. Dell Publishing, ISBN 0385333811.
- ^ Costa, Antone. The Apocalypse. Capecodconfidential.com. 13 January, 2001.
- ^ Coleman, Jack. "Today in Cape history: Tony Costa arraigned in Truro murders”. Cape Cod Confidential. CapeCodToday.com 3 June, 2008.
- ^ Damore, Leo (1981). In His Garden. Arbor House Publishing, New York.