June 23, 2024 • 26 mins
On July 5, 1995, a disturbing 911 call was placed by a Park Slope resident, reporting that she had been assaulted and shot by a man who had broken into the apartment she shared with her girlfriend. When police responded, they could hear someone screaming inside the apartment for help, but the door was locked. It took several moments for the caller to reach the door to let them in, and what they would find inside was a horrible scene. This episode covers the vicious attack on Amanda Leach and Sylvia Lugo, that would leave Sylvia sadly deceased and Amanda looked at as the main suspect. Meanwhile the person actually responsible was left to continue to wreak havoc on Park Slope. This episode will discuss aspects of sexual violence, domestic violence and crime victimization. Please see the resources below if you or someone you know have been personally impacted by any of these.
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RAINN- 1-800-656-HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es
Domestic Violence Hotline- 1-800-799-7223, text the word 'start' to 88788 or visit thehotline.org
National Center for Victims of Crime- victimsofcrime.org
Anti-Violence Program- https://avp.org
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
On July 5th, a disturbing 911. Call was placed by a park.
Slope resident reporting that she had been assaulted and shot
by a man who had broken into theapartment that she.
Shared with her. Girlfriend When police
responded, they could hear someone screaming inside.
The apartment for help, but the door was locked.
It took several moments. For the caller to reach the door
(00:20):
to. Let them in.
And what first responders would find inside was a horrible
scene. I'm Amanda Morgan, and this is
New York. 'S dark side.
(00:56):
Hey Darksiders, before we get started with today's episode.
I am just going to put a little plug in that.
The episode today does. Include some discussion of
sexual assault, domestic violence and crime.
Victims rights related issues. But we're going to go ahead and
jump right into it today. The 4th of July.
(01:17):
Weekend is often one filled withfun, barbecues, gatherings of
friends and family, fireworks and all the things and that's.
How it started for Park. Slope, New York residents Amanda
Leach and Sylvia Lugo. They had just returned from a
trip. To Virginia, where they had
spent time visiting relatives ofAmanda.
On that July 5th evening in 1995, when their world would
(01:41):
come undone, Amanda would place a call to 911 telling them that
someone had broken into their apartment.
Sexually assaulted her. And shot her when?
Police arrived at their. Apartment door they found that
it was. Locked.
So they began knocking on the door.
They could hear Amanda calling for help.
But it took her. Several minutes to drag.
Herself to the door to. Open it and let them in.
(02:02):
By this time, EMTs. Had also arrived.
And one of them recognized the apartment as belonging to the
couple and had informed responding officers of this.
When they got inside the apartment, they found that
Amanda had a gunshot wound to her leg.
There was a. Trail of blood from where Amanda
had dragged. Herself from the bedroom.
To the apartment's front door. In the bedroom they would find
(02:22):
Sylvia. She had taken 2.
Shots to the head. She was alive.
But unresponsive, both women were rushed to the hospital,
unable to conduct questioning ofthe women, investigators were
left to. Try to gather.
What evidence they could from the scene.
One thing that perplexed law enforcement to begin with was
that there was no sign of forcedentry into the apartment.
(02:45):
The door had been locked from the inside and there was no
evidence that someone had entered through a window.
Or physically. Broken in through the door, they
did find 3 shell casings in the apartment which coincided with
the three gunshot wounds betweenthe two women, but they couldn't
find the gun that had fired them.
At the hospital, Amanda was rushed into emergency surgery to
(03:06):
address the serious gunshot wound that.
She had to her leg. Sylvia was placed on life
support. Her family was notified of what
happened and they all rushed. To be by her side.
To get to know our victims a little bit more.
Amanda had grown up in Guyana and had come from a large
family. She was one of seven children.
(03:26):
She was incredibly smart and driven in Guyana.
She. Had received straight A.
'S in school and this continued when she moved to Brooklyn with
her family. She attended the New York
Institute of Technology on Long Island, New York, on a softball
scholarship, and when she graduated, she started working.
As a case worker. At the time of the shooting, she
was. Working for a foster care.
(03:47):
Placement Agency Sylvia was bornand raised in Park Slope, New
York. She was.
The third of eight. Lugo children some of her
siblings would interview on the episode of New York Homicide.
That covered this story. And they?
Describe Sylvia as a. Kind and generous person who
would give the. Shirt off her back.
She loved animals and she also loved playing softball that in.
(04:08):
Fact was how Sylvia. Had met Amanda.
Through their softball league. Sylvia had come out to her
family and when she was 18 or 19years.
Old she was very. Comfortable with her sexuality,
Sylvia had been working for a. Factory, but the factory had.
Closed and at the time of the shooting, she was unemployed.
For the Lugo family, this was not the first time that their
family had been touched. By such a horrible.
(04:30):
Crime in 1980. 5 Sylvia's father.
Angel Louise Lugo had been murdered. 50 year old Angel had.
Worked at a factory, it was a Friday.
Evening and he had just gotten paid so on his way home he.
Stopped at the bar. Just like so many other.
People do, he shot. Pool with some strangers and
then he spent time unwinding after a long week before leaving
(04:54):
to get on the subway to return home to his family.
One of the men that had been shooting pool with him that
night had other intentions. He had noticed the amount of
money that Angel had in his wallet and decided that he
wanted it. For himself, he followed.
Angel to the subway and would stab him to death in 1995 on
that July 5th evening at the. Hospital with Sylvia The Lugos
(05:16):
held out hope that. Sylvia would recover.
Unfortunately, she would end up succumbing to her injuries.
Later that day, it would be a while before.
Police could interview Amanda toget her statement on what
happened. When they were able to interview
her, she told them that. They had just.
Returned from the trip to Virginia to.
Visit her relatives. And were in the process of
(05:36):
unloading things from their rental car.
Amanda said that she had noticeda couple of men hanging out near
the apartment when they were. Collecting the first load of
luggage. But the men didn't approach
them, so they just continued to bring in their belongings when
the women went out to get the second load of luggage from the
car. They were approached.
