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By Kent Larsen
Five Charged in Gruesome Murder of LDS Man
ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA -- Five suspects have been charged with various crimes
in the January 2nd murder of Antony Frank Buccellato, an LDS Church member
and BYU graduate, in what police have called a crime of opportunity.
Buccellato was robbed and beaten, rolled in a carpet and dumped on
California's highway 4, where his body was hit by several cars.
The suspects in the crime claim that they beat and robbed Buccellato after a
16-year-old girl, Anita Sabedra, told them he had propositioned her. The
girl lured Buccellato to a nearby apartment, where two other suspects,
Antonio C. "Tone" Gans, 28, and Larry Christopher Graham, 22, beat
Buccellato with a flashlight and bolt cutters. Deputy District Attorney
Harold Jewitt said that Buccellato tried hard to defend himself, leading to
a lot of mess in the apartment, "He fought them -- he was a Golden Gloves
boxer in college. He gave them a run for their money," said Jewitt.
After Buccellato was subdued, Sabedra and another suspect, 34-year-old
Carrie O'Brien, helped Gans and Graham roll the still-alive Buccellato in a
carpet and into his own truck. Gans claims he was trying to take Buccellato
to the hospital, but that Buccellato disappeared from the bed of the truck,
where Graham was riding next to him.
Police say they may never know exactly where Buccellato was when he died --
in the apartment, the truck on on the highway. An autopsy report shows that
Buccellato died from a blunt force to the head. After his body had hit the
highway, it was run over by several cars, who didn't see the body in the
misty night. Police got calls from several drivers who hit something in the
dark, and discovered blood and gore on their cars when they stopped.
Buccellato's family held a funeral for him at the LDS Church's Antioch Third
Ward on Monday, where they remembered him as an untiring worker who inspired
them to maintain physical fitness and spend time with their children.
Buccellato was divorced from his wife, Marcia, who he met at BYU. They
divorced in 1995 and Buccellato went to live with his ailing and aging
parents in Antioch.
Family members are distraught at his murder, calling for the death penalty
for those involved. "It was a terrible tragedy and they treated him like a
dog," said an uncle, Vincent J. Buccellato last Friday.
Sources:
Suspects say beating was punishment
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 9Jan01 D2
By Celeste Ward: Times Staff Writer
Around the bay area: Antioch: Fifth suspect arrested in Highway 4 killing
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 7Jan01 D2
Obituaries: Anthony Frank Buccellato
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 6Jan01 D2
Police seek 5th suspect in killing
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 6Jan01 D2
By Claire Booth: Times Staff Writer
Police piece together Buccellato's death
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 5Jan01 D2
By Celeste Ward: Times Staff Writer
Four suspects arraigned in Highway 4 murder
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 5Jan01 D2
Suspects: Man tossed from truck alive
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 5Jan01 D2
By Celeste Ward: Times Staff Writer
Four suspected in Buccellato homicide
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 4Jan01 D2
By Celeste Ward: Times Staff Writer
Police investigate homicide; traffic stops 12 hours
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 3Jan01 D2
By Celeste Ward: Times Staff Writer
Antioch police make three arrests in Highway 4 homicide
Walnut Creek CA Contra Costa Times 3Jan01 D2
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