Episode 677: The Murder of Anthony LoConte

Summary

Morbid Podcast Summary: Episode 677 - The Murder of Anthony LoConte

Host: Morbid Network | Wondery
Release Date: June 2, 2025
Description: Morbid is a true crime and creepy history podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist, blending thorough research with a touch of comedy.

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Introduction

The episode begins with Ash and Alina engaging in their usual humorous banter before delving into the harrowing true crime story of Anthony LoConte's murder. They set the stage for a detailed exploration of the case, emphasizing its emotional impact and the relentless pursuit of justice by Anthony's family.

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Background of the Case

In the spring of 1988, Robert Morganti, a 19-year-old resident of Brockton, Massachusetts, was involved in the local cocaine trade. His operations were supported by his runner, Jeffrey Tessier, who helped distribute the drugs.

Ash (07:07): "Based on court records and just like human logic, it's pretty reasonable to assume Jeffrey had not fully thought out this plan."

The Fateful Night: May 10, 1988

Facing a cocaine shortage, Morganti contacts Tessier for more supply. Tessier, unable to provide, concocts a deceitful scheme to extract money from Morganti by selling fake cocaine.

• The Scam: Tessier convinces Morganti to purchase what Morganti believes is a kilogram of cocaine for $10,500 (approximately $29,000 today). In reality, Tessier provides a bag filled with household items, including an Old Spice deodorant container.

Alina (08:48): "Like that's never gonna happen."

• The Encounter: Tessier hands over the fake package to Morganti, who, realizing he's been scammed, becomes enraged. Morganti and his associate, Brian Madden, return to confront Tessier and Anthony LoConte, who lived with Tessier.

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The Murder of Anthony LoConte

Upon returning, Morganti and Madden, in a fit of anger, violently attack LoConte. Anthony attempts to escape but is overpowered and forced into Madden's car.

Ash (10:22): "Anthony LoConte was sitting in the passenger seat... "

• The Shooting: During the drive, Morganti fatally shoots Anthony in the back of his head with a .380 caliber handgun. The bullet trajectory indicates it was fired from the back seat, confirming Morganti as the shooter.

Alina (12:24): "That's awesome."
Ash (12:25): "They executed him."

• Aftermath: Anthony collapses and is later found unconscious by a passerby, initially misidentified as a hit-and-run victim. Despite medical intervention, he succumbs to his injuries at the hospital.

Alina (16:17): "Oh my God."

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Investigation and Evidence Collection

Investigators piece together the events through eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and Tessier's testimony. Key pieces of evidence include:

• Blood Evidence: Blood on the car and CDs matched Anthony's blood type.
• Gunshot Wound Analysis: Determined the shot was fired from the back seat.

Ash (15:26): "The gun was fired less than 6 inches from the victim's head... executed him."

Robert Morganti's Flight and Capture

Morganti fled the state, evading capture for over a decade. His trail led authorities across various states until his eventual arrest in March 2000 in Modesto, California.

• False Identity: Arrested under the name Roderick Grenige, authorities discovered multiple identities linking him to the LeConte case.
• Extradition: Morganti was extradited to Massachusetts to stand trial.

Alina (33:23): "That must have been unreal."

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Trial and Conviction

Trial Began: Summer 2003, Brockton Superior Court.

• Charges: First-degree murder with special circumstances for premeditation and extreme cruelty.
• Evidence Presented:
  • Photographs: Highly graphic images of Anthony's body.
  • Witness Testimonies: Including Morganti's associates who linked him to the crime.
  • Forensic Evidence: Fingerprints and blood trails placing Morganti at the crime scene.

Ash (37:22): "Brian Madden... identified Robert Morganti as the shooter."

Verdict: Morganti was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Ash (38:07): "Alan told reporters, 'I never gave up hope. I was always hoping he would be found.'"

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Appeals and Legal Battles

Despite his conviction, Morganti pursued appeals challenging the integrity of his trial procedures.

1. First Appeal (2009):
   • Claims: Improper admission of statements and denial of attorney during interrogation.
   • Outcome: The court ruled against Morganti, upholding the conviction.

Ash (38:59): "They saw it starting to come up and they're like, yeah, we'll try other places."

2. Second Appeal (2013):
   • Claims: Violation of the Sixth Amendment during jury selection.
   • Outcome: Rejected, as court procedures during jury impanelment were deemed standard.

Alina (40:07): "You gotta be clear."

---

Recent Developments: Parole Possibility

In April 2025, a Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling (Commonwealth vs Mattis) deemed life without parole for offenders aged 18-20 as cruel and unusual punishment. This has opened the door for potential parole for Morganti, who was 19 at the time of the murder.

Ash (42:18): "Robert Morganti was 19 years old when he killed Anthony Laconte."

• Family's Stance:
  • The LoConte family vehemently opposes Morganti's parole, emphasizing his lack of remorse and continued involvement in criminal activities during his fugitive years.
  • Marie LoConte (18:22): "Anthony's father, L.B., openly wept... relieved that his son had finally received justice."

Alina (44:28): "I don't blame them."

• Action Steps:
  • The family has initiated petitions and picketed the State House to prevent Morganti's parole.
  • They have a change.org petition with nearly 150 signatures, urging the parole board to deny Morganti's release.

Ash (46:49): "We could definitely get them some more."

---

Impact on the LoConte Family

Anthony LoConte's murder has left an indelible mark on his family, who continue to strive for justice and closure.

• Family Memories:
  • Anthony was cherished for his kindness, love for music, and his role as a protective brother.
  • Ash (19:32): "He was a kind and loving brother who didn't have much, but shared what he did have."

Alina (44:19): "Anthony's sister, Marie, told a reporter... We miss his voice, his laughter, his energy."

• Emotional Toll:
  • The family's pain is exacerbated by the possibility of Morganti's parole, reopening old wounds and hindering their healing process.

Alina (44:55): "That just gave me so many chills, and I got a giant ballump of cry in my throat."

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Conclusion

The murder of Anthony LoConte is a tragic tale of deceit, violence, and the relentless pursuit of justice. While Morganti's conviction brought some closure, recent legal developments threaten to reignite the family's anguish. The LoConte family's unwavering commitment to keeping Anthony's memory alive underscores the enduring impact of his untimely death.

Ash (48:12): "It's gut wrenching that this family's still dealing with something that just never should have happened in the first place."

Call to Action:
Listeners are encouraged to support the LoConte family's efforts by signing the petition and raising awareness to prevent Morganti's potential parole.

