Valarie FiorenzaOur daughter, Valarie Fiorenza, 30, was found dead on April 15, l993, in Saugus, Massachusetts. Her body was found hanging from a floor joist in a basement storage room in the home of her estranged live-in boyfriend, Saugus Police Officer Paul R. Bennett. The Saugus Police Department was the investigating agency and proclaimed the death a suicide even before the autopsy. The newspapers and TV were not contacted, because the police did not want anyone to know that Valarie's body was found in the home of a police officer. On April 12, l993, Valarie had taken out a 209A Restraining Order on Officer Bennett. In her affidavit, she stated... [See full writing here]
[Yes Officer Paul Bennett is still with Saugus Police Department.]3 days before Valarie was found dead:
VOLUNTARY STATEMENT
APRIL 12, 1993
28 FAIRCHILD ST.
2:55 P.M.
I THE UNDERSIGNED VALARIE L. FIORENZA OF 28 FAIRCHILD ST, SAUGUS MASS 01905 BEING 29 YEARS OF AGE, BORN AT WINCHESTER, MASS 9/1/63... DO HEREBY MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO JAMES MAGILL, HE HAVING FIRST IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A POLICE OFFICER IN SAUGUS...OFFICER PAUL BENNTT HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HIT ME - BANG MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL, CUT ME, TORE MY CLOTHING OFF, AND PUSHED ME, PULLED OUT MY NECK AND BACK AND CAUSED ME GREAT PHYSICAL HARM. HE HAS SPRAYED HAIRSPRAY IN MY FACE, THREATENED TO SET ME ON FIRE WITH A LIGHTER IN HAND. I HAVE ALL RECORDS NEEDED FROM DR. MATTHEWS IN TOPSFIELD, WITH PAULS CONFESSIONS. ON THE EVENING ON 4/11/93 PAUL PUSHED ME OUT OF BED AND THREATENED ME WITH PHYSICAL HARM. I HAVE BEEN VERBALLY AND PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY HIM FOR 1 YEAR. ON THIS DATE PAUL
THREATENED TO HIT ME, PUSHED ME, AND WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO SEE A COUPLES COUNSELOR FOR 1 MONTH. PAUL HAS BEEN STALKING ME AND FOLLOWING ME ON MANY OCASSIONS. ([UNREADABLE] IN STALKING) THREATENED ME WITH GUNS, AND HIMSELF. TOOK HIS GUN OUT ONE NIGHT. (1 MONTH) THREATENED TO SHOOT ME IN BACK AND KILL HIMSELF. HAS ALSO THREATENED TO CUT UP MY FACE, CUT OFF HIS FINGERS TO PROVE HIS LOVE, SET ME ON FIRE, KILL ME WHILE I SLEEP. ALSO CHOP UP MY DOG. I AM NOW IN FEAR OF MY LIFE AT THIS TIME.END.
VALARIE FIORENZA
Four months earlier:
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTES
TO BE USED FOR RESTRAINING ORDERS ONLY. M.G.L. CH 209A
MIDDLESEX, SS. SOMERVILLE COURT
AFFIDAVIT
VALARIE FIORENZA, PLAINTIFF
VS.
PAUL BENNETT, DEFENDANT
I. VALARIE FIORENZA OF MEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS, HEREBY STATE AND AFIRM THAT:
1) I LIVE AT 18 PEMBROKE ST. MEDFORD MA
2) THE DEFENDANT LIVES AT 28 FAIRCHILD AVE SAUGUS MA, AND IS A FORMER HOUSEHOLD MEMBER OF MINE...