From behind by a man with a gun who forced them back into their.
(05:58):
1st floor apartment. She said the man then
instructed. Her to tie up Sylvia, which she
did, but she said she tied up Sylvia loosely so that she could
escape. The man then forced Amanda into
the bedroom and began to. Sexually assault her while he
was assaulting her Sylvia. Was able to loosen herself from
the ties that bound her and she burst into the bedroom.
(06:20):
The man shot her once in the head and Amanda said she fell
to. The floor, but Sylvia got back
up. This is when Sylvia was shot the
second time in the head. Amanda tried to fight him for
the gun and this is when she wasshot in the leg.
She said the man tried to shoot her again, this time in the
head, but the gun wouldn't fire.The man then grabbed their.
Keys to the rental. Car, some jewelry and fled the
(06:43):
apartment. The man she described was
Latino. About 5 foot 5.
Inches, approximately 155 lbs. He was wearing a baseball cap
and had a pencil thin mustache. She worked.
With a sketch artist to do a composite sketch for police.
But this? Was not released to the public
initially when. Sylvia's autopsy results.
Came back some alarm. Bells started to go.
(07:04):
Off in law enforcement's mind inthe New York homicide episode
that. Covered the story the detectives
said that the. Medical Examiner.
Had reported that there. Was no.
Way that Sylvia could have stoodup.
The way that Amanda. Had stated she had.
During their interview with her,they would go on to state.
That they realize that. Sometimes people can misremember
things during traumatic events, but they felt that they needed
(07:26):
to dig a little bit more into Amanda's story.
So the next thing that investigators did was obtain
Amanda's medical records from the hospital.
They had done a forensic examination, including a rape
kit, which they said came back inconclusive.
They also had some concern regarding the angle of the
gunshot wound that Amanda had sustained to her leg, saying
that it looked. Self-inflicted.
(07:49):
While canvassing the neighbors and family for information
about. The couple they would.
Begin to hear that all was not perfect in the couple's
relationship. And to be fair, what relation
doesn't have its challenges? They would hear from neighbors.
That the couple did have a history.
Of loud arguments and a neighbor.
Reported that there had. Been an argument between the
couple about 45 minutes before the 911 call was received on
(08:13):
July 5th. This is when investigators began
to consider Amanda a suspect, however, the only evidence they
had at this point. That led to.
Her was circumstantial at. Best far.
From enough to bring charges against her in interviews with
both New York magazine in 1996 and in the New York homicide
episode that. Covered this case.
When the time came. For Sylvia's funeral.
(08:36):
The family would say that this was the first time they had seen
Amanda since the shooting. She was in a wheelchair and the
Lugos would. Describe her as.
Being visibly upset and that shedidn't make eye contact with
anyone. Martin Lugo, one of.
Sylvia's brothers. Would approach her and put his.
Arm around her for a bit. But she didn't stay very long.
In that interview with New York Magazine in 1996, Martin Lugo
(08:59):
would tell them that at the timehe.
Thought her behavior was. Due to the pain medicine that
she was on, but at the time of the.
Interview that viewpoint had. Changed vastly, he is quoted in
the New York magazine article stating quote Amanda couldn't
look me or my mother or any of my.
Brothers or sisters? In the eye, because she knew
that she did it. There is no doubt whatsoever in
(09:22):
any of our minds that Amanda killed Sylvia.
End Quote. That change in viewpoint is.
Largely because very. Soon after the funeral, the
police began leaking informationto the press that Amanda was
suspected of killing Sylvia. This was.
Brought to the family and it waseven published in newspapers by
a crime reporter named Brad Hamilton, who had written an
(09:43):
article in the Brooklyn Daily Bulletin that Amanda was the
main suspect in Sylvia's murder.That she had fabricated the
story of her rape. And abduction.
And she was. Expected to be arrested.
Soon, and this is truly upsetting.
This was unfortunately not the first time that police leaked
information had been published in papers, causing significant
(10:04):
damage to someone's reputation. A year prior to Sylvia's.
Shooting in April of 1990. 4A. 27 year old woman had been out
for a run and was on her way home with groceries when she was
grabbed by a man in. Prospect Park, He pulled her off
the. Trail and sexually assaulted her
in broad daylight. She reported the attack to
(10:24):
police. And had undergone a forensic
examination and a rape. Kit was collected.
The following day, much to that poor victim's horrid.
Surprise, there was an article titled Rape Hoax.
The Real Crime published in the Daily News.
Written by a very. Well known columnist named Mike
Mcclary. In the article.
Mcclary blasted this poor woman.Accusing her of fabricating a
(10:49):
story about her sexual assault. As a bogus stunt to draw
attention to an anti violence against women rally.
That she was allegedly scheduledto speak at.
He would later admit that this information came from a
high-ranking police official as the.
Source. The police would go.
To a different news outlet and state.
That the rape. Kit did come back with the
presence of semen from her body and on her clothes.
(11:11):
To try to backtrack. This accusation.
But the damage was already done,and Mcclary wasn't about to stop
continuing to discredit this poor woman, he continued to
write. Articles about her the.
Woman would end up suing both Mcclary.
For a libel. Along with New York Police
Department, but the case was dismissed.
The judge issued the. Reasoning for the cases
(11:32):
dismissal being due to the fact.That she was a public.
Figure it wouldn't be until 20/18/20.
Three years after her assault. That DNA evidence linked a
serial sex offender named James.Edward Webb to her.
Assault in Prospect Park provingher story by this point.
Mike. Mcclary had already passed.
Away in 1990. Eight the police would
(11:53):
officially issue a. Formal apology to her after this
evidence came back 20. Three years too late.
One thing to know. About Park Slope.
That I haven't mentioned yet is that.
It had a very. Large community of lesbians
within it in the episode of New York Homicide.
That covered this story. A woman named Kimberly, who was
on the same softball league withAmanda and Sylvia in her
(12:16):
interview, said. That that was what?
Drew her to move to. Park Slope because.