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Note: Timestamps correspond to key moments in the transcript, providing precise references to notable quotes and discussions.

Transcript

[Ash]

Hey, weirdos, it's Ash. Before we dive into today's twisted tale, let me tell you about the spooky perks of Wondery. It's like having a skeleton key that unlocks ad free listening and early access to new episodes. So don't wait. Try Wondery today. You can join Wondery plus in the Wondery app or in Apple podcasts or Spotify. You're listening to a morbid network podcast. We get support from Amazon Prime. Hey, weirdos, you know what's literally the most amazing thing ever? Amazon Prime. Listen up, because this is gonna blow your minds. With prime, you get faster than lightning delivery on, like, everything. We're talking millions of items. Literally everything you could ever want or need. But wait, there's more. There's more than everything you could want or need. Prime Video lets you binge all those shows we're obsessed with. And Amazon Music has all the bops for your next dance party. I have been ordering a little bit on prime lately. I had to get some earplugs the other night because my husband was a snorri snore snoring. And I said, please send them to me the very next day. And they did. That was great. Loved that. Whether you're a bookworm, a gaming fanatic, or you just really like trying new things or sleeping through the night without your husband snoring waking you up, Prime's got your back. Ebooks for days, free in game goodies and everything you need to make your next DIY project from streaming to shopping. It's on Prime. Visit Amazon.com prime to get more out of whatever you're into from the creator of Think Twice, Michael Jackson. Listen to the new Audible original Final thoughts Jerry Springer. Once known as the king of trash tv, Springer was the notorious talk show host whose wild daytime program transfixed audiences everywhere. Join Springer's personal and professional life as the ratings soared and the reviews soured. Here revealing interviews about the choices we make and the regrets we may have. Listen to the new trashy and true Audible original Final thoughts Jerry Springer by going to audible.com Springer hey, weirdos.

[Alina]

I'm Alina. I'm Ash. And this is is morbid. It's morbid in the morning, so. Hey, it's morbid in the morning.

[Ash]

Oh, did you hear my jaw crack?

[Alina]

Yeah, your jaw is needs to be taken care of.

[Ash]

I have a reckless jaw.

[Alina]

Reckless jaw.

[Ash]

Somebody should probably, like, wire it shut for a little bit. Honestly, my whole job is talking and it just wouldn't work out.

[Alina]

It's rough it, it's like snaps a lot.

[Ash]

Yeah, I was just like, just doing a little stretch and it was like, you hear it when I eat a bagel. It's even crazier.

[Alina]

Oh damn.

[Ash]

It's nuts. Well, you have heard it, but I have.

[Alina]

It's true.

[Ash]

You listener out there, you, you may not have. I don't know your life. I don't know your life. I don't know your life, but I do know a candy store that you should go to in Salem.

[Alina]

Yeah, this is. And it's not an ad. No, it's just we like to pass on stuff to you. We went to Salem the other day. We got to hang out with our, with our twin flame, Ryan. Lil Washington.

[Ash]

Go download Ryan's music, go buy Ryan's books. Go give him a high five.

[Alina]

He's a lovely, lovely, magical, enchanting human being.

[Ash]

It's the best.

[Alina]

And so is his husband.

[Ash]

Yes.

[Alina]

We love them both. We had a wonderful time in Salem with them.

[Ash]

And they're friends. Yeah.

[Alina]

And their friends are great. Like it was a great, it was a great day.

[Ash]

We had a whole day and we.

[Alina]

Met a lot of listeners. So if we met you, what's up?

[Ash]

Yeah, well, we were in Salem.

[Alina]

We hope you had a great day in Salem.

[Ash]

We met somebody who, it was their first time in Salem. I hope you had the best time.

[Alina]

Yeah. Hell yeah.

[Ash]

Hell fucking yeah. And we also met Marnie.

[Alina]

We met Marnie. And Marnie is the owner of the Curly Girl candy shop in Salem which.

[Ash]

We always pass by there. It's right near like House Witch.

[Alina]

Right near like Essex Street. It's like right off of Essex street.

[Ash]

And I always am like, oh, we should pop in there, like I want some candy. And we were going to this last time cuz we ran into Marnie, she introduced herself and we were planning 100% on going into the candy store. But then we had kids stuff pop up.

[Alina]

Yeah, I had, I had to get to K after school activities and the, we had timed it so that I could get home for that so I could drive them to after school stuff. And the traffic shifted. The traffic and suddenly it was going to be like a two hour drive home and we were like, holy, we got to leave.

[Ash]

That's one thing about Salem. I love going to Salem so much. But like traffic from 2 to 3, the traffic shift is nuts.

[Alina]

Yeah. You either have to leave there very early or very. Or later.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Alina]

There's this one stretch of time where you're going to be in trouble. Yeah.

[Ash]

But Marnie we will be back and we will come buy the out of some of your candy.

[Alina]

Love, Marnie, go to the Curly girl candy shop because it looks so cool. And we're definitely going when we come back. Yes.

[Ash]

And bop into House Witch and get your aura read because we did that with Ryan and his husband and the two of us. And it was very fun.

[Alina]

Very insightful.

[Ash]

Very like. Yeah, very insightful. It's definitely the best way to describe it.

[Alina]

We also stopped into Nocturn, which is one of my favorite stores. Oh, and we met Cody, Cody Crawley, who has. She's. You might know her on, like, TikTok. I think her TikTok and, like, Instagram is under spirit.

[Ash]

Bored.

[Alina]

Bored, but B O R E D. Her name's Cody. She's also an author. She wrote. Her debut novel was Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch. Amazing.

[Ash]

I just got it. I'm so excited to start.

[Alina]

Amazing. So she's a great follow. She's awesome. So definitely, if you're looking for some fun follows. She gives you a lot of information about Salem, too, on her TikTok. She gives you, like, historical information, touristy information. The best kind of, like, little hidden gems.

[Ash]

That's the best.

[Alina]

She gives you, like, spooky little stories. She's very entertaining.

[Ash]

She's got the vibes of Ty from Clueless.

[Alina]

Yes. Very much like a spooky Ty.

[Ash]

Literally, a spooky Ty. I think she's so fun.

[Alina]

So, yeah, it was really cool. We met a lot of cool people.

[Ash]

Good vibes all around. We needed it. We needed a little, like, hooky day.

[Alina]

Yeah, a little hooky day.

[Ash]

I mean, it was our day off anyway. We didn't actually really play hooky from anything, but.

[Alina]

No, we can't.

[Ash]

We're actually not allowed. But with all that being said, that's all the business we had. Right?

