Denise Puglies
Age 341 Jan 1979
Boston, Massachusetts (USA)
Beaten
TDoR list ref: tdor.info/1-Jan-1979/Denise Puglies & tdor.info/1979/Unknown person dressed in women's clothing
Denise's body was found in a park in the Allston neighborhood of Boston on New Year's Day 1979. She died from asphyxia caused by blunt force trauma to the neck.
BOSTON - Police have begun an investigation into the first murder of the new year in Massachusetts.
The murder occurred early in the morning of Jan. 1 in a playground in Boston’s Allston section. Police were called to Ringer Park where the bloodied body of a middle-aged drag queen had been found atop a rocky hill. The body of [Denise] Pugliese, 34, of Marlborough, was identified through fingerprints.
Boston Police Det. Sgt. Frank Whalen told GCN that Pugliese had only recently returned to the Boston area after a six-month absence and was planning to return to Marlborough the next day. The victim had been at Together and the Carnival Lounge on New Year’s Eve, according to Whalen. He said that the victim had been beaten over the face and chest with a blunt instrument at the playground location, possibly by more than one assailant.
Pugliese was the brother of “Franny” Pugliese, well-known entertainer at Together. [2]
Over two years later, a tip led to the arrest of Paul Cassiani of Allston for her murder.
BOSTON - Police have announced an arrest in connection with the 1979 murder of a gay man in Boston.
As a result of information gathered by the Somerville Police Department and the Boston Police Department, Paul Cassiani of the Brighton section of the city was arrested Monday, March 9, less than a block from Ringer Park, where the body of 34-year-old [Denise] Pugliese was discovered on New Year’s Day, 1979 (see GCN, Vol. 6, No. 24).
Cassiani is being held on $100,000 bail.
Pugliese, who was in drag at the time, died of stab wounds in the neck. He had reportedly spent New Year’s Eve at the Carnival Lounge and at Together. [3]
Records received from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office reveal that the information came from Cassiani’s ex-girlfriend.
March 8, 1981
To: Deputy Superintendent John Barry, Homicide Unit.
From: Sergeant Detective Stephen A. Murphy, Homicide.
Subject: Investigation of the [Denise] M. Pugliese Homicide Case # 79-01.
Sir,
As result of information received from Inspector Callahan of the Somerville Police Department, Sergeant Detective Stephen Murphy and Detectives Paul Murphy and Richard Walsh on March 8, 1981, at about 3:30 P.M., went to the Somerville Police Headquarters and met Inspector Callahan. The information was that one [Redacted] had come into the station to complain about one [Paul Cassiani] who had robbed her of $240, and while in the station she made a phone call to him that she would tell the police about the "Fag" he had murdered on 1-1-79.
Sergeant Detective Stephen Murphy interviewed the subject orally because she refused to be taped and the subject stated that she had met [Cassiani] in July of 1979 and a short time after she had met him he told her that on New Years Day January 1, 1979 in the evening he had met a female in Boston and they started to make out and at one point he had put his hand under her skirt and found out it was a man, he told her that he became outraged and hit the male once and had killed him. He then told her that he had dumped the body in a field near his home in Allston.
This information appears to be the circumstances in the 79-01 case. The subject gave the suspect’s full name as [Paul Cassiani] DOB [Redacted] of Allston, Mass.
Detective Richard Walsh of the Homicide Unit will appear in the Brighton District Court in the A.M. of March 9,1981 to obtain complaints against [Cassiani] for Murder. [4]
From the Commonwealth’s Motion to Order Witness to testify before the Grant Jury, June 1981:
Ms. [Redacted] resides at [Redacted] Somerville, MA.
On March 8, 1981, she stated to Boston Police Detective Richard Walsh that Paul Cassiani had admitted to her that he had killed a man that the Commonwealth now alleges was [Denise] Pugliese. See the attached Grand Jury Minutes dated March 25, 1981.
When called before the Suffolk Grand Jury to testify as to what she knew, she was represented by counsel, in the person of Mr. Ralph Champa, Esq. of Somerville, MA. At that time she refused to testify, claiming her right against self-incrimination.
