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positions in the center for a head-on shot, rather than a profile. But it was futile in such tight quarters. Any position was better than nothing. More than a dozen microphones created a tangle of wires and station logos in front of an obviously uncomfortable and quivering John Esposito, who was flanked by the two Siben attorneys. Andrew decisively slid the collection of mics his way.
“He has fully cooperated with the investigation. His sole concern is that the child is returned safely,” he said, impassively.
It was their idea to have John Esposito face the media, and they called the news conference, even though police had been telling reporters, on background, that the mild-mannered home improvements contractor had a criminal record. John had been arrested back in 1977, fifteen years earlier, accused of trying to pull a twelve-year-old boy he knew into a car at a local shopping mall. He copped a plea to the lesser charge of misdemeanor, and details of the case were sealed.
There were other troubling allegations too. The previous December, Marilyn Beers called the Big Brothers-Big Sisters Organization of Suffolk County worried that John, who was spending weekends with her son for years, might be molesting him. 5 John Esposito, the organization’s director told reporters, was never a member, but withdrew an application four years earlier, during the rigorous screening phase, after trying to pin the attempted abduction of the twelve-year-old on his twin brother, Ronald. John Esposito, the director said, tried to make it look as if it were a mix up and that it had been his twin brother who was arrested.
The director was concerned enough to contact Suffolk police, he said, because John might have been posting ads on local supermarkets bulletin boards and in the Pennysaver , trying to pass himself off as an official “Big Brother.”
“I am a Long Island Big Brother. I am doing it on the side. If you have a son who you think needs a man’s influence, I may be able tovolunteer my time. Every boy needs a man in his life. A person of good character who he can trust and respect. I have been a big brother for over ten years. I have character references.”
The bulletin board ads were neatly handwritten and signed “J.E.,” offering a phone number for contact purposes. John denied posting the cards and the police investigation into allegations he molested “Little” John went nowhere.
Why then, if Suffolk police had been flagged that John was a potential threat to children, was he being paraded in front of the news cameras and about to be grilled by the media on the disappearance of a child? None of this seemed to shake the Sibens. They invited news coverage and counted on a huge turnout. We didn’t disappoint.
What they may not have counted on was John Esposito breaking down in sloppy tears as the cameras were rolling. He told reporters that he had known Katie since she was a baby, met her through his sister-in-law, Joan. He had been to the Spaceplex arcade three previous times and he and Katie always spent time together. She would run and hug him whenever he came to pick her up. She called him “Big John.”
Reporters, keenly aware of the golden opportunity to question a “person of interest” themselves, dug in. A cacophony of questions was hurled at the pallid John.
When did you see Katie last?
Why would you leave her alone at the arcade?
Were you ever accused of sexual abuse?
John, wearing a blue sweater, black vest and pained look on his face, stared down at the table as he spoke. He said Katie had called him on Sunday saying she saved a piece of birthday cake for him from her party. Then, he said, she begged him to visit her on Monday.
“Can you pick me up today? Can we do anything?” John said he remembered Katie pleading.
He said he picked her up at one o’clock in the afternoon, took her to a toy store where he bought her a troll doll for her birthday and a Home Alone video game, then to a
“He has fully cooperated with the investigation. His sole concern is that the child is returned safely,” he said, impassively.
It was their idea to have John Esposito face the media, and they called the news conference, even though police had been telling reporters, on background, that the mild-mannered home improvements contractor had a criminal record. John had been arrested back in 1977, fifteen years earlier, accused of trying to pull a twelve-year-old boy he knew into a car at a local shopping mall. He copped a plea to the lesser charge of misdemeanor, and details of the case were sealed.
There were other troubling allegations too. The previous December, Marilyn Beers called the Big Brothers-Big Sisters Organization of Suffolk County worried that John, who was spending weekends with her son for years, might be molesting him. 5 John Esposito, the organization’s director told reporters, was never a member, but withdrew an application four years earlier, during the rigorous screening phase, after trying to pin the attempted abduction of the twelve-year-old on his twin brother, Ronald. John Esposito, the director said, tried to make it look as if it were a mix up and that it had been his twin brother who was arrested.
The director was concerned enough to contact Suffolk police, he said, because John might have been posting ads on local supermarkets bulletin boards and in the Pennysaver , trying to pass himself off as an official “Big Brother.”
“I am a Long Island Big Brother. I am doing it on the side. If you have a son who you think needs a man’s influence, I may be able tovolunteer my time. Every boy needs a man in his life. A person of good character who he can trust and respect. I have been a big brother for over ten years. I have character references.”
The bulletin board ads were neatly handwritten and signed “J.E.,” offering a phone number for contact purposes. John denied posting the cards and the police investigation into allegations he molested “Little” John went nowhere.
Why then, if Suffolk police had been flagged that John was a potential threat to children, was he being paraded in front of the news cameras and about to be grilled by the media on the disappearance of a child? None of this seemed to shake the Sibens. They invited news coverage and counted on a huge turnout. We didn’t disappoint.
What they may not have counted on was John Esposito breaking down in sloppy tears as the cameras were rolling. He told reporters that he had known Katie since she was a baby, met her through his sister-in-law, Joan. He had been to the Spaceplex arcade three previous times and he and Katie always spent time together. She would run and hug him whenever he came to pick her up. She called him “Big John.”
Reporters, keenly aware of the golden opportunity to question a “person of interest” themselves, dug in. A cacophony of questions was hurled at the pallid John.
When did you see Katie last?
Why would you leave her alone at the arcade?
Were you ever accused of sexual abuse?
John, wearing a blue sweater, black vest and pained look on his face, stared down at the table as he spoke. He said Katie had called him on Sunday saying she saved a piece of birthday cake for him from her party. Then, he said, she begged him to visit her on Monday.
“Can you pick me up today? Can we do anything?” John said he remembered Katie pleading.
He said he picked her up at one o’clock in the afternoon, took her to a toy store where he bought her a troll doll for her birthday and a Home Alone video game, then to a
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