[Alina]

Yeah, it was just good business.

[Ash]

It was good business. But we have kind of a pressing case today and this case is, you know, it hits close to home. I had this fucking phenomenal mentor when I was in, like, my very early hair days, when I had just started at, like, this main salon. Yeah, I had this mentor, Timmy, and he took such good care of me. And unfortunately, his uncle was killed years and years and years ago. And now his uncle's killer is possibly going to be up for probation, which is pretty scary.

[Alina]

That's always not great.

[Ash]

Yeah, it's pretty scary, too, when you hear the details of this case.

[Alina]

Ooh.

[Ash]

So let's get into it. This is a pressing matter when we get to the end. There's like some petitions going on and stuff that.

[Alina]

Just trying to get some ears.

[Ash]

Yeah, we want to get some ears, some attention on this. Timmy's family is really trying to do whatever they can to keep their loved ones killer behind bars. And I don't blame them.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

So let's get into it. In the spring of 1988, 19 year old Robert Morganti was living in Brockton, which is a suburb about an hour outside of Boston. And at the time, he was supporting himself as kind of a low level cocaine dealer. At the time, a lot of the product that he was selling came from Jeffrey Tessier, who was one of his runners, quote unquote, who basically helped him break up large amounts of cocaine into smaller packages and then they would go distribute it.

[Alina]

Okay.

[Ash]

On May 10, 1988, Robert Morganti had actually run out of cocaine. So he called Jeffrey in order to get some more, but Jeffrey told him he too was dry, didn't have any. But Jeffrey said he did have a source that he was willing to connect Morgan with in order to resupply. Jeffrey's connection would have completely solved their problems. But a few hours later, Morganti called to say that this connection was also out of cocaine. So sensing an opportunity to make some quick cash and thinking very interestingly, interesting thought pattern here, Jeffrey Tessier devised a scheme where he would, quote, trick Morganti into paying him for what Morganti would mistakenly believe was 1/4 kilogram of cocaine. Oh, no, that's a terrible.

[Alina]

Yeah, that's not a good idea.

[Ash]

He's obviously not the first person to ever rip off a drug dealer. But it does remain unclear how or why he thought Morganti would readily accept a look alike powder and would then distribute that look alike powder without verifying its legitimacy at all.

[Alina]

Confusing.

[Ash]

Like that's never gonna happen.

[Alina]

No.

[Ash]

But for whatever reason, he returned Morganti's call that evening and told him he found another hookup and that they could go to the new supplier's house that night, pick up the drugs for what would end up being about $10,500 at that time and what would be almost $29,000 today.

[Alina]

Okay.

[Ash]

Based on court records and just like human logic, it's pretty reasonable to assume Jeffrey had not fully thought out this plan. No, this was very. This was very impulsive.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And he was very much operating on the fly. So because of that, it is very plausible to believe that Anthony Lacande was just roped into all of this at the very last very dire minute. But either way, that Night, Jeffrey Tessier, Robert Morganti, and one of their associates, Brian Madden, drove to Locon's house. And when they arrived, Tessier told the two men to wait in the car while he went inside to pick up the drugs, which were not drugs. So because Anthony Laconte was ultimately killed that night, we only have Jeffrey Tessier's testimony to rely on to fill in the gaps of what happened next. According to him, he went into Anthony's house and explained that he was what. What he was attempting to do. And again, according to him, laconte didn't object to playing a part in this ruse. Jeffrey then quickly scanned the house for anything that he could pass off as fake cocaine and ultimately gathered a random collection of just household items, including an Old Spice container. And he placed the hastily assembled package in a brown paper bag and went back out to the car.

[Alina]

Okay.

[Ash]

Once he was out there, he handed that, that package and over to Morganti. Morganti gave him the $10,500, fully believing that he was purchasing a kilo of cocaine rather than a bag of garbage. And with the deal done, Morganti and Madden pulled away from the house, leaving Jeffrey there behind with Anthony LeConte, who Jeffree said received $2,000 for his participation in the scam. Again, Jeffree's words.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Not surprisingly, a seasoned drug dealer, Robert Margaute, wasn't fooled by getting a bag of deodorant.

[Alina]

Yeah, that's not shocking.

[Ash]

And was pretty pissed that he had just paid over $10,000 for a bag of garbage. So within five minutes, Morganti and Madden were back at Locant's house, pounding on the back door, which by the way, he lived with his mother.

[Alina]

This is horrifying.

[Ash]

And he, this was a very last minute thing he got roped into. We don't know what he knew and anything like that. We only have trouble. So now Morganti and Madden are banging on the door and like very fucking angry drug dealers.

[Alina]

I can like feel the anxiety right now.

[Ash]

Yeah. So absolutely terrified by these men at the door, Anthony goes running out the front door because they're pounding on the back door. And he attempted to get away from the situation that he got roped into last minute. But according to his mother, Rachel, the two men chased him down in the driveway and managed to force him into Madden's car after beating him. What happened next is not exactly clear, but the evidence collected during the investigation does provide some insight. According to the medical examine examiner. Excuse me. Anthony Laconte was sitting in the passenger seat of the Monte Carlo with Madden driving And Morganti sitting in the back right behind Ant at one point during their drive after having severely beaten him. Investigators believe that Morganti shot 24 year old Laconte in the back of his head with a.380 caliber handgun, sending a bullet through the back of his skull behind his left ear and that then exited through his right eye. Oh yeah.

[Alina]

That's awesome.

[Ash]

They executed him.

[Alina]

That is brutal.

[Ash]

Lately I've just been a little bit obsessed with learning everything I can about our gut microbiome. That is fascinating. I feel like everybody's talking about it. Scroll on TikTok and you'll get at least three videos about it. Fact is, we are learning so much about how the gut microbiome is key to our mental health, immunity and obviously our digestion. If you're looking for digestive support, I think we all are. Ritual has got your back or your biome really. With symbiotic plus a 3 in 1 supplement of clinically studied pre, pro and postbiotics to support a balance balanced gut microbiome with daily use. I use this myself and you all know I'm an IBS queen. Hot girlies have ibs. It's just a fact. You're probably a hot girly listening right now. A hot queen, a hot king, I don't care. You need Symbiotic plus. It has changed my life. I've been taking it for months at this point and I am so regular. That's never something I've been able to say before. I'm whispering it because it's a little bit embarrassing. But because of ritual, I kind of also want to yell it from the rooftops. I'm regular, so get your gut going. Support a balanced gut microbiome with Ritual Symbiotic Plus. Get 25% off your first month at ritual.commorbid that's ritual.commorbid for 25% off your first month. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. If you listen to this show, you know that a lot of men do a lot of questionable things and we're always talking about the stigma around men's mental health. I really think that if a lot of the men we talked about actually were able to get some therapy, you know, they might have done better. Men today face immense pressure to perform, to provide, keep it all together. So it's really no wonder that 6 million men in the US suffer from depression every year. And it's actually often undiagnosed. It's okay to struggle. Real strength comes from opening up about what you're carrying and doing something about it so that you can be at your best for yourself and everybody else in your life. If you're a man and you're feeling the weight of the world, talk to somebody. A friend, a loved one, a therapist. I'm obsessed with therapy. You guys know I'm a huge proponent for it. I just think getting in a room or, you know, talking online to one person, one, two times a week, every other week, whatever works for you, really will make all the difference. I've benefited from therapy myself and so many of my friends and family have.