Half of the lesbians in New YorkCity lived in the community when
the community became. Aware that police were.
Homing in on Amanda as a suspect.
They were pissed, and it wasn't so much because Amanda was one
of their own, it was because thecommunity had been plagued by an
8 month long string of robberiesand sex crimes.
(12:39):
Prior to the attack. On Amanda and Sylvia and her
story. Fit with what?
Had been occurring to others, itwas also.
Very highly publicized, that. They were a lesbian.
Couple the attacks. On the other, victims were in
the media and there were. Even St.
Flyers. Hanging in the neighborhoods
made by members of the communitywarning of a.
(13:00):
Killer, that was. Targeting lesbians Things were
starting to reach a fever pitch when the articles were printed
about Amanda by Brad Hamilton, stating that she.
Would be arrested for Sylvia's murder.
The Gay and Lesbian Anti Violence Program stepped in and
began flooding the police station and the daily bulletin
that had been printing the paper.
With calls. On July 27th, 1995.
(13:22):
The community would rally. And a group of 300 men, women
and children would March throughPark Slopes, neighborhoods where
Amanda and Sylvia. Had lived to quote.
Demand consistent, accurate and timely information from the
cops. The March.
Organized by the Anti Violence. Project was to let.
Law enforcement know that the community was watching them and
(13:42):
how they conducted this investigation what the community
may not have. Realized.
According to law enforcement officials that interviewed with
the New York homicide episode was that while they were
investigating Amanda as a suspect in Sylvia's murder, they
were also conducting a parallel investigation into the park.
Slope Rapist. But another potential.
Suspect would crop. Up in the investigation that
(14:04):
linked back to Amanda going backto.
The top of the. Episode When Amanda was
interviewed by law enforcement, she had told them that the man
who had. Attacked her had.
Stolen some jewelry and the keysto the rental car before leaving
the apartment. They've been searching for the
rental car and would ultimately find it A.
Couple of blocks. From an ex-girlfriend of Amanda
named Trelane McKinney. The car was searched for.
(14:27):
Forensic evidence. But it was completely.
Wiped down of any fingerprints. A couple.
Of weeks after Amanda and Trelane had separated Trelane,
who is. Also.
Part of the same softball leagueas Amanda and Sylvia was heard
by multiple members of the league telling Sylvia quote.
I will hurt you. I will kill you at a game that
she was umpiring. There was some speculation that
(14:50):
either Trelane had committed thecrime on her own and that Amanda
was attempting to. Cover for her.
Or that Trelane and Amanda had done this together.
First, they had to. Speak to Trillane.
However, she was out. Of town.
This is where Brad Hamilton and his feisty pen pop into the
picture again and he publishes another article in the Daily
Bulletin about Trillane claimingthat she had in fact been the
(15:13):
one to commit the murder in a jealous rage and then fled to.
Texas. He went on to claim that Amanda
knew. It was her.
And that she was covering for her.
Police would once again have to go on the record to publicly
state that Trelane was in no waya suspect and was just being
sought for questioning the fact of the matter.
Was that? Trelane was on approved.
(15:34):
Leave from her job at the post office.
And had gone down to. Texas to visit her.
Grandparents Her grandfather hadrecently had open heart surgery
and her grandmother had. Also had a stroke.
While in. Texas, she heard from.
Friends that. Police were looking.
For her to question. Her about her relationship.
With Amanda and Sylvia in the episode of New York homicide,
trelane would say that when she.Returned to New York after her
(15:57):
trip. Police.
Would come to the. Post office, where she.
Worked and take her out in handcuffs.
This, combined with the press sharing both her sexuality and
potential involvement in a murder, stained her reputation
with the public. Customers on her postal route
began calling the post office and telling them that they
didn't want their mail deliveredby Trelane, and she was
ultimately let go. From her job.
(16:18):
What investigators would learn from Charlene was that she and
Amanda had been dating. For about 3 years, Sylvia had
approached. Tulane one day asking her what
Amanda's name was because she. Had caught Sylvia's.
Eye and Charlene had responded back that Amanda.
Was hers. Amanda would later claim not to
have known about this interaction until Charlene told
(16:39):
her about it much later. Amanda and Sylvia would
eventually meet, and Amanda would move Sylvia into the
apartment that she shared with Trellaine after Sylvia lost.
Her job at the. Factory claiming that they were
just friends and she was helpingher out trellaine would catch
them together and that's ultimately what ended the
relationship between trellaine and Amanda trellaine would admit
(17:01):
to saying those things to. Sylvia, because she was.
Angry, but that it had been a few.
Years earlier. And they had mended that
relationship and moved on. After questioning Trelane, they
found no evidence that she had any involvement in Sylvia.
'S murder. And she was released and cleared
as. A suspect.
One thing to note with. This is there was.
An extensive history of cheatingin this little triangle too.
(17:27):
The New York Magazine article does bring up in the interviews
with Amanda that she had been cheating on Sylvia with another
woman named Sonia. There was also some concern
about domestic violence and that.
I brought up. The the arguments that had been
heard by neighbors in that New York magazine article, there was
(17:50):
discussion that Amanda may have.Hit Sylvia.
At one point, and that Amanda was.
Pathologically jealous of Sylvia.
So some of these things just really stained Amanda in a bad
light in terms of what law enforcement thought.
Law enforcement would bring Amanda back in for questioning.
(18:11):
And she does admit that she may have misremembered some things
initially due to the pain medication she was on, but she
continued to maintain her innocence and reinforce.
Her story about the attack? She also requests a polygraph.
At this point, to try to clear her name, which they do
administer and she passes. Even after passing the
polygraph, they keep Amanda on the suspect list, which I
(18:34):
understand because they're not admissible in court.
They're not always accurate, butI feel like there's a lot of
times that they'll just clear someone after a polygraph, but
they weren't having that with Amanda.
It was at this point in August now.
Weeks after the murder. That law enforcement.
Released a composite sketch to the public.
That been completed back when Amanda was initially questioned
(18:56):
members of the. Community were.
