Two held in Curious George author's Florida death
Two held in Curious George author's Florida death By Barbara Liston 39 minutes ago ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Two men have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Alan J. Shalleck, 76, who co-wrote "Curious George" books and helped bring the very curious little monkey to television. Rex Spears Ditto, 29, and Vincent Puglisi, 54, were arrested shortly before midnight on Wednesday and confessed to a home invasion, murder and robbery of Shalleck, Sgt. Gladys Cannon of the Boynton Beach police said on Thursday. Shalleck's bloodied body was discovered on Tuesday under a pile of plastic garbage bags in a driveway at Royal Manor Estates by a maintenance supervisor who went to haul away what appeared to be a pile of trash, police said. The body may have been in the driveway for more than a day. Crime scene investigators found stab wounds and, once inside the home, several pools of blood leading to the master bathroom which was splattered with blood. Investigators found several knives and broken glass in the house. Ditto and Puglisi made full confessions, according to Cannon, who said the men robbed Shalleck of jewelry and money from his checking account. Charges include first-degree murder, armed home invasion, aggravated battery of a person 65 years or older, and dealing in stolen property. Shalleck began his collaboration with "Curious George" co-creator Margaret Rey nearly three decades ago, helping write sequels to the stories Rey originally produced with her late husband H.A. Rey and bringing the monkey to television. Shalleck's death came just days before a big-screen version of "Curious George" debuts in movie theaters on Friday. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060209/ts_nm/crime_shalleck_dc

Man spared death penalty in murder of Curious George collaborator By Nancy L. Othón | South Florida Sun-Sentinel 11:09 PM EDT, July 16, 2008 Vincent Puglisi was spared the death penalty Wednesday when a judge determined that his role in the death of Curious George collaborator Alan Shalleck in Boynton Beach was no greater than that of his co-defendant, who was already sentenced to life in prison. A jury convicted Puglisi, 56, of first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon last month. Puglisi gave up his right to have the same jury decide if he would face life in prison or death by lethal injection, opting to leave the decision in the judge's hands. Circuit Judge Krista Marx said she had spent many hours reviewing the evidence in considering the issue of proportionality and concluded there was nothing to show Puglisi was more culpable for Shalleck's murder. Puglisi and Rex Ditto, 32, planned to rob and kill Shalleck, a 76-year-old retiree who had sought out partners for sexual rendezvous at his home. Puglisi had known Shalleck for a year and brought Ditto to Shalleck's mobile home in February 2006. Shalleck was stabbed at least 37 times and repeatedly beaten. His body was left wrapped in plastic garbage bags on his driveway. Ditto strangled, clubbed and stabbed Shalleck until he died, prosecutors said, and Puglisi held a pillow over his head and robbed him of jewelry and a checkbook. Assistant State Attorney Andy Slater told Marx that the murder never would have occurred had it not been for Puglisi, who set up the appointment with Shalleck, brought latex gloves and knew what the outcome would be. "Mr. Puglisi is up close and personal and intimately involved" with the murder and Puglisi had the motive because he needed money, Slater said. "I think that Mr. Puglisi is a major participant in this homicide." It's simplistic to say Ditto is more culpable because he was the "muscle" in the killing, Slater added. Marx rejected the argument and allowed the prosecution only to present testimony about the impact of Shalleck's death. Shalleck's oldest son, David Shalleck, described to Marx how his father, branding himself as "Gramps," read books to hundreds of Palm Beach County children at schools, libraries, bookstores and day care centers. He credited his father's innovation for bringing the beloved Curious George character to television and spoke of the fact Shalleck was robbed of the opportunity to read to his own grandchildren. "This is clearly a loss in this community," Shalleck said. Before sentencing, Marx addressed the Shalleck family and acknowledged their loss, saying the death must have been "the biggest heartbreak of your life." She then turned to Puglisi and told him that while the brutality of the crime was unspeakable and that he appeared indifferent throughout the trial, she was bound by law to sentence him to life in prison. Nancy Othón can be reached at nothon@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6633. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flppuglisi0717pnjul17,0,7006958.story?track=rss

Man spared death penalty in murder of Curious George collaborator By Nancy L. Othón | South Florida Sun-Sentinel 11:09 PM EDT, July 16, 2008 Vincent Puglisi was spared the death penalty Wednesday when a judge determined that his role in the death of Curious George collaborator Alan Shalleck in Boynton Beach was no greater than that of his co-defendant, who was already sentenced to life in prison. A jury convicted Puglisi, 56, of first-degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon last month. Puglisi gave up his right to have the same jury decide if he would face life in prison or death by lethal injection, opting to leave the decision in the judge's hands. Circuit Judge Krista Marx said she had spent many hours reviewing the evidence in considering the issue of proportionality and concluded there was nothing to show Puglisi was more culpable for Shalleck's murder. Puglisi and Rex Ditto, 32, planned to rob and kill Shalleck, a 76-year-old retiree who had sought out partners for sexual rendezvous at his home. Puglisi had known Shalleck for a year and brought Ditto to Shalleck's mobile home in February 2006. Shalleck was stabbed at least 37 times and repeatedly beaten. His body was left wrapped in plastic garbage bags on his driveway. Ditto strangled, clubbed and stabbed Shalleck until he died, prosecutors said, and Puglisi held a pillow over his head and robbed him of jewelry and a checkbook. Assistant State Attorney Andy Slater told Marx that the murder never would have occurred had it not been for Puglisi, who set up the appointment with Shalleck, brought latex gloves and knew what the outcome would be. "Mr. Puglisi is up close and personal and intimately involved" with the murder and Puglisi had the motive because he needed money, Slater said. "I think that Mr. Puglisi is a major participant in this homicide." It's simplistic to say Ditto is more culpable because he was the "muscle" in the killing, Slater added. Marx rejected the argument and allowed the prosecution only to present testimony about the impact of Shalleck's death. Shalleck's oldest son, David Shalleck, described to Marx how his father, branding himself as "Gramps," read books to hundreds of Palm Beach County children at schools, libraries, bookstores and day care centers. He credited his father's innovation for bringing the beloved Curious George character to television and spoke of the fact Shalleck was robbed of the opportunity to read to his own grandchildren. "This is clearly a loss in this community," Shalleck said. Before sentencing, Marx addressed the Shalleck family and acknowledged their loss, saying the death must have been "the biggest heartbreak of your life." She then turned to Puglisi and told him that while the brutality of the crime was unspeakable and that he appeared indifferent throughout the trial, she was bound by law to sentence him to life in prison. Nancy Othón can be reached at nothon@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6633. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flppuglisi0717pnjul17,0,7006958.story?track=rss