[Alina]

As well.

[Ash]

As the largest online therapy provider in the world, Better Help can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Talk it out with Better Help our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.commorbid that's BetterHelp H E L P.commorbid based on the technician's analysis of the evidence in the car, the gun was fired less than 6 inches from the victim's head. Holy. It was so close that it caused burns around the edge of the wound. And finally, it was determined based on Anthony's injuries and the trajectory of the bullet that the gunshot could have only been fired from the back seat.

[Alina]

Okay.

[Ash]

Where Morganti was believed to have been sitting a little past 11pm that night, Brockton resident Michael Geeler looked out the window of his Howard street residence and saw a blue Monte Carlo slow to a stop across from his home, where it sat briefly before pulling away. After the car left, he saw what he described as what looked like a trash bag sitting on the side of the road. And assuming that the driver had just dumped trash, he went back to what he was doing. Didn't really think anything about it until a short time later, he heard screams coming from outside. By that time, a passing driver had also seen what they thought was an object on the side of the road. But they stopped to investigate, and that's when they found Anthony Laconte unconscious and badly bleeding. They just dumped him on the side of the road and he was only unconscious. He had not died yet.

[Alina]

Oh my God.

[Ash]

So Gaylor called for an ambulance, and emergency responders arrived a few minutes later. At first they couldn't tell because he was so badly beaten and, you know, you're unrecognizable after that kind of gunshot wound. Emergency responders believed that he actually Anthony had been the victim of a hit and run accident.

[Alina]

Holy.

[Ash]

Since he was covered in blood and the exit wound above his eye wasn't recognizable, I think probably because due to swelling, he was still actually breathing and did have a weak pulse. But a short time later, he did pass away at the hospital. And later that day when the autopsy was conducted, that's when they discovered the bullet wound over his eye and the back of his head. And his death at that point was obviously deemed a homicide. This was devastating to his family. Anthony Leconte was born in December of 1963 to Coast Guardsman Alby Alby and line worker and former model Rachel leconte. They are a beautiful couple.

[Alina]

Obsessed with them.

[Ash]

My friend Timmy's grandparents, and he sent all these old pictures of them on, like, their wedding day and everything. They had all these children together. They're a beautiful family. Anthony was the fourth of their fifth children, and he was absolutely adored by all of his siblings and even his extended family growing up. He loved to watch Batman and Robin with his brother Alan. He loved to dress up, and they would pretend to fly around the house like superheroes. Him and his sister Marie would do that. And he also loved the cartoon Go, Speed Racer, Go. He loved race cars, motorcycles, anything like that. He and his brother Alan would go to concerts all the time. Alan said they went to acdc, Fog Hat, Blue Oyster Cult.

[Alina]

Oh, my God.

[Ash]

And they would sneak up to the front rows together whenever they could. I love that they had a great time together. And music definitely played a big part in the whole family's lives. All of Anthony's siblings remember dancing around with him. They remember just spending days hanging out in their rooms listening to new records. He gave one of his sisters a cassette or like a 45 of Prince's purple Rain.

[Alina]

Oh, my God.

[Ash]

And she still has it to this day. She won't part with it, of course, but one thing that every family member recalls, and I just think this is such a sweet memory, the family went on a cruise to the Bahamas together. And Tony was only about 7 or 8 at the time, but he got up on stage on the cruise and they all said that he performed Frank Sinatra's you Make Me feel so Young with the ship's band.

[Alina]

Shut up.

[Ash]

Just, like, got up there and sang for everybody. And the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

[Alina]

Of course they will.

[Ash]

And everybody has that memory of him.

[Alina]

Oh, I love that.

[Ash]

It's really sweet. Anthony's sister Susan told us. What I want people to know about Anthony was that he was a kind and loving brother who didn't have much, but shared what he did have. He would always put others before himself. He was an advocate or big brother. To many kids in the neighborhood, he always loved the holidays. He would go to the neighbor's houses and celebrate their traditions and eat with them. He loved playing with the children and would stick up for others that were being bullied. Just the other day, while getting an oil change, a man came up to me and asked me if I was a leconte. He told me the story of him being bullied and how Anthony stepped in and told the other kids to leave him alone and they never bullied him again.

[Alina]

So few people are like that.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Alina]

So to, like, lose somebody that's like that in such a horrific way is, like, heartbreaking, devastating, tragic. You don't find people like that.

[Ash]

No. To just go out of their way, probably for somebody he, like, knew.

[Alina]

Yeah. Like, just, like, handedly or just whatever. Like, a lot of people won't stick up for people. No. They won't put their own nose, you know, like, it's. A lot of people will just kind of walk away and let somebody else deal with it.

[Ash]

But look at how significant it is when you actually do go out of your way and stick up for somebody. Went up to his sister, however many years later, like 40 years later, and still remembered that.

[Alina]

That's the thing people will remember. Just, like, the smallest acts of kindness that you will do or just going out of your way to, like, make them happy or make something better for them. And people remember the other way. Oh, absolutely. And which way would you rather be known for? Being the bully and being the person that made someone's life awful. Not being the person that stepped in and, like, made things better.

[Ash]

And it's easy. It's not easy. It doesn't take too much.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

You know, just do it. But everybody has fond memories of Anthony.

[Alina]

It sounds like it.

[Ash]

His niece Amy also has the fond memories, especially about going to visit him while he lived with her. Grandma. Grandmother. When she was young. She said, my uncle Tony, he had old Hollywood movie star looks. He was.

[Alina]

I was just about to say he is incredibly handsome.

[Ash]

He does. He actually have. Did you meet Timmy when I was working at the salon.

[Alina]

I think I briefly met him.

