Pensacolian halts man's execution
Dublin Core
Title
Pensacolian halts man's execution
Subject
Pensacola (Fla.). Police Department
Hypnotism Law and legislation
Description
Anthony Dilisio, a car upholsterer and restorer, recanted a twenty year old testimony made on May 13, 1975 that placed Joseph Spaziano on death row for the murders of two people in 1976. At the time of the testimony, Dilisio, then a sixteen year old, was under the influence of hypnotism administered by the Pensacola Police Department. Hypnotism has since been made illegal due to the chances of hypnotic suggestion by those in control of the process.
Creator
Barnes, Brad
Source
"Pensacolian halts man's execution," News Journal, Brad Barnes
Publisher
HIST 298, University of Mary Washington
Date
1996
Rights
The materials in this online collection are held by Special Collections, Simpson Library, University of Mary Washington and are available for educational use. For this purpose only, you may reproduce materials without prior permission on the condition that you provide attribution of the source.
Format
3 JPGs
300 DPI
Language
English
Coverage
Pensacola, FL
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
[image - Anthony Dilisio]
[image caption - Anthony Dilisio was 16 when he testified against Joseph 'Crazy Joe' Spaziano. His testimony helped send Spaziano to death row. Dilisio said he's no longer sure what he saw 20 years ago.]
[end page]
[start page]
A Pensacola man who recanted 20-year-old testimony that put a man on death row said that he's been overwhelmed in the past week by media and criminal investigators intent on hearing his story. But Anthony Dilisio, an upholsterer and car restorer who's lived here for seven years, said he doesn't feel responsible for the conviction of Joseph Spaziano. Nor does he feel guilty because Spaziano spent two decades in prison waiting to be executed for the murder of an Orlando woman, Laura Lynn Harberts, 18. "I did what I felt was right, this was a life-and-death situation," said Dilisio, 37, a born-again Christian who was 16 when he testified against Spaziano. "I was a child, I've put my childish ways behind me." Gov. Lawton Chiles last week stayed Spaziano's execution, scheduled for Tuesday, after viewing a videotape of the recantation. Dilisio said Thursday: "I don't know if Joe Spaziano is guilty or innocent. One thing I do know is there was a young child manipulated." The case has captured national attention because Spaziano, 51, has been on death row longer than all but eight of Florida's more than 350 condemned. Also, Dilisio implicated Spaziano while under hypnosis -- a practice since out- See RECANTED, back of section
[end page]
[start page]
lawed in Florida because experts believe it's too easy for police to suggest things to hypnotized witnesses. The Florida Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that hypnosis-induced testimony could no longer be used in court cases. Dilisio said that since authorities learned that he wasn't sure of what he saw in 1973, he's the one who's been under scrutiny. "It's almost like they're investigating me,” he said in an interview Thursday. He’s learned that investigators have interviewed his entire family since his claims were first made public June 11. When police approached Dilisio about the slaying, he was in a juvenile detention center. He had been friends with Spaziano, known as “Crazy Joe,” who headed the Orlando chapter of the Outlaws motorcycle gang, and told police that Spaziano bragged to him of the killing. After his court testimony, Dilisio fled to California. He moved to Pensacola in 1988 and has lived in a one-story brick bungalow at the dead-end of a street on the north side for at least four years Friendly handyman Neighbors describe Dilisio, who they call Tony, as the street’s friendly handyman. He fixes their cars, uses his riding mower to cut grass for those who need help and is always ready for small talk. No one had any idea he’d been mixed up in a murder case. “I can’t say anything negative about him,” said neighbor Brenda Qualls, who, like Dilisio, attends Brownsville Assembly of God. “He’s such a nice person, friendly, if you need help with something he’ll be glad to help you.” Most on the street like watching his progress as he restores classic cars, which line his well-tended front lawn. No bodies In his murder trial testimony in Orlando, Dilisio said Spaziano took him to a dump and showed him two bodies. One was identified as Harberts, a medical technician. The other was so decomposed it couldn’t be identified. Now, “Anthony can’t remember everything,” said Kelly McGraw, one of his Pensacola attorneys, “But he does remember he didn’t see the bodies.” Last week agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement videotaped an interview with a Miami Herald reporter. Local FDLE officials would not comment. Tallahassee officials could not be reached Thursday. Dilisio’s lawyers say they don’t know what will happen next, legally. Neither does Spaziano’s attorney, Michael Mello of White River Junction, Vt. Without Dilisio, “the state had no case against my client,” Mello said in a telephone interview. Dilisio, clearly a man feeling pressured, underwent a barrage of media interviews Thursday – including one with ABC News. During an interview in his lawyer’s office, his voice quavered and he deflected most personal questions. He wouldn’t sit down. “All I want to do is let justice prevail,” he said. “I’m taking one of these,” he said, picking up a pack of cigarettes from a desk in his lawyer’s office. He swears he’s quit smoking, but he took a few drags, then gave the cigarette away. Born again Dilisio, a born-again Christian for the past 15 years, said he first wrestled with guilt about his earlier testimony – “I thought I did something wrong.” But now he said, God is guiding him, and led a Miami Herald reporter to his doorstep. It was a while talking to the reporter, Lori Rozsa, three weeks ago that he realized he didn’t really remember seeing what he testified to decades before. “I just kept feeling like it was the Holy Spirit,” he said. Thursday he was afraid the media would mock him. “Here’s trash that waited 20 years to come forward,” he said, sneering. “It took a lot of courage to stand up.” Spaziano’s lawyer is bitter. “This is my last capital case. What kind of a lawyer am I?,” Mello said. “I’ve been defending this innocent man for 11 years and it took the Miami Herald to stay the execution.” ---------------------------------------------------------- News Journal reporter Winnie Hu contributed to this report.
