Edward Graziano booked for plotting to kill wife

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

According to Pinellas County Sheriff's officials, Ed Graziano was plotting to kill his estranged wife Debra. (Slideshow)

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Edward James Graziano, father of the man injured in the Nick Bollea automobile crash, has been arrested and accused of plotting to kill his estranged wife Debra.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the arrest came as a result of a two-and-a-half month investigation in which Graziano is alleged to have held multiple meetings and negotiations with a tipster and an undercover detective posing as go-between to a hit man in order to solicit the murder of his wife.

Authorities said he later paid to have the crime committed.

According to detectives Graziano, 53, paid $1,100 in cash, another $1,000 in a personal check and a $13 gift card to Westshore Pizza to have his estranged wife murdered.

The Criminal Investigative Division began its investigation in mid-December. Detectives believe the motive was divorce/financial related.

They also say Graziano wanted the murder to look like an automobile accident and gave the undercover detective her schedule.

More Information

Debra and her lawyer were informed of the investigation in December.

"We found out about it in mid-December that there was an investigation," said Debra Graziano's attorney George Tragos. "And we were warned so that we could be careful. And Debbie's only reaction is she's very saddened by it. And she can't understand why more tragedy would be heaped upon a family that has already suffered so much."

Tragos says the alleged murder for hire will not scare away his client.

"She will not leave the area because she will not leave her son," he said. "Her primary concern is John Graziano."

Graziano was arrested at his home in Palm Harbor Thursday morning.

The Grazianos' son John was severely injured in August of 2007 while riding in Nick Bollea's Toyota in Clearwater. The crash resulted in Bollea pleading no contest on reckless driving charges and being sentenced to eight months in the Pinellas County jail.

The Graziano family later filed a lawsuit against the Bollea family.

In the midst of the proceedings surrounding that lawsuit, Debra and Edward wound up in court to dispute the care and guardianship of their son.

Bollea's attorney, Kevin Hayslett, says the Hogan family has 'no comment' on the arrest.

Bay News 9 reporter Josh Rojas talked to Ed Graziano over the phone a few times about two weeks ago.

Graziano was very upset about his financial situation, saying he had not worked a single day since his son was severely injured in the crash.

Graziano said the same was true for his wife and wanted Bay News 9 to do a story about their financial situation, hoping to get donations from viewers. Bay News 9 never did that story.

Begin SlideShow
grazianohandcuffs.jpg
End SlideShow

Be in the Know with Bay News 9 Now!

Get news, weather, and traffic alerts delivered directly to your computer desktop, e-mail, or cell phone with Bay News 9 Now.

Subscribe for free!

Valentine's Day

Do you have a romantic Valentine's Day story? Or a funny one? What about a nightmarish one? We want to hear them! Send them to us and we may use them in a story on BayNews9.com.