[Ash]

I'm pretty sure Timmy looks like his uncle.

[Alina]

I was gonna say they are very similar.

[Ash]

Like, yeah, Timmy's very Hollywood star.

[Alina]

Very, like, striking.

[Ash]

Very striking. Yeah.

[Alina]

And he looks like he could be in, like, one of those cool old movies. Like, you could see him in, like, a full suit.

[Ash]

Yes, absolutely. Like, dapper down, like, driving a fast car.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

You know, she said he was absolutely stunning. Agreed.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

He was over 6ft tall, with dark hair and dark eyes. The ladies loved him, but he only had eyes for a couple ladies. And the number one lady was his mom.

[Alina]

Oh, my God.

[Ash]

He was a mama's boy. A fearless brother, and the coolest uncle any little girl could ever dream up. She also remembered, of course, how devastating the loss of her uncle was for not only herself, but especially for his mom, Amy's grandmother. She said they had the most beautiful relationship she broke when he was assassinated. I lost them both when he was murdered. She just got so quiet and so sad. I remember when I was going to give birth to my firstborn son. I came to Nanny and I asked her if I could name him Anthony. And she said she didn't think that was a good idea because it wasn't a good name for her son. So did I think it would be a good idea for him. Like, she was so. Not that she didn't love the name or anything. No, she was like something.

[Alina]

Oh, that breaks my heart.

[Ash]

It does.

[Alina]

She's beautiful as well.

[Ash]

Yes.

[Alina]

Nanny.

[Ash]

Nanny. Oh, Nanny's wedding pictures. Nanny was a star.

[Alina]

Yeah. And now Nanny and Albie.

[Ash]

Yes. Damn, gorge couple.

[Alina]

What a couple. I was like, wow.

[Ash]

Yeah. Timmy, your family.

[Alina]

Timmy, your family. Holy.

[Ash]

But on a more serious note, going back to the night of the murder, according to court documents, sometime around midnight, Robert Morganti called his friend Travis Merritt and told him that he had, quote, unquote, gotten ripped off, something went wrong, and he had shot somebody. So Travis agreed to help his friend. And a short time later, Robert Morganti showed up to his apartment with blood still all over his face and all over his clothing. During their conversation, Morganti repeated the story of what happened earlier that night, saying he didn't know the identity of the man that he'd shot, only that he thought he was involved for in ripping him off for $10,500. And Morganti told Travis he had thrown the gun out of the car somewhere along Harrison Boulevard on his way back to the apartment. And he said his only priority in that moment was finding Jeffrey Tessier and getting his money back. Which is like, your priorities are up. You just killed a man. Took a man's life. A short time later, the two men went to the home of another acquaintance, Gary Gammell, where they believed they'd find Jeffrey. At the house, Morganti apparently told Gammell, I just want my money. I killed the wrong person.

[Alina]

Holy.

[Ash]

So Anthony Laconte was just wrapped up in all of this.

[Alina]

I just killed the wrong person.

[Ash]

In a case of mistaken identity. It Very much. Seems like Morganti thought he was going after Jeffrey or thought he was going after this, like, big deal cocaine dealer. And that was not Anthony.

[Alina]

Holy shit. That's horrifying.

[Ash]

And he knew it. He knew how badly he had fucked up, that he just killed somebody who wasn't involved in all of this. Wow. So as the men were talking, Jeffrey pulled up outside, and Morganti actually moved toward the door to confront him, but was stopped by Gammel, who insisted that he would go out and get the money back. I'm sure he was like, you've gotten yourself in enough.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

A few minutes later, Gammell returned and handed Morganti 7, $500, which obviously he noted was a few thousand dollars short. But he accepted it at that point. Probably just ready to be done with the whole ordeal.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And they left Gammell's house in a cab, and the cab then dropped Morganti at the home of another associate, Joseph Valente. Morganti then explained to Valente that he'd been ripped off and had shot and killed one of the men he thought was responsible, but that he had killed the wrong man. And now he needed help in getting in contact with an associate in California because he was planning to flee the state. Wow. Which means he fully knew that he was in a whole bunch of shit.

[Alina]

100%.

[Ash]

He had the full wherewithal to know that he needed to get the fuck out of Dodge because what he did was wrong.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And he was going to face some kind of trouble for it.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

You know that moment at night when you're locking up, turning off the lights, and you just want to feel completely safe before heading to bed? That is exactly the feeling that Simplisafe gives me. I've been using it for years at this point, and it has really changed how I think about home security. Arming my system at night and putting my head on a pillow, knowing that I have a panic button right there in my room if I need to press it. Most security systems only take action after somebody breaks in that is too late. SimpliSafe's new active Guard Outdoor Protection helps stop break ins before they even happen. AI powered cameras and live monitoring agents detect suspicious activity around your property. If somebody's lurking around that, property agents can talk to them in real time, turn on spotlights, and they can even call the police, proactively deterring crime before it even starts. There's no contracts, there's no hidden fees. And Simply Safe was named Best Home security system of 2025 by CNET visit simplisafe.com morbid to claim 50 off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and get your first month free. That's simplisafe.com morbid there's no safe like Simplisafe. I think this episode I have said one thing about me many times. So I guess the last thing about me is that my cats are literally my children. Have you guys ever seen the meme where the woman is like, I birthed this cat. I birthed all three of those cats and I'm obsessed with them. This podcast is sponsored by Smalls. If you're a listener of this show, you know that my cats genuinely cannot live without smalls. To get 35% off plus an additional 50 off your first order, head to smalls.com and use our promo code Morbid for a limited time only. Smalls cat food is protein packed recipes made with preservative free ingredients that you would literally find in your fridge and it's delivered right to your door. That's why cats.com named Smalls their best overall cat food. Remy, Franklin and Lux are obsessed with the pig blend. They are really picky when it comes to food. I think a lot of cats are, but mine will literally sniff the bowl and walk away if they don't like it. I'm like, okay, cool, what are we gonna do here? The day that I brought Smalls into their lives, I never had that experience with them again. They come running when they hear the bulls. So what are you waiting for? Give your cat the food they deserve. For a limited time only because you are a morbid listener. You can get 35 off smalls plus an additional 50 off your first order by using my code morbid. That's an additional 50 off when you head to smalls.com and use promo code Morbid again, that's promo code Morbid for an additional 50 off your first order plus free [e-mail] Meow. So while he was tracking down Jeffrey Tessier to get his missing money, Brian Madden was having a crisis of his own. Madden, remember, was driving the car that night. He hadn't been necessarily responsible for Anthony Locant's murder and obviously didn't know it was going to happen. It happened very quickly. But like I said, he had been driving the car when Anthony was shot. And he also helped with dumping Anthony's body on the side of the road. He's an accomplice to murder.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