Furious. And they blasted law enforcement
for holding on to the composite sketch for so long.
A delegation from some of the local gay and lesbian
organizations. Would also request.
From the deputy mayor. That a reward be.
Offered for information leading to an arrest.
Which she said she would try to get approved.
Two months. After Sylvia's murder.
(19:17):
In mid-september, another woman was nearly assaulted in her
apartment in Park Slope. Law enforcement had 26 year old
Tony Harrison under surveillanceand he was witnessed by law
enforcement following a woman into her apartment building on
Union Street in Park. Slope police quickly.
Intervened and he was taken intocustody after a 10 month spree
(19:41):
of him stalking, robbing and raping women in their apartment
complexes at either knife or gunpoint.
Law enforcement had. Caught the Park Slope rapist.
They would interrogate Harrison to see if he was in any way
connected to Amanda and Sylvia's.
Attack but due to. The fact that he did not meet
the description of the attacker that Amanda had given and his
(20:03):
interrogation gave them no indication to believe that he
was the one that attacked them. He was.
Cleared as a suspect. At this point, a $10,000 reward
is announced for information leading to the arrest of the
individual responsible for killing Sylvia.
But 1995 would end and a new year dawned before they would
get their next break in the case.
(20:24):
On March 30th, 1996, a young woman named.
Gabrielle Kearns. Was sitting in her car when she
was approached by a man with a gun.
Who tried to carjack her. She refused to comply.
With him and he shot her in the head.
Police happened to be in the area and they responded quickly,
arresting 19 year old Alex Villanueva.
Gabrielle would survive the attack.
(20:46):
Villanueva was a. Drifter and they would find out
that he had an extensive historyof doing push in.
Robberies exactly like what? Happened to Sylvia and Amanda
while interrogating him more they would find out.
That he referred to himself as little gaudy.
And thought he was basically untouchable.
What they didn't expect was thathe would eventually confess to
(21:07):
some additional crimes. The May 1995 murder of a man
named Michael. Terrell.
And to the rape of Amanda Leach and.
Murder of Sylvia Lugo. Villa and Nueva matched the
description that Amanda had given law enforcement in the
beginning. Perfectly he would.
Say that he was not specificallytargeting anyone in the area,
(21:28):
but happened to see Amanda and Sylvia.
As they were. Unloading their car and decided
to take advantage of that opportunity.
I'm kind of wondering if. He's part of that group of
people. That Amanda had mentioned seeing
because when he attacked Gabrielle, they ended up
arresting two other people that were with him at the time for
her assault. Anyway, he confirmed that he
(21:50):
approached them with his gun drawn and forced them into their
apartment and that he ordered Amanda.
To tie up Sylvia. And that.
While he was sexually. Assaulting Amanda, Sylvia had
burst into the room. To try to help her and he shot
her. When Amanda began to struggle
with him for the gun, he shot her in the leg.
He then attempted to shoot her in the head, but his gun jammed.
(22:12):
He then stole the rental car andsome jewelry, and he'd been
driving it around Brooklyn. A few weeks after.
The murder He had driven the carto a.
Visit with his parole officer. When he was coming back from
that. Visit He saw that police had
discovered the car, so he just walked.
Away from it, they would run Ballistics on the gun used to
shoot Gabrielle Kearns and it was a match.
(22:32):
To the bullets retrieved. From Amanda and Sylvia.
They would also pull Amanda in to do a photo lineup and she
picked him out as being her attacker.
Villanueva would. Be charged with murder.
Attempted murder and rape and inMay of 1997 he pled guilty and
was sentenced to. 50 years. To life in prison, Martin.
Lugo, Sylvia's brother. Would say on New York homicide
(22:54):
that the news that Amanda had not.
Killed Sylvia Quote. Blew the family away not only
that Amanda is innocent but alsothat the person that had killed.
Our sister had also killed otherpeople.
And quote. This case is just.
So heartbreaking and so important to highlight because
the manner in which it was handled was extremely damaging
(23:16):
to not only Amanda Leach but also Trelane McKinney.
Amanda was completely completelyre victimized with the spotlight
publicly being cast on her. That she was responsible for
Sylvia's. Murder and faking the.
Story of her sexual. Assault when in.
Fact. She was truly viciously
attacked. And watched her girlfriend be
(23:38):
brutally murdered in front of her.
And Trollane, who was not involved whatsoever, ends up
losing. Her job?
And would tell New York Homicidethat she was cast out of her
community and she lost. A lot of support.
From her friends. Who believed that she.
Was involved with this. Murder.
It's just so. Heartbreaking and just.
(23:59):
Highlights why it's so. Important to be.
Careful with what you're. Saying Anyway, we talked.
About a lot of. Very, very sad dark.
Stuff. In this episode, so I just
wanted to. Highlight a couple of, you know,
resources that are available if you.
Or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault.
(24:20):
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is run by.
The. Rape, Abuse and Incest National
Network. It's the nation's largest anti
sexual violence organization andyou can reach out to them by
phone at 1800 six 5-6. Hope or.
You can go online to the websiteonline.rainitsrainn.org if you
(24:46):
or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence 24
hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools
and support to help survivors ofdomestic violence so they can
live. Their lives free of.
Abuse. You can call 1-800-799-7223.
Or you can. Chat with someone online at the
(25:09):
hotline dot. Org or text the word start to
88. 788 to connect with someone via text message and just if you
or someone you know has been a victim of a crime, there are
crime victims. Advocates out there.
That can help you navigate. Through the very traumatic.
Time that comes in the aftermathof what you've been through so
(25:33):
the mission of the National Center for victims of crime is
to forge a national commitment to help the victims of crime
rebuild their lives and you can reach out to them at their.
Website. Victimsofcrime.org And with that
I am going to. Close up today's episode.
Thank you so much for joining me.
It is always so humbling to see the show continuing to grow and
(25:55):
I feel like I say that so much. But it's it's true every day.
So if this is your first time joining us, you can always.
