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Apr 19, 2006 7:15 pm US/Eastern
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Greenwich Murder Investigation Focuses On Driver
Cops Turn Attention To A Rented Storage Container
GREENWICH (AP) ―
Authorities investigating the killing of millionaire developer Andrew Kissel searched a storage bin that his driver rented about three days before Kissel was found dead, the driver's attorney said Wednesday.
The search warrant, executed Tuesday afternoon, was the latest sign that investigators continue to focus on Carlos Trujillo, Kissel's driver and personal assistant.
"I don't believe there was anything of evidentiary value in there," said Lindy Urso, Trujillo's attorney. "If they had asked, Carlos certainly would have let them in."
Kissel was found bound and fatally stabbed on April 3 in his Greenwich home, just a few days before he was scheduled to plead guilty in federal court in a multimillion-dollar real estate fraud case.
April 4: Murder House Looking More Like CSI Site Trujillo rented the storage unit because Kissel and his wife were moving out of their rented home as a result of their divorce and had given the driver some of their household items, Urso said. Trujillo kept beds, clothing and Christmas lights in the unit, he said.
The attorney said he was not sure what investigators took from the storage bin.
Police have said there was no sign of forced entry into the home, but have refused to discuss a possible motive or suspects. No one has been charged in Kissel's death.
Trujillo has been interviewed several times by police and has given authorities DNA, fingerprints and personal documents. The driver, who also took a lie detector test, maintains his innocence, Urso said.
Investigators have asked Trujillo whether it was possible Kissel arranged to have himself killed, presumably so his children could collect millions of dollars in life insurance, Urso said.
April 5: Investigators Exploring "Suicide By Hitman" Theory Last June, police were called to Kissel's house on a report that he may have been suicidal, according to police records obtained by The Associated Press Wednesday under the Freedom of Information Act. The records indicate the concerns were allayed after interviews with Kissel and his doctor.
Police were also called to the Kissel house on Feb. 27, 2005, because of a telephone argument between Kissel and his wife, who was in Vermont and had served him divorce papers, records show.
Records indicate "nothing was amiss" at the house.
Kissel's estranged wife, Hayley, fantasized in an e-mail last year about "pummeling him to death." But her lawyer said Tuesday she was only venting her frustrations over her husband's extensive legal and other troubles and denies any involvement in his death.
Hayley Kissel had called Kissel's father the day before he was found dead to tell him Andrew Kissel was despondent, according to her attorney, Nathan Dershowitz.
Police have said they interviewed Hayley Kissel and described her as cooperative.
Trujillo's attorney said investigators have also questioned his client about selling some of Andrew Kissel's jewelry and Trujillo's trip to his native Colombia.
Trujillo returned to Colombia to visit his family in February after obtaining his green card, Urso said. The driver the same month sold about $12,000 worth of Kissel's jewelry at his employer's direction to raise money, Urso said.
Trujillo kept the money in his own account because Kissel had no active accounts due to his legal troubles, Urso said.
Authorities also have searched Trujillo's house.
"It just heightens my concern they're focusing on the wrong person," Urso said. "I'm concerned they're going to let important leads on the real killer or killers pass them by."
Urso cited Kissel's cocaine problem, described in federal court documents, and his financial troubles.
"It's certainly possible he ran into debt with his supplier," Urso said.
Police have said Kissel was last seen alive by an acquaintance the afternoon before he was found dead. Trujillo saw Kissel between 5:30 and 6 p.m. the day before he was found dead, according to two people with direct knowledge of the case who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Andrew Kissel was the brother of Robert Kissel, who died three years ago in Hong Kong when his wife fed him a strawberry milkshake laced with poison and bludgeoned him to death with a statue.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)