On April 21, 1981, the Supreme Judicial Court refused to act on the Commonwealth's Application for Immunity, stating that given the facts presented at the hearing there was insufficient basis to find that the witness had a Fifth Amendment privilege, and therefore, there was no basis upon which to grant an order of immunity.
On Thursday May 21, 1981, [Redacted] appeared before the Grand Jury, without counsel, and again refused to testify. The matter was continued until Monday June 1, 1981, in order to give [Redacted] an opportunity to retain counsel.
On Monday June 1, 1981, [Redacted] again appeared before the Grand Jury and refused to testify. She has been unable to retain an attorney, claiming that she has insufficient funds to do so.
Therefore the Commonwealth moves that this Court appoint counsel for [Redacted] and then schedule a hearing relative to the Commonwealth's motion to order her to testify before the Grand Jury.
Respectfully submitted for the Commonwealth,
John A. Kiernan, Assistant District Attorney [5]
The Grand Jury determined not to present an indictment against Paul Cassiani in July 1981. Cassiani died in 1987.
Notes from Denise’s homicide case file reveal that she was last seen at Carnival Lounge in the Combat Zone just before 5am.
Bill -
As result of a phone call late Tues from Bill (?), I talked with Barbara Chambers, tel. [Redacted] (Charlestown)
She stated victim came into Harry’s Cafe about 100am - alone- that she bought him a drink + he left with her girlfriend Marlene + about 130-200am - & that Marlene + victim went to Carnival. Once there [Redacted] states she was with her boyfriend + victim was moving about- talking to different people. His brother [Redacted] was there.
[Redacted] says she left Carnival at 5 minutes to 500am- still crowded + he was still there- she feels sure of - as was his brother [Redacted] ([Redacted] called, & he said he left at 515am, did not see victim there at that time.
[Redacted] and [Redacted], both real females, state that a girlfriend of theirs took a picture of victim in Harry’s. They are going to check with this girlfriend on picture [6]
Background on Victim:
Investigation by Sgt. Whalen and Det. Smith produced the following information in regards to background of victim, just prior to death.
Victim had a past record of L & L, last arrest was in Boston in 1971. For the past five months he had been living with a sister [Redacted] Marlboro, (Tel. [Redacted]) and had obtained employment in a factory in that area.
He left Marlboro in sister's car Friday and planned to return Jan.1. Upon arriving in Boston he stayed with a [Redacted], DOB [Redacted] (Fag) [Redacted], Tel. [Redacted]. About noontime on Sunday, Dec. 31 they went to the Hotel Dipplomat and victim registered under true name and address and paid $20.00 for a room, room 802. Clerk stated he was with another white male, went up to room, and a few minutes later both males left. Room was never used. [Redacted] stated he was the other male. He stated victim had rented room as he planned to stay there over New Year’s and would use such if he got a trick. He stated that victim was not out hussling for a buck though.
Sunday afternoon they returned to [Redacted]’s apartment and left by taxi about 10:00pm, Dec. 31 for Jacques. At this time victim was dressed as found, in female clothing, and also was wearing a blondish, reddish wig which he had bought Saturday. They arrived at Jacques, stated that just after midnight victim told him he was going in town, and also mentioned that he was going to Harry’s, on Essex St. [Redacted] stated that as far as he knew victim left alone, and had no trouble at Jacques. He stated victim was not drunk at this time, although he had been drinking rum and cokes.
[Redacted] stated he later was at Carnival, but did not see victim there. [7]
https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:m046h395m
https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:m046hj453
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHRozX1yd1z1ug-oB0zsMdCzv3AwobUo/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VOVW93Q9F5Q3COdGvwDVM2HjmQRyiJl8/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kRAzx0hB7RZn2j4SH5Ncl4oR1dPgeF4Q/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e5ZlcE4GfnD93OPyMsvQANJZXoThxz2A/view?usp=sharin
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10_JeZ7LEIRhvewTCoL5mVkH6MQJzf7fSXl4-P6QJ0v0/edit#gid=0
