New bill targets repeat dangerous offenders
By Associated Press
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Lawmakers will consider a new bill named in memory of a teacher who was murdered a decade ago after her car broke down and she accepted a ride from a stranger.
The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee plans a public hearing Tuesday on "Melissa’s Bill," named after Melissa Gosule. The 27-year-old teacher was raped and stabbed to death on July 11, 1999, by motorist Michael Gentile.
The bill is aimed at ensuring maximum prison terms for dangerous repeat offenders. Gentile had been convicted of 27 crimes — including robbery and breaking and entering — but had served a total of just two years in prison when he killed Gosule.
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone and Republican state Rep. Brad Hill from Ipswich filed the bill.
Gentile is now serving a life sentence.
Mary Clements
241D Stevens Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
July 29, 2004
Mr. Paul Niedzwiecki, Esq.
Barnstable Town Hall
367 Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Dear Mr. Niedzwiecki,
Please review the enclosed document involving the death of Melissa Gosule by a transient associated with the NOAH Shelter. Several former clients have given descriptions of Mr. Michael Gentile and recall his erratic behavior prior to the sexual assault and murder of the young woman after her car broke down at the Sagamore Rotary in 1998. One former client and NOAH resident recalls Mr. Gentile’s father, Philip Gentile as a regular at the Salvation Army and stated that he was known to be punctual for his morning doughnut. He was famous for his propensity for offering unsuspecting women alcohol in return for a “ride in his vehicle and sexual favors”. Mr. Gentile’s father bragged every morning about his exploits the previous evening. He owned a local bakery before his retirement and was well known to both the Hyannis area and to the Salvation Army’s “Day Star Program”. Chief Finnegan and Royden Richardson are on the Board of Trustees at The Salvation Army.
Marjorie Watson, the Confidential Assistant to Chief Finnegan is on record for stating that Chief Finnegan is unaware of any serious felons being associated with the NOAH Center. As you know, Rick Presbrey is on videotape at the Airport Commission Meetings stating that I was irresponsible for suggesting that serious sex offenders and other felons frequent the local shelter. This seemed unusual as The Salvation Army Day Star Program was suspended in 1998 and the facility was closed due to public safety complaints in the downtown Hyannis area. Chief Finnegan was installed as a Board Member of the Salvation Army where Royden Richardson was already serving on the Board of Trustees. This was a stipulation necessary for the reopening of The Salvation Army soup kitchen.
As you are aware, Chief Finnegan negotiated a six-year contract with an annual salary increase of $20,000 per year during the effort for NOAH’s expansion project as directed by then President Royden Richardson. Chief Finnegan instructed Sergeant Sean Sweeney to sign off on the Barnstable Police Department and Barnstable Fire Department accordingly. Your former employer, District Attorney Michael O’Keefe is on record requesting deference to the human service organization that supported this effort. Ms. Watson suggested that I contact the shelter to inquire as to whether any serious criminal offenders resided in such shelter and stated emphatically that the chief knew nothing of such information.
The client with whom I spoke remembers the Gentile family well and stated that Philip Gentile told Michael Gentile to take up residence at the shelter several years prior to the killing of Melissa Gosule. She did state that there was an associated clinic directed by the predecessor of Judy Best and that Michael Gentile did indeed acquire narcotics at the facility. The State Trooper with whom I spoke from the District Attorney’s Office stated that the department cannot keep track of offenders when released from incarceration. He remembered Michael Gentile by name and stated that Melissa Gosule’s body was recovered near Plymouth somewhere and not Pembroke as I had suggested. As you will read in the newspaper account provided, Ms. Gosule’s body was indeed recovered in a shallow grave in Pembroke as I recall from memory of reading of the murder six years ago. The client with whom I spoke stated that she remembered also that the body was found in Pembroke as Michael Gentile had an aunt of whom he spoke often and fondly who owned a restaurant in the Town of Pembroke. He indeed tied her to a tree and then buried her in a shallow grave in the forest behind this beloved aunt’s establishment.
In the future please feel free to contact me in regard to the whereabouts of local criminals, felons and offenders, as I seem to be able to keep careful track of them here in Hyannis and Greater Barnstable. I find it helps not to pay anyone too much deference. Perry Bell, who was featured in the recent Pilot House article, is now living at the corner of Bearse’s Way and Fresh Holes Road. As you know, Mr. Bell is the rapist that frequented 72 North Street and was photographed freebasing in my former back yard. Please recall that the photograph was taken after Judy Best, RN disputed my accounts that Kendrick’s was indeed a crack house and the Chief negotiated a significant salary increase during the initiative sponsored by Royden Richardson. There are a significant number of known narcotics offenders seen at or around Mr. Bell’s new address including Bob Simens and Ray Gottwaldis. Mr. Bell is now riding a new bicycle provided to him by The Council of Churches in their version of the Wheels to Work Program. He maintains communication with his contacts via cellular phone making deliveries on his new bicycle.
Lastly, I have enclosed a letter to the editor from the Barnstable Patriot on Town Hall Corruption for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary Clements
cc. Sergeant Sean Sweeney
(Photo, Courtesy of The Boston Globe)