3) ON OR ABOUT 12/28/92, THE DEFENDANT PAUL BENNETT SPENT THE NIGHT STALKING AND HARASSING ME AT VARIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS. ON 12/27/92 AFTER I WAS PACKING MY BOXES TO LEAVE HE THREW A TANTRUM AND WAS THROWING FURNITURE AND GLASSES AROUND THE HOUSE. HE HAS THREATENED TO USE ALL HIS POLICE POWERS TO DESTROY ME IF I EVER TRIED TO LEAVE HIM. HE ALSO ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THREATENED TO SPRAY HAIR SPRAY ON MY FACE WITH A LIGHTER TO BLOW IT UP. HE HAS SAID THAT HE COULD SIT AND ENVISION MY WHOLE FACE ON FIRE. ON 12/28/92 HE THREATENED TO FOLLOW, STALK, AND HARASS ME. ON 12/29/92 HE HAD ME ARRESTED BY LYING TO THE SAUGUS POLICE SAYING I HAD HIDDEN HIS GUN. I DID NOT TOUCH HIS GUN. HE CAME INTO 
THE BEDROOM WHERE I WAS SLEEPING, WITH TWO OTHER POLICE OFFICERS. THEY WOKE ME UP, REFUSED TO LET ME PUT ON ANY CLOTHES, PLACED ME IN HANDCUFFS AND BROUGHT ME TO THE STATION. THEY REFUSED TO TELL ME WHY I WAS BEING ARRESTED. I WAS RELEASED WITHOUT BEING CHARGED WITHIN 1 1/2 HOURS SAYING I COULD GO. I AM IN FEAR THAT HE WILL STALK, HARASS AND CAUSE ME MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HARM.... SIGNED UNDER TH E PAINS AND PENALTIES OF PERJURY
VALARIE L. FIORENZA
PLAINTIFF'S SIGNATURE
DATED 12/29/92
One year after Valarie's death:
FAMILY FIGHTS A FINDING OF SUICIDE IN SAUGUS- QUESTIONS ARISE - A TRAUMATIC EPISODE - A STORMY RELATIONSHIP - BRUISES COVERED - A DECISION TO LEAVE - DISPUTING THE EVIDENCE - ANOTHER THEORY
Boston Globe
Kevin Cullen
April 22, 1994
...Saugus Police Chief Cornelius Meehan referred questions to town counsel John Vasapolli, who said issuance of a restraining order against a police officer is not a basis for discipline. "This guy is a pretty good cop," said Vasapolli. "This was an unfortunate situation, but without any evidence against him, there is nothing we can do." Vasapolli acknowledged the town did not conduct its own investigation into the battering allegations... The couple reconciled sometime in January 1993. Valarie's business failed and she began working at Black Lace, a Revere lingerie shop where models give private viewings to men. Co-workers say Valarie was one of the more successful models... Co-workers also tell of asking her about the bruises she had. At first, she said she had fallen. Later, she told some models Bennett beat her. Co-workers say they helped Valarie cover the bruises with makeup. [Valarie's ex husband Larry] Cassity, Fairbanks and other friends say they frequently pleaded with Bennett to stop hitting her... Friends say Valarie found a place in Medford. Two days before her death, she turned down an offer from another model to put her up. According to that model,Valarie said she was "packing up to move out of the house before Paul found out." Cassity said he planned to take Valarie back to court on April 16, the day after she was found dead, to extend the restraining order. He said Valarie was concerned that Bennett would lose his job because of her charges, but he had convinced her to get an extension until she could move into her new place... They broke a pane of glass on the door to gain entry. They found Valarie hanging in a basement closet, her body just inches from a stool in back of her. A copy of the restraining order lay torn on a nearby coffee table... [Full article here][police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence (IPV) abuse law enforcement public safety fatality fatalities murder mystery unsolved unresolved massachusetts state]
I hope all members of the Saugis police department, paremedics unit, and medical "professionals", who were involved in the conspirisy and cover-up in the murder of this young woman, get plenty fame and publicity....being the defendants in a courtroom as seen on Forensic Files, followed by "quilty as charged"verdict would be a nice start. And to paul benett, I hope Dante's Divine Comedy has created, in his Inferno, a special 10th level of Hell, reserved just for monters like you! Oh, one more thing, paul, always remember,"Karma, just like murder, has no statue of limitation."
ReplyDeletehmmm thank god I was not involved with paul bennet and ended the relationship.
ReplyDeleteSeems that everything was a coverup
He plays mind games continuously
ReplyDeleteValarie Fiorenza
ReplyDeleteOur daughter, Valarie Fiorenza, 30, was found dead on April 15, l993, in Saugus, Massachusetts. Her body was found hanging from a floor joist in a basement storage room in the home of her estranged live-in boyfriend, Saugus Police Officer Paul R. Bennett. The Saugus Police Department was the investigating agency and proclaimed the death a suicide even before the autopsy. The newspapers and TV were not contacted, because the police did not want anyone to know thatValarie's body w as found in the home of a police officer.
On April 12, l993, Valarie had taken out a 209A Restraining Order on Officer Bennett. In her affidavit, she stated that Bennett repeatedly beat her and he "took his gun out one night, threatened to shoot me in the back and kill himself. He has also threatened to cut up my face, cut off his fingers to prove his love. Set me on fire. Kill me while I sleep. Also chop up my dog. I am in fear for my life." (Page1 http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/one_a.jpg) (Page2 http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/one_b.jpg)
The judge granted a five-day restraining order, throwing Bennett out of his own home at 28 Fairchild Avenue, in order to give Valarie time to move out. Bennett moved in with his parents, two streets away.