[image caption - Anthony Dilisio was 16 when he testified against Joseph 'Crazy Joe' Spaziano. His testimony helped send Spaziano to death row. Dilisio said he's no longer sure what he saw 20 years ago.]
[end page]
[start page]
A Pensacola man who recanted 20-year-old testimony that put a man on death row said that he's been overwhelmed in the past week by media and criminal investigators intent on hearing his story. But Anthony Dilisio, an upholsterer and car restorer who's lived here for seven years, said he doesn't feel responsible for the conviction of Joseph Spaziano. Nor does he feel guilty because Spaziano spent two decades in prison waiting to be executed for the murder of an Orlando woman, Laura Lynn Harberts, 18. "I did what I felt was right, this was a life-and-death situation," said Dilisio, 37, a born-again Christian who was 16 when he testified against Spaziano. "I was a child, I've put my childish ways behind me." Gov. Lawton Chiles last week stayed Spaziano's execution, scheduled for Tuesday, after viewing a videotape of the recantation. Dilisio said Thursday: "I don't know if Joe Spaziano is guilty or innocent. One thing I do know is there was a young child manipulated." The case has captured national attention because Spaziano, 51, has been on death row longer than all but eight of Florida's more than 350 condemned. Also, Dilisio implicated Spaziano while under hypnosis -- a practice since out- See RECANTED, back of section
[end page]
[start page]
lawed in Florida because experts believe it's too easy for police to suggest things to hypnotized witnesses. The Florida Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that hypnosis-induced testimony could no longer be used in court cases. Dilisio said that since authorities learned that he wasn't sure of what he saw in 1973, he's the one who's been under scrutiny. "It's almost like they're investigating me,” he said in an interview Thursday. He’s learned that investigators have interviewed his entire family since his claims were first made public June 11. When police approached Dilisio about the slaying, he was in a juvenile detention center. He had been friends with Spaziano, known as “Crazy Joe,” who headed the Orlando chapter of the Outlaws motorcycle gang, and told police that Spaziano bragged to him of the killing. After his court testimony, Dilisio fled to California. He moved to Pensacola in 1988 and has lived in a one-story brick bungalow at the dead-end of a street on the north side for at least four years Friendly handyman Neighbors describe Dilisio, who they call Tony, as the street’s friendly handyman. He fixes their cars, uses his riding mower to cut grass for those who need help and is always ready for small talk. No one had any idea he’d been mixed up in a murder case. “I can’t say anything negative about him,” said neighbor Brenda Qualls, who, like Dilisio, attends Brownsville Assembly of God. “He’s such a nice person, friendly, if you need help with something he’ll be glad to help you.” Most on the street like watching his progress as he restores classic cars, which line his well-tended front lawn. No bodies In his murder trial testimony in Orlando, Dilisio said Spaziano took him to a dump and showed him two bodies. One was identified as Harberts, a medical technician. The other was so decomposed it couldn’t be identified. Now, “Anthony can’t remember everything,” said Kelly McGraw, one of his Pensacola attorneys, “But he does remember he didn’t see the bodies.” Last week agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement videotaped an interview with a Miami Herald reporter. Local FDLE officials would not comment. Tallahassee officials could not be reached Thursday. Dilisio’s lawyers say they don’t know what will happen next, legally. Neither does Spaziano’s attorney, Michael Mello of White River Junction, Vt. Without Dilisio, “the state had no case against my client,” Mello said in a telephone interview. Dilisio, clearly a man feeling pressured, underwent a barrage of media interviews Thursday – including one with ABC News. During an interview in his lawyer’s office, his voice quavered and he deflected most personal questions. He wouldn’t sit down. “All I want to do is let justice prevail,” he said. “I’m taking one of these,” he said, picking up a pack of cigarettes from a desk in his lawyer’s office. He swears he’s quit smoking, but he took a few drags, then gave the cigarette away. Born again Dilisio, a born-again Christian for the past 15 years, said he first wrestled with guilt about his earlier testimony – “I thought I did something wrong.” But now he said, God is guiding him, and led a Miami Herald reporter to his doorstep. It was a while talking to the reporter, Lori Rozsa, three weeks ago that he realized he didn’t really remember seeing what he testified to decades before. “I just kept feeling like it was the Holy Spirit,” he said. Thursday he was afraid the media would mock him. “Here’s trash that waited 20 years to come forward,” he said, sneering. “It took a lot of courage to stand up.” Spaziano’s lawyer is bitter. “This is my last capital case. What kind of a lawyer am I?,” Mello said. “I’ve been defending this innocent man for 11 years and it took the Miami Herald to stay the execution.” ---------------------------------------------------------- News Journal reporter Winnie Hu contributed to this report.
Original Format
Newspaper
Contributor of the Digital Item
Tolbert, Carson
Student Editor of the Digital Item
Dickinson, Terra
Files
Citation
Barnes, Brad, “Pensacolian halts man's execution,” HIST299, accessed March 12, 2026, https://hist299.umwhistory.org/items/show/172.