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Police to meet with Marino family

Mike Miller  —  5/16/2008 5:25 am

The Madison Police Department, repeatedly criticized by a Madison family unhappy with the lack of progress in solving their son's murder, has offered to meet with the murder victim's father again next week.

Madison Police Chief Noble Wray and Assistant Chief Randy Gaber have invited Lou Marino, whose son Joel was murdered in his West Shore Drive home in January, to sit down with them Tuesday afternoon to discuss the case, the department said in a statement issued late Thursday afternoon.

Police have not made any arrest in the murder of Joel Marino, 31, and his family has been highly critical of the police and their response to the killing.

Marino was stabbed to death in his home on Jan. 28, and he died in a nearby alleyway as he was apparently trying to get to St. Mary's Hospital for help.

Police have been exceedingly tight lipped on details of the case to the public and to Lou Marino, his wife Debbie, and Joel's grandmother Betty Parman, who is likely the last person to speak to Joel before he was killed. He called his grandmother to wish her a happy birthday, then said he would call her back later.

The Marinos took their complaints about the police operation to the state Justice Department but were told the department could not act without a request from the Madison Police and that has not been made.

In the statement released late Thursday, the Madison Police Department said it wants to "discuss concerns Mr. Marino has made public about the investigation into his son's tragic death," and said it would "also like to clarify with Mr. Marino some of the statements (he) has made," about the case.

The Department said it has assigned a detective to serve as a liaison with the family and said Detective Matt Meisner, the lead detective in the killing, has met with Lou Marino at least once a week and has called him back every time he called with an idea or question.

"In addition to the countless leads and tips that the case detective was already pursuing, he also took time to investigate several possible motives and suspects suggested by Mr. Marino," the police said.

Those included a suspect who was working for a construction company in the area, a suspect connected to the theft of medical equipment (Joel Marino sold medical equipment), a city employee involved in a lawsuit which Joel Marino and neighbors had filed against the city over installation of a storm sewer, and an individual seen in a tavern in another part of the city.

"None of the leads suggested by Mr. Marino resulted in a suspect being identified," the department said.

Police also said Capt. James Wheeler, who is the South Police District Captain, along with a representative from the District Attorney's Office, has met with Lou and Debbie Marino and provided them with phone numbers to call with their concerns.

The department said it has contacted about 800 individuals in the case and developed more than 80 potential suspects, all of whom have been cleared.

Mike Miller  —  5/16/2008 5:25 am