• May 08, 2006
• Vol. 65
• No. 18

A Deadly Scam?

Police in the Kissel Case Grill a Suspect in What May Have Been a Suicide-by-Hit-Man Fraud

The investigation into the murder of crooked businessman Andrew Kissel, found bound and stabbed to death in his Greenwich, Conn., mansion on April 3, has intensified. Police have been grilling Carlos Trujillo, 47, who worked as Kissel's personal assistant for several years. According to Trujillo's lawyer Lindy Urso, cops have told Trujillo that they believe he hired a hit man to kill Kissel—at Kissel's request. The presumed motive: Kissel, who was facing a long prison sentence for financial fraud, wanted his two young children to inherit the money from his life insurance policy, which may have been worth as much as $15 million. "The tone became very accusatory," says Urso of one interrogation session. "They were saying, 'We know you were involved in this.'"

Trujillo has said he "totally did not kill" Kissel, and he submitted to a lie-detector test. Meanwhile, an e-mail from Kissel's estranged wife, Hayley, cropped up, in which she said she hated Andrew, whom she was divorcing, so much that she could see herself "pummeling him to death and just enjoying the sensation of each and every shot." Hayley's attorney Nathan Dershowitz calls the missive an example of "a spouse venting." As for the suicide-by-hit-man theory, Dershowitz says Hayley doesn't discount it at all. "Andrew was a strange person in some respects," says Dershowitz, "and had some strange acquaintances."

More From This Article

Attack of the 10-Year-Old Crime Fighters

Gym class was almost over on the playground at Harrington Elementary School in Denver when 10-year-old Palmira Gonzalez-Jiminez sat down out of sight of any adults to catch her breath. Suddenly, from a nearby park, a heavily built 6-ft. man in a hooded sweatshirt emerged and grabbed Palmira. She shouted to her five closest friends—the girls call each other most nights to coordinate their outfits—for help. Without hesitation the five fifth graders, who averaged 5 ft. and 80 lbs., began pushing and hitting the husky assailant, who quickly fled and is still being sought. At a ceremony on April 20 the chief of police called the girls heroes. Says Palmira: "We call ourselves best friends forever."