Follow. The show on your.
Podcast platform of choice. We are on all of them, I think.
I don't know, seems like there'snew ones that.
Crop up every day. So I hope we're on all of them.
We are also on social media so you can follow us on Facebook,
(26:16):
Instagram and. Yeah X Twitter.
All source material for this episode can be found on our
website, New York. Starksidepodcast.com.
It is linked down in the show notes.
I hope everyone. Has a great week.
Ahead and I hope you'll TuneIn next week for another all new
episode. Stay curious everyone.
On July 5th, a disturbing 911. Call was placed by a park.
Slope resident reporting that she had been assaulted and shot
by a man who had broken into theapartment that she.
Shared with her. Girlfriend When police
responded, they could hear someone screaming inside.
The apartment for help, but the door was locked.
It took several moments. For the caller to reach the door
(00:20):
to. Let them in.
And what first responders would find inside was a horrible
scene. I'm Amanda Morgan, and this is
New York. 'S dark side.
(00:56):
Hey Darksiders, before we get started with today's episode.
I am just going to put a little plug in that.
The episode today does. Include some discussion of
sexual assault, domestic violence and crime.
Victims rights related issues. But we're going to go ahead and
jump right into it today. The 4th of July.
(01:17):
Weekend is often one filled withfun, barbecues, gatherings of
friends and family, fireworks and all the things and that's.
How it started for Park. Slope, New York residents Amanda
Leach and Sylvia Lugo. They had just returned from a
trip. To Virginia, where they had
spent time visiting relatives ofAmanda.
On that July 5th evening in 1995, when their world would
(01:41):
come undone, Amanda would place a call to 911 telling them that
someone had broken into their apartment.
Sexually assaulted her. And shot her when?
Police arrived at their. Apartment door they found that
it was. Locked.
So they began knocking on the door.
They could hear Amanda calling for help.
But it took her. Several minutes to drag.
Herself to the door to. Open it and let them in.
(02:02):
By this time, EMTs. Had also arrived.
And one of them recognized the apartment as belonging to the
couple and had informed responding officers of this.
When they got inside the apartment, they found that
Amanda had a gunshot wound to her leg.
There was a. Trail of blood from where Amanda
had dragged. Herself from the bedroom.
To the apartment's front door. In the bedroom they would find
(02:22):
Sylvia. She had taken 2.
Shots to the head. She was alive.
But unresponsive, both women were rushed to the hospital,
unable to conduct questioning ofthe women, investigators were
left to. Try to gather.
What evidence they could from the scene.
One thing that perplexed law enforcement to begin with was
that there was no sign of forcedentry into the apartment.
(02:45):
The door had been locked from the inside and there was no
evidence that someone had entered through a window.
Or physically. Broken in through the door, they
did find 3 shell casings in the apartment which coincided with
the three gunshot wounds betweenthe two women, but they couldn't
find the gun that had fired them.
At the hospital, Amanda was rushed into emergency surgery to
(03:06):
address the serious gunshot wound that.
She had to her leg. Sylvia was placed on life
support. Her family was notified of what
happened and they all rushed. To be by her side.
To get to know our victims a little bit more.
Amanda had grown up in Guyana and had come from a large
family. She was one of seven children.
(03:26):
She was incredibly smart and driven in Guyana.
She. Had received straight A.
'S in school and this continued when she moved to Brooklyn with
her family. She attended the New York
Institute of Technology on Long Island, New York, on a softball
scholarship, and when she graduated, she started working.
As a case worker. At the time of the shooting, she
was. Working for a foster care.
(03:47):
Placement Agency Sylvia was bornand raised in Park Slope, New
York. She was.
The third of eight. Lugo children some of her
siblings would interview on the episode of New York Homicide.
That covered this story. And they?
Describe Sylvia as a. Kind and generous person who
would give the. Shirt off her back.
She loved animals and she also loved playing softball that in.
(04:08):
Fact was how Sylvia. Had met Amanda.
Through their softball league. Sylvia had come out to her
family and when she was 18 or 19years.
Old she was very. Comfortable with her sexuality,
Sylvia had been working for a. Factory, but the factory had.
Closed and at the time of the shooting, she was unemployed.
For the Lugo family, this was not the first time that their
family had been touched. By such a horrible.
(04:30):
Crime in 1980. 5 Sylvia's father.
Angel Louise Lugo had been murdered. 50 year old Angel had.
Worked at a factory, it was a Friday.
Evening and he had just gotten paid so on his way home he.
Stopped at the bar. Just like so many other.
People do, he shot. Pool with some strangers and
then he spent time unwinding after a long week before leaving
(04:54):
to get on the subway to return home to his family.
One of the men that had been shooting pool with him that
night had other intentions. He had noticed the amount of
money that Angel had in his wallet and decided that he
wanted it. For himself, he followed.
Angel to the subway and would stab him to death in 1995 on
that July 5th evening at the. Hospital with Sylvia The Lugos
(05:16):
held out hope that. Sylvia would recover.
Unfortunately, she would end up succumbing to her injuries.
Later that day, it would be a while before.
Police could interview Amanda toget her statement on what
happened. When they were able to interview
her, she told them that. They had just.
Returned from the trip to Virginia to.
Visit her relatives. And were in the process of
(05:36):
unloading things from their rental car.
Amanda said that she had noticeda couple of men hanging out near
the apartment when they were. Collecting the first load of
luggage. But the men didn't approach
them, so they just continued to bring in their belongings when
the women went out to get the second load of luggage from the
car. They were approached.
From behind by a man with a gun who forced them back into their.
(05:58):
1st floor apartment. She said the man then
instructed. Her to tie up Sylvia, which she
did, but she said she tied up Sylvia loosely so that she could
escape. The man then forced Amanda into
the bedroom and began to. Sexually assault her while he
was assaulting her Sylvia. Was able to loosen herself from
the ties that bound her and she burst into the bedroom.
