Richard W. Rogers

What the jury had not heard were details about the case from 1973 in which Rogers had been acquitted of murder and testimony about a fifth murder in Florida, that of Matthew Pierro, who had been discovered in 1982.  While he was not dismembered, a bite mark on his body had been matched by an odontologist to Rogers.  In addition, Rogers had been in Florida at the time and his fingerprints had been lifted from the crime scene.

The jury discussed the two murder cases for three hours and forty-five minutes.  During that time, they had sent out a panel to ask Judge James Citta again about jurisdiction issues.  He indicated that New Jersey did have jurisdiction over the two cases, because the law allowed them to infer that if the bodies had been found in the state, the men had been killed there.

Judge Citta

An hour later, by 6:00 that evening, they announced that they had a verdict.  People filed back into the courtroom, despite the fact that it was a Friday evening, until the place was packed.  The forewoman wept and held the hand of another woman, according to the Asbury Park Press, as she rose and announced their findings.  Clearly she was shaken always a bad sign for the defense.  Richard Rogers, 55, was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Thomas Mulcahy and Anthony Marrero.  He was also found guilty on two counts of hindering his apprehension by dismembering the victims and disposing of them the way he had.

As the forewoman spoke in a trembling voice, Rogers showed no reaction.  He simply stared at the front of the courtroom.  There had been indications the day before that he believed he was in trouble, and he'd chosen not to testify (or have anyone else testify) on his own behalf. 

On January 27, 2005, the judge ordered consecutive life sentences, the maximum penalty, for the two murders. He's "an evil human being," Judge James Citta said.

Rogers refused to tell the court why he murdered the men.

Thomas Mulcahy's window, Margaret, offered a statement which was picked up in several papers: "We're just pleased.  We feel justice has been done."