Investigating the Investigation: Tony "Circle Search" Sassano

New AG Kathleen Kane's investigation of the Sandusky case is a "lead pipe lock" to find that the state was completely ineffective at finding victims.  The lead investigator for the OAG, Detective Anthony Sasssano couldn't find his own butt if he used both hands.

By
Ray Blehar

On June 14, 2012, Detective Anthony Sassano took the stand at the Sandusky trial and testified to the activities involved in his investigation.  Sassano remarked it was difficult to find victims because:

"The investigation showed this was going on for a long period of time," Sassano said. "It was kept very secretive and people wanted to keep that secret, I believe."

Especially the officials at Penn State, who allegedly withheld critical evidence that could have lead the investigators to the victims and shed light on the actions of Penn State officials in 1998 and 2001.

Consider that that PSU went to the great length of "hiding" 20 boxes of Sandusky's old files the East Area Locker Room near his old office and that Gary Schultz had informed Cynthia Baldwin of the possible existence of his Sandusky files on January 5, 2011.

Those guys at PSU sure are secretive....shifty.

While the media's attention was drawn to rosters of Second Mile campers and to the photos of Victim 1 (who identified himself years earlier) and of Victim 4 -- which Sassano found in Room 134 in the East Area Locker Room and in Sandusky's home, they (the media) ignored the parts of his testimony that revealed just how bad of an investigation was run by the state.

The "Circle Search"

Sassano testified to obtaining lists of Second Mile campers from Sandusky's home and office.  The dates of the search of the PSU facility is not clear, but the search warrant for Sandusky's home was obtained on June 21, 2011 -- some 31 months into the investigation.   And from those camper lists, Sassano was able to formulate a plan to find the victims (testimony follows).

Sounds like a reasonable way to go about finding the victims.  At trial, Sassano stated that the lists dated back to 1995 and contained the names of Victims 3, 4, 7, 9,  and 10 - most marked with an asterisk or similar notation.

Based on Sara Ganim's report that was sourced for this blogpost, we know that Victims 3, 4, and 7 were identified in the fall of 2010 by the Mother of Victim 6.  However, Sassano testified that the investigators found those victims using the book Touched.

That leaves us with Victims 9 and 10 for Sassano and the police to find and identify.  Here's Sassano testifying about Victim 10.

Victim 10 was living in Columbia, Maryland at the time of Sassano's search -- well out of the 50 mile radius.  He came forward of his own volition after the grand jury presentment was released.

Not surprised the media didn't catch it.  Not when you can write about creepy love letters instead.

Here is Sassano's testimony the Victim 9 was found on the lists from Sandusky's home.

Victim 9 and his mother lived in a trailer in McClure, Pennsylvania, about 45 miles from State College.  Again, within one hour's drive and within the radius of Sassano's circle.

But Sassano and the investigators didn't find him either.  His mother called the police after hearing news reports about Sandusky.

Again, the media completely missed the fact that Victim 9 was not found by the police and that Sassano concocted a story about the investigation that simply does not hold water.

The circle search didn't find anyone.

Kathleen Kane's investigation will be like shooting fish in a barrel.

(First in a series)