(06:20):
The man shot her once in the head and Amanda said she fell
to. The floor, but Sylvia got back
up. This is when Sylvia was shot the
second time in the head. Amanda tried to fight him for
the gun and this is when she wasshot in the leg.
She said the man tried to shoot her again, this time in the
head, but the gun wouldn't fire.The man then grabbed their.
Keys to the rental. Car, some jewelry and fled the
(06:43):
apartment. The man she described was
Latino. About 5 foot 5.
Inches, approximately 155 lbs. He was wearing a baseball cap
and had a pencil thin mustache. She worked.
With a sketch artist to do a composite sketch for police.
But this? Was not released to the public
initially when. Sylvia's autopsy results.
Came back some alarm. Bells started to go.
(07:04):
Off in law enforcement's mind inthe New York homicide episode
that. Covered the story the detectives
said that the. Medical Examiner.
Had reported that there. Was no.
Way that Sylvia could have stoodup.
The way that Amanda. Had stated she had.
During their interview with her,they would go on to state.
That they realize that. Sometimes people can misremember
things during traumatic events, but they felt that they needed
(07:26):
to dig a little bit more into Amanda's story.
So the next thing that investigators did was obtain
Amanda's medical records from the hospital.
They had done a forensic examination, including a rape
kit, which they said came back inconclusive.
They also had some concern regarding the angle of the
gunshot wound that Amanda had sustained to her leg, saying
that it looked. Self-inflicted.
(07:49):
While canvassing the neighbors and family for information
about. The couple they would.
Begin to hear that all was not perfect in the couple's
relationship. And to be fair, what relation
doesn't have its challenges? They would hear from neighbors.
That the couple did have a history.
Of loud arguments and a neighbor.
Reported that there had. Been an argument between the
couple about 45 minutes before the 911 call was received on
(08:13):
July 5th. This is when investigators began
to consider Amanda a suspect, however, the only evidence they
had at this point. That led to.
Her was circumstantial at. Best far.
From enough to bring charges against her in interviews with
both New York magazine in 1996 and in the New York homicide
episode that. Covered this case.
When the time came. For Sylvia's funeral.
(08:36):
The family would say that this was the first time they had seen
Amanda since the shooting. She was in a wheelchair and the
Lugos would. Describe her as.
Being visibly upset and that shedidn't make eye contact with
anyone. Martin Lugo, one of.
Sylvia's brothers. Would approach her and put his.
Arm around her for a bit. But she didn't stay very long.
In that interview with New York Magazine in 1996, Martin Lugo
(08:59):
would tell them that at the timehe.
Thought her behavior was. Due to the pain medicine that
she was on, but at the time of the.
Interview that viewpoint had. Changed vastly, he is quoted in
the New York magazine article stating quote Amanda couldn't
look me or my mother or any of my.
Brothers or sisters? In the eye, because she knew
that she did it. There is no doubt whatsoever in
(09:22):
any of our minds that Amanda killed Sylvia.
End Quote. That change in viewpoint is.
Largely because very. Soon after the funeral, the
police began leaking informationto the press that Amanda was
suspected of killing Sylvia. This was.
Brought to the family and it waseven published in newspapers by
a crime reporter named Brad Hamilton, who had written an
(09:43):
article in the Brooklyn Daily Bulletin that Amanda was the
main suspect in Sylvia's murder.That she had fabricated the
story of her rape. And abduction.
And she was. Expected to be arrested.
Soon, and this is truly upsetting.
This was unfortunately not the first time that police leaked
information had been published in papers, causing significant
(10:04):
damage to someone's reputation. A year prior to Sylvia's.
Shooting in April of 1990. 4A. 27 year old woman had been out
for a run and was on her way home with groceries when she was
grabbed by a man in. Prospect Park, He pulled her off
the. Trail and sexually assaulted her
in broad daylight. She reported the attack to
(10:24):
police. And had undergone a forensic
examination and a rape. Kit was collected.
The following day, much to that poor victim's horrid.
Surprise, there was an article titled Rape Hoax.
The Real Crime published in the Daily News.
Written by a very. Well known columnist named Mike
Mcclary. In the article.
Mcclary blasted this poor woman.Accusing her of fabricating a
(10:49):
story about her sexual assault. As a bogus stunt to draw
attention to an anti violence against women rally.
That she was allegedly scheduledto speak at.
He would later admit that this information came from a
high-ranking police official as the.
Source. The police would go.
To a different news outlet and state.
That the rape. Kit did come back with the
presence of semen from her body and on her clothes.
(11:11):
To try to backtrack. This accusation.
But the damage was already done,and Mcclary wasn't about to stop
continuing to discredit this poor woman, he continued to
write. Articles about her the.
Woman would end up suing both Mcclary.
For a libel. Along with New York Police
Department, but the case was dismissed.
The judge issued the. Reasoning for the cases
(11:32):
dismissal being due to the fact.That she was a public.
Figure it wouldn't be until 20/18/20.
Three years after her assault. That DNA evidence linked a
serial sex offender named James.Edward Webb to her.
Assault in Prospect Park provingher story by this point.
Mike. Mcclary had already passed.
Away in 1990. Eight the police would
(11:53):
officially issue a. Formal apology to her after this
evidence came back 20. Three years too late.
One thing to know. About Park Slope.
That I haven't mentioned yet is that.
It had a very. Large community of lesbians
within it in the episode of New York Homicide.
That covered this story. A woman named Kimberly, who was
on the same softball league withAmanda and Sylvia in her
(12:16):
interview, said. That that was what?
Drew her to move to. Park Slope because.
Half of the lesbians in New YorkCity lived in the community when
the community became. Aware that police were.
Homing in on Amanda as a suspect.
They were pissed, and it wasn't so much because Amanda was one
of their own, it was because thecommunity had been plagued by an
8 month long string of robberiesand sex crimes.
(12:39):
Prior to the attack. On Amanda and Sylvia and her
story. Fit with what?
Had been occurring to others, itwas also.
Very highly publicized, that. They were a lesbian.
Couple the attacks. On the other, victims were in
the media and there were. Even St.