So he's freaking out and he calls his brother, Mark Madden a little after midnight that night. And briefly explained what happened and asked Mark if he could come over. After hearing the story, Mark did the right thing and encouraged his brother to report the shooting to the police, which Brian did end up doing. Shortly after hanging up with Mark, when Mark arrived to his brother's apartment, he saw the Monte Carlo parked out front and could still see a large amount of blood in the front seat of the car. Inside, Brian was already speaking with detectives who had come to the apartment. A short time after placing that call, state and local investigators arrived at Brian Madden's apartment and they started processing the car for evidence, noting that there was a, quote, great deal of blood on the front passenger seat. They also collected Several blood covered CDs from the front seat and an Old Spice container, which, remember, was used to rip off Morganti.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Inside the apartment, investigators also collected several more blood spattered CDs from Brian Madden's kitchen. And subsequent testing of the blood found in the car on the floor mats and the blood on the CDs in the kitchen. All a match for Anthony Laconte. No surprise there. During their investigation with Brian Madden and processing the evidence collected from the car, investigators with Brockton and Massachusetts State Police established that Brian Madden had been driving the car at the time of the shooting. And forensic testing recreations of the shooting confirmed, quote, it would have been difficult to have fired a shot from the driver's seat at the angle indicated by the entrance and exit wound. So they were able to rule him out as the shooter.

[Alina]

Okay.

[Ash]

And like I said, the evidence did indicate that the shot had been fired from the back seat where we know Robert Morganti was sitting, making him the primary suspect for the murder. Based on the statements taken from Brian Madden. Jeffrey Tessier. Tessier. Excuse me. And Joseph Valente. A warrant was issued for Robert Morganti's arrest on the afternoon of May 11, 1988, for the murder of Anthony Leconte. But the problem was, at that point, by the time investigators managed to put all the pieces together, Morganti had already fled the state. He was gone. In the years that followed, investigators followed leads and tips from the public that brought them to Florida, Michigan and New York in search of Robert Morganti. But it would be more than a decade before he was ultimately captured and put on trial for Anthony Laconte's murder.

[Alina]

Damn.

[Ash]

Yes, more than a decade. In the early morning hours of March 16, 2000, now the year 2000, this all started, remember, in 1988. Now, March 16, 2000, a California highway Patrol officer stopped a car, stopped a driver for speeding along Highway 132 in Modesto. The driver identified himself as Roderick Grenige, a resident of Stanislaus county, and he acknowledged to the officer that he had been drinking.

[Alina]

Oh.

[Ash]

The officer obviously asked the man to step out of the vehicle and immediately placed him under arrest for dui. And during a routine search of the vehicle, the CHP officer also discovered about a half pound of marijuana in Grenache's vehicle, as well as a box that, quote, unquote, contained marijuana residue.

[Alina]

You.

[Ash]

So he contacted the county Drug enforcement Agency, and obviously the vehicle was impounded. The drug evidence found in this man's vehicle was obviously enough for law enforcement agents to get a warrant for his home. Now, where they found 70 pounds of marijuana.

[Alina]

Jesus.

[Ash]

That's a whole ton of marijuana. All of which had been divided into smaller packages, clearly for sale.

[Alina]

Wow. So we're not. We're not evolving here.

[Ash]

No. $21,000 in cash, which was wrapped in bed sheets as well, was found in the apartment. And the evidence strongly indicated that this man was probably a drug dealer.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Yeah. Lieutenant Raul De Leon told reporters it was obvious this guy was supporting himself by selling marijuana. But what was even more unusual and more unexpected was that along with the drugs and the money, investigators also found multiple forms of identification, all with different names, indicating that. That this Broderick Grenache probably wasn't who he claimed to be.

[Alina]

That's spooky.

[Ash]

Among the various forms of identification found in the home was one for John Sam Brown. Another name entirely. Okay. And John Sam Brown was from Alameda County. So investigators in Modesto called their counterparts in Almeida and learned that John Sam Brown had been arrested and convicted on a previous charge and was currently on probation.

[Alina]

Oh.

[Ash]

In the meantime, another detective ran through Roderick's fingerprints, and they ran them through the nationwide database and got a hit. Not for Roderick, but for Robert Morganti.

[Alina]

Oh.

[Ash]

Who, as we know, had a warrant out in Brockton, Massachusetts, for the murder of Anthony Leconte in 1988.

[Alina]

Yep.

[Ash]

On March 17, authorities in California called the state police in Massachusetts and let them know that they had arrested their suspect that many years later. And the following day, a detective from the state police boarded the first plane for Modesto. After a dozen years of waiting and hoping. The news of Morganti's arrest obviously came as a surprise, but a relief to Anthony's family. Laconte's brother Alan told reporters, I never gave up hope. I was always hoping he would be found.

[Alina]

That must have been unreal.

[Ash]

The relief they must have felt. And then, like in hand with the relief also just now, we're going to have to go through a whole trial and this is all going to get brought back up again. All the emotions that you've been dealing with for years and years and years are, like, right at the root again.

[Alina]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Ash]

So while the family waited on word from local authorities regarding Morganti's extradition to Massachusetts, the suspect was held on $1 million bail on the drug charges. When Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Leonard Koppenrath finally sat down with Morganti the following day, he continued to refer to himself as Roderick Grenache and insisted that he was not from Brockton, but that he had come to California from New York.

[Alina]

Wtf?

[Ash]

He's like, what's Brockton even?

[Alina]

What even is that?

[Ash]

But when the detective filled out the Miranda form using the suspect's real name, Morganti realized he had been found out and just looked at him and said, now what?

[Alina]

Damn. So that is so casual.

[Ash]

So casual. Holy shit. Now what? Now you're gonna face trial for murder. So how's that? Throughout their interview, Robert Morganti was evasive and really never offered a confession. But that said, at one point, he was allowed to make a phone call to his son. It was the boy's birthday. And when his son's mother asked what she should tell their son, Morganti said she should explain to their son that daddy did a bad thing.

[Alina]

Wow.

[Ash]

So while he didn't confess, he did.

[Alina]

Sort of did, yeah.

[Ash]

At various points. He also wondered out loud whether it was wise for him to speak to the two detectives on the record. But he had already agreed to speak with them without an attorney. And he never directly recanted that approval or directly asked for an attorney.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

So if you don't ask directly, they're not going to give you one.