This was not the first time that Valarie had been forced to take out a restraining order against Paul Bennett. She also did so in December, 1992. Aside from owning and operating her own retail store,Valarie worked as a lingerie model, and co-workers describe how she often came to work so battered that they had to help her cover her bruises with makeup. WhenValarie attempted to extract herself from her live-in relationship with Bennett, he reacted with such fury that Valarie was in fear for her life. She stated in her December affidavit, "After I was packing my boxes to leave, he threw a tantrum and was throwing furniture and glasses around the house. He has threatened to use all his police powers to destroy me if I ever tried to leave him." (Page1 http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/two_a.jpg) (Page2 http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/two_b.jpg)
Although the Saugus Police were well aware of this dangerous situation, Bennett was never disciplined. Town Counsel, John Vasapolli, excused this by telling a reporter for the Boston Globe, "The guy is a pretty good cop." According to a report by Bennett's fellow officers, police were called to a "family disturbance on Fairchild Avenue," wording that suggests a shouting match rather than Bennett's holding a gun toValarie 's back and telling her she was going to die, beating her for hours, and banging her head against the wall so many times that she thought he would split it open. When Bennett complained to his colleagues thatValarie had hidden his gun, two officers placed her in handcuffs, refused to let her get dressed, and humiliated her by dragging her down to the police station in freezing weather, wearing only a thong, T-shirt, and high heeled shoes.
Like all too many victims of abusive relationships, Valarie allowed her lover to sweet-talk her into reconciling. The honeymoon was a brief one. Now, four months later, Valarie was once again attempting to leave Bennett. This time she really seemed to have her act together and was taking strong positive steps to recreate her life. She and her father were planning to go into business together, andValarie had a new boyfriend, Jimmy McNeal, whom she had begun seeing secretly a month before. Sometime before her death, Jimmy offered to fly her to France for a vacation. On April 13,Valarie phoned her close friend, Claire Fairbanks, and told her she had found a new apartment. "She was packing her bags and getting ready to leave," Claire told police.
The following day, Wednesday, an eyewitness saw Officer Bennett (http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/three_a.jpg), in full uniform, pull up to the house at 28 Fairchild Avenue in a cruiser. Disregarding the restraining order, he used his key and entered (http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/seven.jpg) through the front door.
Valarie didn't show up for work that day. When they couldn't reach her by phone, her manager and coworkers contacted her former husband, Larry Cassity, who had remained a friend, and asked him to check and make sure that she was all right. Larry pagedValarie all day, but she did not respond. When he went by her house, she didn't come to the door. Reassured by the fact that Valarie's car was in the driveway, loud music was playing inside the house, and Valarie's dog was tied up outside, barking, Larry left.
Early the next afternoon, neighbors saw a Canine Control van pull up in front of the house. Two officers got out, peered in through the windows, looked around the side and back of the house and made a call. Soon after that, an ambulance showed up. The EMTs also peered through the windows and looked around the side and back of the house. They all left.
Approximately ten minutes later, a plainclothes policeman arrived. He entered the house through the front door, using a key (http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/five.jpg). Neighbors saw the light in the basement go on and go off again very quickly. The policeman then exited the house and left the scene. Nothing more happened until 7:30 p.m., when Larry Cassity stopped by the house again. The dog was still outside barking,Valarie 's car hadn't been moved from the previous day, and he could still hear music playing inside. He began to feel very uncomfortable and called the police. He said he had to call them twice to get them to respond.
Approximately three and a half hours later, members of the Saugus Police Department arrived at the house. They questioned a neighbor and then left, returning with a key, which they had acquired from Paul Bennett's mother. (Bennett and his parents were supposed to have relinquished their keys when the restraining order was issued.) The police later stated that they weren't able to enter with that key because of wooden barriers wedged under the doors, and they had to break a window to get into the house. The implication was thatValarie must have committed suicide because nobody else could have gotten inside to kill her. That makes no sense, in light of the fact that witnesses saw a plainclothes cop enter and leave through the front door earlier that same day. If those barriers really were there, (there are no photos to document their existence), there were other entrances to the house, including basement doors (http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/five.jpg), conveniently located in the room adjacent to where Valarie's body was discovered.
