Investigator: family member told suspects elderly victim had cash

<p>Two men accused of killing an 85-year-old man after breaking into his home had been told by the man's granddaughter that he kept a substantial amount of cash at home, a police investigator testified.</p><p>Brad Daugherty, lead investigator for Lawrenceville police in the Feb. 19 killing of Hubert Massey, said Massey's granddaughter, Lisa New, had tipped David Joseph Botto, 35, and Alan Craig Smith, 29, both of Lawrenceville, about the money in Massey's Lawrenceville home.</p><p>Daugherty was testifying Thursday at a preliminary hearing for Botto and Smith. After the hearing they were bound over for trial by Magistrate Judge Robert Mitchum.</p><p>Massey, a legally blind man who police say exchanged fire with one or both of his assailants, was shot in the abdomen and arm. Relatives have said they believe he was protecting his wife, Geneva Massey, 84.</p><p>Daugherty testified that New's husband, David New, once lived with Botto. Daugherty said the two men had previously broken into the home of one of Massey's daughters to steal her credit cards.</p><p>Neither Lisa New nor David New have been charged in the case.</p><p>Daugherty said after Botto turned himself in on Feb. 20, he told investigators why the Masseys were targeted.</p><p>"(Botto) said Lisa knew her Papa kept money in the house in a lock box," Daugherty testified. "Lisa suggested the old people had money and they should get it."</p><p>Daugherty also said police have a tape recording, made secretly by Smith after the shooting, in which Botto is heard to say he "got into a gunfight with an old man."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x286666c)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/3/149956