Flyers. Hanging in the neighborhoods
made by members of the communitywarning of a.
(13:00):
Killer, that was. Targeting lesbians Things were
starting to reach a fever pitch when the articles were printed
about Amanda by Brad Hamilton, stating that she.
Would be arrested for Sylvia's murder.
The Gay and Lesbian Anti Violence Program stepped in and
began flooding the police station and the daily bulletin
that had been printing the paper.
With calls. On July 27th, 1995.
(13:22):
The community would rally. And a group of 300 men, women
and children would March throughPark Slopes, neighborhoods where
Amanda and Sylvia. Had lived to quote.
Demand consistent, accurate and timely information from the
cops. The March.
Organized by the Anti Violence. Project was to let.
Law enforcement know that the community was watching them and
(13:42):
how they conducted this investigation what the community
may not have. Realized.
According to law enforcement officials that interviewed with
the New York homicide episode was that while they were
investigating Amanda as a suspect in Sylvia's murder, they
were also conducting a parallel investigation into the park.
Slope Rapist. But another potential.
Suspect would crop. Up in the investigation that
(14:04):
linked back to Amanda going backto.
The top of the. Episode When Amanda was
interviewed by law enforcement, she had told them that the man
who had. Attacked her had.
Stolen some jewelry and the keysto the rental car before leaving
the apartment. They've been searching for the
rental car and would ultimately find it A.
Couple of blocks. From an ex-girlfriend of Amanda
named Trelane McKinney. The car was searched for.
(14:27):
Forensic evidence. But it was completely.
Wiped down of any fingerprints. A couple.
Of weeks after Amanda and Trelane had separated Trelane,
who is. Also.
Part of the same softball leagueas Amanda and Sylvia was heard
by multiple members of the league telling Sylvia quote.
I will hurt you. I will kill you at a game that
she was umpiring. There was some speculation that
(14:50):
either Trelane had committed thecrime on her own and that Amanda
was attempting to. Cover for her.
Or that Trelane and Amanda had done this together.
First, they had to. Speak to Trillane.
However, she was out. Of town.
This is where Brad Hamilton and his feisty pen pop into the
picture again and he publishes another article in the Daily
Bulletin about Trillane claimingthat she had in fact been the
(15:13):
one to commit the murder in a jealous rage and then fled to.
Texas. He went on to claim that Amanda
knew. It was her.
And that she was covering for her.
Police would once again have to go on the record to publicly
state that Trelane was in no waya suspect and was just being
sought for questioning the fact of the matter.
Was that? Trelane was on approved.
(15:34):
Leave from her job at the post office.
And had gone down to. Texas to visit her.
Grandparents Her grandfather hadrecently had open heart surgery
and her grandmother had. Also had a stroke.
While in. Texas, she heard from.
Friends that. Police were looking.
For her to question. Her about her relationship.
With Amanda and Sylvia in the episode of New York homicide,
trelane would say that when she.Returned to New York after her
(15:57):
trip. Police.
Would come to the. Post office, where she.
Worked and take her out in handcuffs.
This, combined with the press sharing both her sexuality and
potential involvement in a murder, stained her reputation
with the public. Customers on her postal route
began calling the post office and telling them that they
didn't want their mail deliveredby Trelane, and she was
ultimately let go. From her job.
(16:18):
What investigators would learn from Charlene was that she and
Amanda had been dating. For about 3 years, Sylvia had
approached. Tulane one day asking her what
Amanda's name was because she. Had caught Sylvia's.
Eye and Charlene had responded back that Amanda.
Was hers. Amanda would later claim not to
have known about this interaction until Charlene told
(16:39):
her about it much later. Amanda and Sylvia would
eventually meet, and Amanda would move Sylvia into the
apartment that she shared with Trellaine after Sylvia lost.
Her job at the. Factory claiming that they were
just friends and she was helpingher out trellaine would catch
them together and that's ultimately what ended the
relationship between trellaine and Amanda trellaine would admit
(17:01):
to saying those things to. Sylvia, because she was.
Angry, but that it had been a few.
Years earlier. And they had mended that
relationship and moved on. After questioning Trelane, they
found no evidence that she had any involvement in Sylvia.
'S murder. And she was released and cleared
as. A suspect.
One thing to note with. This is there was.
An extensive history of cheatingin this little triangle too.
(17:27):
The New York Magazine article does bring up in the interviews
with Amanda that she had been cheating on Sylvia with another
woman named Sonia. There was also some concern
about domestic violence and that.
I brought up. The the arguments that had been
heard by neighbors in that New York magazine article, there was
(17:50):
discussion that Amanda may have.Hit Sylvia.
At one point, and that Amanda was.
Pathologically jealous of Sylvia.
So some of these things just really stained Amanda in a bad
light in terms of what law enforcement thought.
Law enforcement would bring Amanda back in for questioning.
(18:11):
And she does admit that she may have misremembered some things
initially due to the pain medication she was on, but she
continued to maintain her innocence and reinforce.
Her story about the attack? She also requests a polygraph.
At this point, to try to clear her name, which they do
administer and she passes. Even after passing the
polygraph, they keep Amanda on the suspect list, which I
(18:34):
understand because they're not admissible in court.
They're not always accurate, butI feel like there's a lot of
times that they'll just clear someone after a polygraph, but
they weren't having that with Amanda.
It was at this point in August now.
Weeks after the murder. That law enforcement.
Released a composite sketch to the public.
That been completed back when Amanda was initially questioned
(18:56):
members of the. Community were.
Furious. And they blasted law enforcement
for holding on to the composite sketch for so long.
A delegation from some of the local gay and lesbian
organizations. Would also request.
From the deputy mayor. That a reward be.
Offered for information leading to an arrest.
Which she said she would try to get approved.
Two months. After Sylvia's murder.
(19:17):
In mid-september, another woman was nearly assaulted in her
apartment in Park Slope. Law enforcement had 26 year old
Tony Harrison under surveillanceand he was witnessed by law
enforcement following a woman into her apartment building on
Union Street in Park. Slope police quickly.