When police closed Valarie's case as a suicide, we hired our own investigators. The doctor who had performed the autopsy on Valarie was not credible, (he was the same doctor who later performed the autopsy in the infamous "Nanny Case," and resigned because of mistakes he made on the Eappen baby, a school teacher, and numerous other victims), so we hired a forensic pathologist for a second opinion. The doctor who did the autopsy had placed the time ofValarie 's death as 10:55 p.m., which was after police had arrived and cut her down from the floor joist. Our medical expert told us that evidence indicated thatValarie had been dead for at least a day and a half. He also told us that Valarie 's death fell outside "the usual pattern of suicidal hangings," that the investigation of her death was "superficial," and that evidence indicated thatValarie may have died in a face-up position (http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/four.jpg) and been strung up later. Valarie had had a fear of choking for many years. She would not leash her dog for that reason. The last way she would have chosen to die was by hanging.
There are so many unanswered questions about this case! Why were the Canine Control, an ambulance, and a plainclothes police officer going back and forth to that house throughout the afternoon? Why did Canine Control leave withoutValarie 's dog, which had been tied outside, barking, for two days? Who summoned the ambulance that stopped by that afternoon, and why did it leave withoutValarie ? Who was the plainclothes cop, and how did he get a key? Why did he go straight to the basement, turn on the light just long enough to look atValarie, turn it off again and leave the scene? (If the doctor who performed the autopsy was correct in his statement that Valarie didn't die until 10:55 that evening, that officer could have saved her!) How did the boards get wedged under the doors between the time the plainclothes cop entered and left the house and the time that Larry Cassity called the police?
For seven and a half years, all our energy and finances have been invested in private detectives, forensic specialists, crime scene reconstruction, the acquisition of case materials, and attorney fees. Each attorney we approached wanted to use his/her own favorite private investigators and expert witnesses, so it was like reinventing the wheel and paying for all the same things over and over. We fired two attorneys because we caught them lying to us, and our final attorney wanted to drop off the case when she learned we were running low on money. She was very upset when she realized it was too late for her to do that.
Just before the Statute of Limitations were up we filed a Civil Claim against the Town of Saugus and Officer Paul R. Bennett. The attorney who had wanted out of the case threw us away at Summary Judgement. To make matters worse, she returned only two of the seven boxes of evidence materials we had provided her. We filed an Appeal, but no attorney was willing to represent us, because we no longer had the complete investigative file.
We went to court twice to try to get Officer Bennett on Assault and Battery. The judge told us that, because Valarie was not there to testify against him, no charges could be brought.
As we have discovered the hard way, there is a new breed of criminal in this country. It's the rogue cop, the one who, instead of protecting his community, preys on it. He wears a blue uniform and a badge and carries a gun. Many times his profession allows him state protection that is paid for with our tax dollars. He hides under the guise of law and order, and when you speak out against him you become suspect and considered un-American.
Linda and George Fiorenza
http://www.realcrimes.com/Fiorenza/vfiorenza.htm
I am in shock as I just came across this web site while searching, I did not know Valerie personally. However, I went to school with her brother George and his best friend at the time Frank, Swan School. I am so sorry Mr. & Mrs Fiorenza. I'm sure your life has never and will never be the same. My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time and always. I use to work at a store in Medford, SQ and remember seeing Valerie on occasion. I was just a teenager at the time and so wasn't Valerie. I thought she was beautiful and had a personality that would light up a room. God Bless!
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ReplyDeleteI have noticed similarities in the way people who have something to hide write.
ReplyDeleteI am from Saugus Ma, and I know first-hand that this cop is a scumbag. I also know that he is involved in a scam that involves pulling over people for speeding. He then tells them that if they give him a gift certificate to a particular resturant, that he will rip up the ticket. The person is then instruted to send the gift certificate to one of Paul Bennetts buddies. Totally disgraceful... he has been doing this for years and I personally know 3 people who have been scammed by this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a ridiculous thing to make up about an officer. From what I have heard he has a very good reputation at the Saugus Police Station. He is a strong person to listen all the bs.
Deletelol ^ that’s Paul commenting about himself
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ReplyDeleteanother hero in blue getting away with crime.
ReplyDeleteI have been following this horrendous case for many years. I pray that Bennett's future girlfriends catch on to what he is in time to make a get-away before it's too late for them too.
ReplyDeleteThs came through the email:
ReplyDelete"First I would like to thank the people that did say something in defense of Valarie. She was beautiful with a smile that would light up a room. Whenever she could she would help people, and at times without being asked. She would just offer her help. Her beauty and goodness did hurt her, because she was taken advantage of, by the evil that lurks within the minds of some men.
Valarie worked hard and long to run her own business, to be successful and independent. There was never a time when she came to her family looking for help. We did help her out of love and admiration for our daughter. She was a young women striving to make it on her own. Unfortunately, that very thing about doing it on her own is what gave her killer a chance to surprise her and take her life.
