Thomas J. Grasso: Difference between revisions

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==Biography==

Thomas Joseph Grasso was born on November 23, 1962, in West Babylon, New York to Joseph and Ruth Grasso. Prior to his birth, his older brother, who was named Joseph Thomas Grasso, was killed at the age of 4 when a neighbor backed a car over him. Thomas was intended to be named after his deceased brother, but his mother instead named him Thomas Joseph after a psychic warned her that the child would die if she named him Joseph.

The Grasso family moved to Tampa, Florida while Thomas was still young. In Tampa, he built up a lengthy rap sheet of offenses, mostly for theft, and stole from two of his employers. In October 1990, he left the area and went with his girlfriend Lana to stay at her grandma's house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her grandma was the neighbor and best friend of Hilda Johnson.

New York detectives investigating the murder of Leslie Holtz arrested Grasso and within two weeks he had confessed to both murders. He first told investigators about the Staten Island killing, then about the murder of Hilda Johnson. Grasso pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years to life on April 21st, 1992.

The New York legislature had passed legislation which would have restored the state's death penalty, but governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo, who were both morally opposed to the death penalty, vetoed the legislation.

Grasso's case became an issue in George E. Pataki's gubernatorial campaign and 11 days after Pataki took office, Grasso was extradited, fulfilling the new governor's campaign pledge.~~[clarification needed]~~ Pataki and Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma, both Republicans, signed an agreement that allowed Oklahoma correction officials to take custody of Grasso at Buffalo International Airport. Prison officials escorted him on a commercial flight to the state penitentiary at McAlester via Tulsa, on January 11th, 1995.

Grasso's case became an issue in George E. Pataki's gubernatorial campaign and 11 days after Pataki took office, Grasso was extradited, fulfilling the new governor's campaign pledge. Pataki and Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma, both Republicans, signed an agreement that allowed Oklahoma correction officials to take custody of Grasso at Buffalo International Airport. Prison officials escorted him on a commercial flight to the state penitentiary at McAlester via Tulsa, on January 11th, 1995.

Grasso spent his last days on the normal prison schedule, confined for 23 hours a day to his 14- by 18-foot cell in the prison's Death Row (H-unit), which he shared with 49 other condemned men. He was allowed one hour's exercise per day and three showers per week.

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 ==Biography==
+Thomas Joseph Grasso was born on November 23, 1962, in West Babylon, New York to Joseph and Ruth Grasso. Prior to his birth, his older brother, who was named Joseph Thomas Grasso, was killed at the age of 4 when a neighbor backed a car over him. Thomas was intended to be named after his deceased brother, but his mother instead named him Thomas Joseph after a psychic warned her that the child would die if she named him Joseph.
+The Grasso family moved to Tampa, Florida while Thomas was still young. In Tampa, he built up a lengthy rap sheet of offenses, mostly for theft, and stole from two of his employers. In October 1990, he left the area and went with his girlfriend Lana to stay at her grandma's house in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her grandma was the neighbor and best friend of Hilda Johnson.
 New York detectives investigating the murder of Leslie Holtz arrested Grasso and within two weeks he had confessed to both murders. He first told investigators about the Staten Island killing, then about the murder of Hilda Johnson. Grasso pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years to life on April 21st, 1992.
 The New York legislature had passed legislation which would have restored the state's death penalty, but governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo, who were both morally opposed to the death penalty, vetoed the legislation.
-Grasso's case became an issue in George E. Pataki's gubernatorial campaign and 11 days after Pataki took office, Grasso was extradited, fulfilling the new governor's campaign pledge.[clarification needed] Pataki and Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma, both Republicans, signed an agreement that allowed Oklahoma correction officials to take custody of Grasso at Buffalo International Airport. Prison officials escorted him on a commercial flight to the state penitentiary at McAlester via Tulsa, on January 11th, 1995.
+Grasso's case became an issue in George E. Pataki's gubernatorial campaign and 11 days after Pataki took office, Grasso was extradited, fulfilling the new governor's campaign pledge. Pataki and Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma, both Republicans, signed an agreement that allowed Oklahoma correction officials to take custody of Grasso at Buffalo International Airport. Prison officials escorted him on a commercial flight to the state penitentiary at McAlester via Tulsa, on January 11th, 1995.
 Grasso spent his last days on the normal prison schedule, confined for 23 hours a day to his 14- by 18-foot cell in the prison's Death Row (H-unit), which he shared with 49 other condemned men. He was allowed one hour's exercise per day and three showers per week.