Framed!: Murder, Corruption, and a Death Sentence in Florida

by Marc J. Seifer, Stephen Rosati

Stephen Rosati had it all. A former Mr. Rhode Island and owner of a posh health club, Stephen was the son of real estate mogul Carl Rosati. On an average September day, Stephen's world was shattered when a Rhode Island state trooper arrested him for the murder of a drug dealer named Joe Viscido, Jr., in Florida four years earlier. Though Stephen could prove he was 1,500 miles away at the time of the murder, Peter Dallas admitted to the crime and named Stephen as his accomplice.

Like something out of Kafka, Rosati found himself imprisoned for a non-bailable offense and was whisked away to a Rhode Island jail to await transfer to Florida, where he would be facing a death sentence for a crime he knew nothing about. He hired the most illustrious attorney in the state, Jack Cicilline, a lawyer who represents many notorious mobsters and is known as "one of the keenest legal minds in New England." Thus began the longest extradition hearing in U.S. history.

To help prove his innocence, Rosati brought on famed handwriting expert Dr. Marc Seifer. Although Dr. Seifer's testimony in court proved that Rosati was in Rhode Island at the time of the murder, it wasn't enough to deter Florida police from trying to pin the murder on Rosati.

With access to over 1,500 pages of police logs, 1,400 pages of court transcripts, and countless depositions and interviews, Seifer weaves a tale of police corruption and a thrilling story of one man's battle for justice.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

470 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2014

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of my first cousin on my father's side. The last time I had met him was sometime in the late 1970s. I remember my mother telling me about going to the extradition trial, and as I was reading this she was filling me in on some of his life's details. He certainly was no choir boy.
As for the story and trial, it is quite fascinating what happened. Frankly, if this accounting is true which I suspect it is, my cousin got off mostly by dumb luck due to an unrelated investigation on another case that led to the real killers. It does show how overly ambitious and arrogant the police and officials were in swaying the facts in the wrong direction to meet their selfish needs and ends.
If you are into legal dramas and courtroom legalese it is worth reading. Having said that, it is not especially well-written, somewhat melodramatic, repetitive in places and there is no excuse for the grammatical errors.

[Simsd953 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I havent actually finished and probably won't. This book is long winded and repetitive. Much of it is pedantic. None of the characters are likable and the message is buried in the ruins of the book.

[Jlsimon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Stephen Rosati who was falsely accused of murder in 1986. It really is astounding to think of what this family went through. Even with documentation to prove that Stephen was not even in the state of FL the year of the murder he was still arrested and it took 2 years to clear Stephen. It is deplorable that the justice system offers so little justice.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told story with lots of juicy courtroom drama pulled right from the transcripts and colored by witnesses to the trial. Granted, most of this book is NOT about a criminal trial but rather an extradition trial and later a civil trial, the stakes are still sky high. I cannot imagine being in this situation, and it's appalling what some in law enforcement will do out of stubbornness.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

just found out i won this aug 18 2014
thanks goodreads, cant wait for it to arrive so i can start reading it

a very detailed true account of 3 men accused of murder they did not commit and how the family dealt with freeing them

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio. A dated, tedious court-room procedural. If ever there were proof that only the wealthy can afford justice when wrongly accused, this book is it.