In addition to the long-running "Law & Order" series, producer Dick Wolf's latest project is "Homicide: New York." Netflix's new documentary series, which premiered on March 20, re-examines several murder cases from the past three decades through the lens of investigators.
Episode 2, "The Central Park Massacre," focuses on the 1997 murder of Michael McMorrow, whose body was found in a Central Park lake with multiple stab wounds and his abdomen cut open. That was "too lethal," said Barbara Butcher, a now-retired death investigator for the New York City Medical Examiner's Office.
The murder of Michael McMorrow
Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez, 15, were arrested on suspicion of murdering the real estate agent. In the documentary series, retired NYPD detective Rob Mooney said the teens were drinking in the park with McMorrow and a group of others.
Mooney said McMorrow was "in the wrong place at the wrong time," and shared Abdullah's account of the night: She and Vasquez went swimming, and McMorrow reportedly put his arm around Abdullah asked her to warm her up, and Vasquez believed McMorrow was trying to warm her up. get along with".
She said Vasquez was the one who attacked McMorrow until she admitted evidence she kicked him, which, as Butcher said, "left him helpless."
Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez Today
Abdullah pleaded guilty to manslaughter as part of a plea deal in which she did not have to testify against her friend. Vasquez was separately found not guilty of murder but, like Abdullah, was found guilty of manslaughter. In 1998, an anonymous juror told the New York Times: "One of the biggest problems is that Daphne Abdela is not here and there is nothing to guide us through this." Not 100 percent sure He committed murder. "
Both Abdullah and Vasquez were released in 2004. McMorrow's brother Charles said in the book "Homicide" that his "brother's life was worth far more than six years in prison." Investigators also expressed frustration with the case, especially since they still don't know exactly why McMorrow was murdered.
"I feel like justice wasn't served. I know, this is the system, this is the law, and they're kids and this is what happened. But it doesn't feel fair," Butcher said.
Former Assistant District Attorney Richard Planxey said he had "no knowledge" of Vasquez committing another crime, but Abdullah was back in prison for the assault after violating parole, according to the documentary series.
The latest news about Abdullah comes from the New York Post and New York Daily News, both of which reported in 2009 that Abdullah had filed a lawsuit for injuries sustained in an alleged car accident.