I decided to speak out at this time to let people know that Valarie will never be forgotten by family and friends. We worked for eight years to put her killer behind bars. The set up to look like suicide was as plain as anyone could see. Stopped at every turn by road blocks being put up every time we came close to going to court just proved Valarie was murdered. We know there is no way she would take her own life. We now choose to celebrate Valarie's life, and her beautiful soul. Her spirit lives on in the hearts of everyone that love her.
We now wait, wait for the day when GOD takes care of her killer.
Linda Fiorenza - Valarie's mom."
I had to speak up after someone told me about this site. I know for a fact that Valerie's ex-husband Larry was the one stalking her and and causing damage to her car if she did not remain friends with her. Officer Bennett is being railroaded. I did some checking myself. he could not have gone to house in uniform and in cruiser. he had his gun taking away and was working inside police station. Who is making up all the lies.
ReplyDelete20 years later? Some checking?
DeleteAre you his kid or his sibling?
This "officer" got away with murder. I hope he is nervous and worried that someone catches on. There are no statute of limitations. I wonder in particular if he is afraid once he dies that maybe, just maybe....there's a hell. Sleep well because once you go the great beyond officer, you're in going to be scared and left alone with others like yourself.
DeleteI would also listen to the comment about the ex larry c. He is a monster. He’s a dangerous person to know and a stalker. He’s a very sick person.
DeleteLmao ! Noo it was not her ex husband. The whole town of Saugus including the entire Saugus police department, were very much aware of the domestic abuse but instead of helping Valerie they stood by that disgraced POS & did everything in their power to humiliate & hurt her.
Delete- Why are you honestly trying to defend this POS?? .. You clearly didn't know him well at all!!!!
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ReplyDeleteUgh. I wanted to post it because her murder is not solved but once I saw it here in black and white it was too awful to leave up. Here is the redacted version of the trash talkin' post this morning:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Anonymous said...
"Fact:She was a victim of _____________. She was also stalked by her ex-husband. and mentally abused by him as he would vandalize her car when she ignored his calls. She was thrown out of her home at 18 by her mother. ____________________. Are you kidding..the next guy did not have a chance.....just happened to be a cop. Can't you people see he was trying to help her as she was out drinking everynight"
What happened or didn't happen before doesn't matter. The last sentence doesn't make sense. Help her? She couldn't have been more clear and clear headed about what was going on.
my name is Jimmy and I was the man she had started dating a month before her murder, I last saw her Easter Sunday morning the 11th. I've never forgotten Valarie, she was a wonderful and beautiful person.
ReplyDeleteironically, I met her for the first time 2 years before on new years eve at the Vogue lounge in Saugus and we talked for most of the night, when I asked her if she was seeing anyone she said "yes" and that she just started seeing "him" (Bennett). over the next few years I would run into Valarie every so often and always spent the time just talking and flirting with her and enjoying her company, I always looked forward to running into her again.
I hadn't seen her in a while and when I ran into her around the first week of march of 93 it seems she was finally ready to move on from him (although I didn't know at that time what she had gone and was going through she did open up to me over the next month).
We met every weekend after that at the Vogue except for one when she was there with him and I stayed away from her knowing what might happen later if I tried to talk to her (the look on her face as much told me when she saw me).
one Saturday night when we were having coffee at the HoJo's near wellington I asked her is she had a passport and when she said "no" I told her to please get one because I wanted to take her to Paris even if it was just for a weekend and I meant it.
I've never forgotten Valarie, her smile is etched in my mind.
I met with Linda and George once at their home to tell them everything I remembered what she said to me about "him", it was devastating for me to see their faces, such wonderful people for a tragedy like this to happen too, I had lost the chance to be with this incredible woman, they had lost a lifetime of memories of her.
my heart still goes out to them and if Linda happens to read this I want her to know that they are still in my prayers.
Jimmy M
How could someone do this to a very nice person
DeleteThank you Jimmy for taking the time and making the decision to share.
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ReplyDeleteThe ex larry c is a monster and stalker. Beware of him. You can’t imagine the kind of things he does or what kind of person he is. People need to know about this monster and sadist.
ReplyDeleteOfficer Paul Bennett should be in jail for what he did
ReplyDeletePaul Bennett is no dam good
ReplyDeleteHow was the cop not reprimanded for disregarding the RO? a neighbor saw him there when he wasn't suppose to be not once but twice why was that just swept under the rug?!
ReplyDeleteI never knew Valerie but I stumbled upon this story because of a reel from Instagram showing her shop being run down after many years in its present state. May she rest in peace and the family get the justice that they deserve.
ReplyDelete