[Alina]

No, you gotta ask.

[Ash]

You gotta ask. Morganti told the detectives that he hadn't seen or spoken to anybody from Brockton since he left in 1988, including his family. And although he knew many of the people involved in the locomp murder case, he denied being responsible for Anthony's death.

[Alina]

Death.

[Ash]

It wasn't him.

[Alina]

No. He said. He said.

[Ash]

He said, I'm like, let's make that clear. Rather than press for a confession, though, Koppenrath began offering various scenarios in which Morganti might have found himself in that ultimately led to Anthony's death. But that tactic failed to elicit a confession. Still, a few days later, Robert Morganti was extradited back to Massachusetts to finally stand trial for the murder. Ultimately, he and Anthony's family would have to wait more than three years before the case was finally heard. But finally, in the summer of 2003, his trial did begin in Brockton Superior Court. At that time, he was charged with one count of first degree murder with special circumstances attached for what the prosecutor described as deliberate premeditation and the extreme atrocity or cruelty which. Yeah, I would say so. You shoot somebody in the back of the head after beating them.

[Alina]

Yeah, that is. That is extreme cruelty.

[Ash]

Yeah. And banging down their mother's door. Yeah, yeah, I'd say so. Over the course of the trial, the jury was shown a large number of photographs of Anthony's body, which his sister Marie described as unrecognizable after Morganti had beaten him, shot him and left him for dead on the side of the road.

[Alina]

That's so sad.

[Ash]

They also, the jury also viewed Madden's Monte Carlo and were shown a recreation of the shooting to see where the parties were sitting when it occurred. Other evidence presented in court included the fingerprint evidence taken from the car on the night of the murder, as well as the fingerprint evidence that was collected when Morganti was arrested in Modesto and when they were able to confirm his identity. Okay, and you know all that.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

So by far the most compelling aspect of the trial was the testimony from various individuals who had contact with Robert Marganti and Anthony Leconte on the night of the shooting. That included testimony from Travis Merritt, who told the jury that he had seen Robert Morganti with the same caliber gun that was used in the shooting, and Jeffrey Tessier, who claimed that he also had seen Morganti with the same caliber of weapon, in fact, on the day of the shooting.

[Alina]

Oh, so that's something. Yeah.

[Ash]

Similarly, Joseph Valente testified that Morgante had come to him in needing his help to flee to California. There was also a large number of witnesses who testified they heard Morganti say he had killed somebody.

[Alina]

Oh.

[Ash]

Most damning, however, was Brian Madden, who testified that he had been driving the car on the night of the shooting and in the courtroom identified Robert Morganti as the shooter.

[Alina]

Oh, shit.

[Ash]

Yeah. So he. Piles and piles of evidence against this.

[Alina]

Yeah, a lot of evidence.

[Ash]

On June 13, 2003, after a brief deliberation, the jury returned a verdict finding Robert Branti guilty for the murder of Anthony Locant. Following his conviction, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, imprisonment without the possibility of parole. And when the sentence was passed, Anthony's father, L.B. openly wept in the courtroom, relieved that his son had finally received justice over after more than a decade over attacking. But unfortunately, that relief would not last. In 2009, Robert Morganti's lawyer, Donald Harwood, filed an appeal on Morganti's behalf, alleging, among other things, that investigators had violated his rights. One, by admitting into evidence statements that were given more than six hours after his arrest, and two, not stopping the interview after Morganti suggested he should contact a lawyer. It doesn't work like that.

[Alina]

Yeah, you gotta.

[Ash]

Yeah, and I'll explain that. With regard to the first point. The statements made more than six hours after his arrest that were entered into evidence. Harwood is referring to what's known as the safe harbor rule, which provides, quote, that in the absence of exceptional circumstances, a statement made by a defendant more than six hours after his arrest shall not be admitted into evidence unless the defendant waives his right to a prompt arraignment. This provision was established to prevent law enforcement officials from delaying interviews for long periods of time to try to get a confession. Yeah, but in this case, the delay was a result of Sergeant Koppenraut Path having to travel across the country.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And even under those circumstances, the court found that the safe harbor rule had not been violated in this case. So that's good. As for the second claim, that his request for a lawyer had been denied, the court also ruled against Morganti and their summary opinion. The justices noted that to invoke the right to counsel, the suspect must unambiguously request counsel and must articulate his desire to have counsel present sufficiently clearly that a reasonable police officer in the circumstances would understand the statement to be a request for an attorney.

[Alina]

You can't say, like, maybe I should.

[Ash]

Have a lawyer or should I talk to you guys?

[Alina]

Should I talk to you guys? Maybe I shouldn't talk to you guys. It has to be like, I want a lawyer, and I'm not speaking until I have one.

[Ash]

Yeah. Black and white.

[Alina]

Boom.

[Ash]

You can't just feel it. You can't speak in hypotheticals.

[Alina]

Yeah. You gotta be clear.

[Ash]

So in Morganti's case, the justices concluded that it was perfectly reasonable for the interviewing officers to assume that. Assume that he wasn't requesting an attorney, quote, thinking out loud that he might need a lawyer and might want to stop questioning until he spoke to a lawyer. Which is not a sufficient invocation of his rights. No.

[Alina]

No.

[Ash]

So those attempts failed. Several years later, in late 2013, he appealed a second time, this time arguing that his rights had been violated during the jury selection process, when the courtroom was briefly cleared of public spectators. The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. constitution guarantees, as we know, a right to a speedy and Public trial, which Briganti was now arguing, had been denied when the courtroom was briefly cleared. In their finding, the court determined that, quote, during jury impanelement, the court officers closed the courtroom to all members of the public, as was custom practice at that time in court, and the defendant did not object to the courtroom closure. So they also concluded that, quote, all three attorneys were aware of their client's sixth amendment right to a public trial. Yet none of them objected until 2007 when the issue began to emerge in cases tried outside of Plymouth County. So they saw it starting to come up and they're like, yeah, we'll try other places.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

So the justices upheld the conviction on the grounds that the defendant had not sustained his burden of establishing his claim. With those two appeals or three appeals denied, at that point, it appeared that Robert Morganti would indeed be spending the rest of his life in jail. However, just about a month or so ago, In April of 2025, the Locomte family's world was completely upended when Anthony's now 92 year old father received a letter from the Massachusetts Parole board indicating that due to a recent state supreme court ruling, Robert Morganti could become eligible for parole in the very near future. And we've come across this before. The ruling in question was the outcome of Commonwealth vs Mattis, a January 2024 state supreme court ruling concluding that life sentences without the possibility of parole for offenders between 18 and 20 years old accounted to cruel and unusual punishment. We've talked about that before. Yeah, so now we've talked about it in other states. Yeah, now it's happening in Massachusetts. And now the state of Massachusetts has started evaluating cases where the offenders were between those ages at the time that the crimes were committed and considering certain inmates for parole. In her press release following the ruling, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said the justice system should give young people the opportunity to turn their lives around and fulfill their position potential, which. Yeah, sure, yeah. In certain cases that's absolutely valid. Robert Morganti was 19 years old when he killed Anthony Laconte. And then he was able to live for another 12 more years on the run and didn't turn his life around.

