Dec 7, 2007 7:11 pm US/Eastern
Murdered S.I. Fire Marshal Laid To Rest
Police Re-Enact Mercereau's Death; Wife Remains Suspect
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Brooklyn fire marshal Douglas Mercereau was found shot to death inside his Staten Island home.
CBS
New York Fire Marshal, Douglas Mercereau was laid to rest today at St. Charles Catholic Church on Staten Island. He was found shot to death in his Staten Island home, last weekend.
All eyes were on Mercereau's uncomfortable widow, 38-year-old Janet Mercereau. Police tell CBS 2 HD, Janet is the prime suspect in her husband's killing.
The couple's marriage was a rocky one. A prior domestic incident led to a harassment claim against the husband. But those who knew the man claim he was far from a bad husband.
"He was an outstanding husband and father. He loved his daughters more than life," said Fire Marshal Robert Pinto.
As part of the NYPD's investigation, detectives returned to Mercereau's home earlier Friday to re-enact the shooting. They used his FDNY-issued nine millimeter gun to fire three live rounds in the bedroom in the early morning hours to see where they can be heard around the Staten Island home.
The gun went off allegedly between 6 and 6:30 am, but Janet didn't call 9-1-1 until after 8 am. She says she was sleeping at the time of the murder. When her husband was found dead in his bed and she told the 9-1-1 operator his death was not a suicide.
"There were footsteps in the snow leading in the back way out," attorney Mario Galucci said.
Detectives are performing tests on the wife's clothing and other items taken from the crime scene.
A police source says the gun was found lodged between the dresser and the wall. Two daughters, 5 and 6, were home, but did not witness the shooting.
A 12-year veteran of the fire department, Mercereau worked as a fire marshal in Brooklyn.
His wife's lawyer says police should look to his job for a motive.
"He's made many arrests," Galucci said. "He's investigated many cases. He's testified in many cases for those cases."
Thursday night, family and friends, including his widow, gathered at a funeral home in Eltingville to pay their respects to Mercereau. As police continue to try to figure out who killed him, the wife was held at the 122 precinct for 10 hours of questioning, but has not been charged.
With no suspect arrested, friends of the husband's family say the funeral was a bit strange.
"Yes, it was. Yes it was. We were both a little uncomfortable," said family friend, Donna Long.
So, five days after the killing, the funeral is finally over but the investigation is still in high gear.
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