Intervened and he was taken intocustody after a 10 month spree
(19:41):
of him stalking, robbing and raping women in their apartment
complexes at either knife or gunpoint.
Law enforcement had. Caught the Park Slope rapist.
They would interrogate Harrison to see if he was in any way
connected to Amanda and Sylvia's.
Attack but due to. The fact that he did not meet
the description of the attacker that Amanda had given and his
(20:03):
interrogation gave them no indication to believe that he
was the one that attacked them. He was.
Cleared as a suspect. At this point, a $10,000 reward
is announced for information leading to the arrest of the
individual responsible for killing Sylvia.
But 1995 would end and a new year dawned before they would
get their next break in the case.
(20:24):
On March 30th, 1996, a young woman named.
Gabrielle Kearns. Was sitting in her car when she
was approached by a man with a gun.
Who tried to carjack her. She refused to comply.
With him and he shot her in the head.
Police happened to be in the area and they responded quickly,
arresting 19 year old Alex Villanueva.
Gabrielle would survive the attack.
(20:46):
Villanueva was a. Drifter and they would find out
that he had an extensive historyof doing push in.
Robberies exactly like what? Happened to Sylvia and Amanda
while interrogating him more they would find out.
That he referred to himself as little gaudy.
And thought he was basically untouchable.
What they didn't expect was thathe would eventually confess to
(21:07):
some additional crimes. The May 1995 murder of a man
named Michael. Terrell.
And to the rape of Amanda Leach and.
Murder of Sylvia Lugo. Villa and Nueva matched the
description that Amanda had given law enforcement in the
beginning. Perfectly he would.
Say that he was not specificallytargeting anyone in the area,
(21:28):
but happened to see Amanda and Sylvia.
As they were. Unloading their car and decided
to take advantage of that opportunity.
I'm kind of wondering if. He's part of that group of
people. That Amanda had mentioned seeing
because when he attacked Gabrielle, they ended up
arresting two other people that were with him at the time for
her assault. Anyway, he confirmed that he
(21:50):
approached them with his gun drawn and forced them into their
apartment and that he ordered Amanda.
To tie up Sylvia. And that.
While he was sexually. Assaulting Amanda, Sylvia had
burst into the room. To try to help her and he shot
her. When Amanda began to struggle
with him for the gun, he shot her in the leg.
He then attempted to shoot her in the head, but his gun jammed.
(22:12):
He then stole the rental car andsome jewelry, and he'd been
driving it around Brooklyn. A few weeks after.
The murder He had driven the carto a.
Visit with his parole officer. When he was coming back from
that. Visit He saw that police had
discovered the car, so he just walked.
Away from it, they would run Ballistics on the gun used to
shoot Gabrielle Kearns and it was a match.
(22:32):
To the bullets retrieved. From Amanda and Sylvia.
They would also pull Amanda in to do a photo lineup and she
picked him out as being her attacker.
Villanueva would. Be charged with murder.
Attempted murder and rape and inMay of 1997 he pled guilty and
was sentenced to. 50 years. To life in prison, Martin.
Lugo, Sylvia's brother. Would say on New York homicide
(22:54):
that the news that Amanda had not.
Killed Sylvia Quote. Blew the family away not only
that Amanda is innocent but alsothat the person that had killed.
Our sister had also killed otherpeople.
And quote. This case is just.
So heartbreaking and so important to highlight because
the manner in which it was handled was extremely damaging
(23:16):
to not only Amanda Leach but also Trelane McKinney.
Amanda was completely completelyre victimized with the spotlight
publicly being cast on her. That she was responsible for
Sylvia's. Murder and faking the.
Story of her sexual. Assault when in.
Fact. She was truly viciously
attacked. And watched her girlfriend be
(23:38):
brutally murdered in front of her.
And Trollane, who was not involved whatsoever, ends up
losing. Her job?
And would tell New York Homicidethat she was cast out of her
community and she lost. A lot of support.
From her friends. Who believed that she.
Was involved with this. Murder.
It's just so. Heartbreaking and just.
(23:59):
Highlights why it's so. Important to be.
Careful with what you're. Saying Anyway, we talked.
About a lot of. Very, very sad dark.
Stuff. In this episode, so I just
wanted to. Highlight a couple of, you know,
resources that are available if you.
Or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault.
(24:20):
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is run by.
The. Rape, Abuse and Incest National
Network. It's the nation's largest anti
sexual violence organization andyou can reach out to them by
phone at 1800 six 5-6. Hope or.
You can go online to the websiteonline.rainitsrainn.org if you
(24:46):
or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence 24
hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools
and support to help survivors ofdomestic violence so they can
live. Their lives free of.
Abuse. You can call 1-800-799-7223.
Or you can. Chat with someone online at the
(25:09):
hotline dot. Org or text the word start to
88. 788 to connect with someone via text message and just if you
or someone you know has been a victim of a crime, there are
crime victims. Advocates out there.
That can help you navigate. Through the very traumatic.
Time that comes in the aftermathof what you've been through so
(25:33):
the mission of the National Center for victims of crime is
to forge a national commitment to help the victims of crime
rebuild their lives and you can reach out to them at their.
Website. Victimsofcrime.org And with that
I am going to. Close up today's episode.
Thank you so much for joining me.
It is always so humbling to see the show continuing to grow and
(25:55):
I feel like I say that so much. But it's it's true every day.
So if this is your first time joining us, you can always.
Follow. The show on your.
Podcast platform of choice. We are on all of them, I think.
I don't know, seems like there'snew ones that.
Crop up every day. So I hope we're on all of them.
We are also on social media so you can follow us on Facebook,
(26:16):
Instagram and. Yeah X Twitter.
All source material for this episode can be found on our
website, New York. Starksidepodcast.com.
It is linked down in the show notes.
I hope everyone. Has a great week.
Ahead and I hope you'll TuneIn next week for another all new
episode. Stay curious everyone.
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