[Alina]

I think that's, that's the difference here because like, I'm all for taking a look at cases and seeing if some, some changes have happened.

[Ash]

Yeah, take a look.

[Alina]

All that stuff for sure. That's the whole point. Point of imprisonment.

[Ash]

That's what we say.

[Alina]

Supposed to be that, like, you know, you. The rehabilitation to become a productive member of society.

[Ash]

Right.

[Alina]

But you Gotta look at each one.

[Ash]

It's a case by case scenario.

[Alina]

Yeah, a case by case, because some of them are just not gonna fit that mold.

[Ash]

No. And I don't think. I don't think he does, really, because during the time that he was on the run, he had warrants, multiple warrants in other states. He was still selling large amounts of.

[Alina]

Drugs when he got arrested for a dui. I was just gonna say, which can kill someone.

[Ash]

I literally go. I wrote in my notes, he's arrested for dui guys still endangering the lives, endangering people. He had the opportunity to turn his life around, and he hadn't. And on top of that, Marie Lant said he showed no remorse when he was arrested. And he was. He was an adult. He was in his 30s when he was arrested.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

He never reached out to us. It would have given. Given us some healing if he had. So that all matters.

[Alina]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Ash]

And while the state may see the ruling as extending young offenders the opportunity to turn their lives around, the Lant family just in this case, does not agree when it comes to Robert Morganti.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Anthony's younger sister, Marie, told a reporter for the Enterprise, my heart breaks for my father. It breaks for us all. I'm so angry. We don't want to go through this again.

[Alina]

I don't blame them.

[Ash]

And she told us, losing Anthony shattered our hearts. His death didn't just affect us. It changed us. It's something we carry every day, a pain that does not fade. We miss his voice, his laughter, his energy, and the way he made us all feel safe and loved. Anthony leconte was more than just a brother or a son. He was a light in our lives. And though that light was taken from us far too soon, its warmth remains. We love you forever, Anthony. You are missed beyond words.

[Alina]

That just gave me so many chills, and I got a giant ballump of cry in my throat.

[Ash]

I know.

[Alina]

I can't imagine losing someone that. That way and someone like Anthony.

[Ash]

No, I can't.

[Alina]

Like, I really can't. Like, I feel for this family so much.

[Ash]

He just seemed like such a. Like I. There were so. There were countless stories that Timmy was able to share from all his family members, and I could never share them all. We would. It would take, like, years and years because there were so many great stories of who he was, and he. And a great thing to point out is he got to live 24 years. He. Robert Morganti hasn't even been in jail as long as Anthony leconte got to Live.

[Alina]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ash]

Like, come on.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And again, he had the opportunity to turn his life around, and he didn't.

[Alina]

Well, that's. Yeah, he was.

[Ash]

I think he was 34 by the time he got arrested.

[Alina]

And for them to have to go through all this again and to open up all the wounds, to reopen everything, to have that relief and then have it kind of ripped off before it was able to even he. Scab over, you know, like, that kind of pain, I can't even imagine.

[Ash]

I can't die.

[Alina]

And for his father to be 92, having to deal with this.

[Ash]

92 in poor health, like, just finally got to see justice, and then it could possibly be reversed.

[Alina]

Yeah. It's like, that's. I can't.

[Ash]

It's tough.

[Alina]

Very upsetting.

[Ash]

I feel for what they're going through.

[Alina]

Very complex and very upsetting.

[Ash]

Yeah. So as of Now, Morganti is one of 209 inmates in Massachusetts who do possibly have a chance at parole.

[Alina]

Oh, wow.

[Ash]

Though members of the Locant family are committed to doing whatever they can to make this not happen, to prevent this from happening. The family has picketed at the State House, and they are doing whatever they can to bring awareness to what's going on with Anthony's case. They also currently have a petition on change.org there's almost 150 signatures.

[Alina]

If you feel so inclined, we could.

[Ash]

Definitely get them some more.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

You guys go crazy over petitions. Yeah.

[Alina]

You guys really bang it out with petitions.

[Ash]

Sign this petition if you feel so inclined. We're going to include it in the show notes and post on social media.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And just do what you can.

[Alina]

You know, I always think, like, if the. If the victim's family is this committed to it, that's who I take my.

[Ash]

Keys from, who I stand with.

[Alina]

Yeah. That's who I take my cues from.

[Ash]

Absolutely. As of now, the Massachusetts Parole Board has yet to schedule a hearing for Robert Morganti, but one is expected to be announced in the coming months. So let's get those signatures going before that happens, because those signatures make a difference. This family going and picketing outside the State House makes a difference.

[Alina]

And the fact that they are still working this hard for Anthony.

[Ash]

Yeah.

[Alina]

Tells you who Anthony was and how much they care. You know, like, it should, like, for them to be still. I mean, again, his father's 92 years old, right.

[Ash]

Like, come on.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

And his siblings. His siblings all have their own children. Their children are having their own children.

[Alina]

They are still fighting for their brother.

[Ash]

Still fighting for this.

[Alina]

Yeah.

[Ash]

Damn it's. Just. It's a heartbreaking case.

[Alina]

I just want to hug the Lacan.

[Ash]

I want to hug all of them. I know. And just the fact that Morganti himself at one point allegedly said like, I killed the wrong guy. Yeah, this was all.

[Alina]

This all should have never happened.

[Ash]

Yeah, it never should have happened. And it's gut wrenching that this family's still dealing with something that just never should have happened in the first place.

[Alina]

Absolutely.

[Ash]

So we'll share that in the show notes. And with that being said, thank you for listening. We hope you keep listening and we hope you keep it weird, but not so weird that you don't go rock that petitions world. Rock it, shine it. Put your Herbie Hancock on the petition, on the petition. On the petition. Sam if you like morbid, you can listen early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcast Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey.

[Unknown]

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