Michelle Moore Bosko, at 18, was raped and murdered in 1997. Ms Moore’s family are unhappy the Norfolk 4 are released from prison while their daughter has lost her life.

Danial Williams, Derek Tice, Joseph Dick and Eric Wilson were accused of raping and killing a woman in Norfolk in 1997. Williams, Tice, Dick and Wilson were all sailors and they were dubbed as the “Norfolk 4”. Sometimes, the writing is “Norfolk Four”. The victim was Michelle Moore-Bosko, 18, of Pittsburgh. Mchelle Moore moved to Norfolk and secretly married her boyfriend, William Bosko.

William Bosko returned from his work as a sailor at sea to discover his wife dead at home. It was unknown exactly when Michelle Bosko was killed. Mr Bosko found her body on July 8, 1997.

The Moore family objected to clemency for the men. They believe Michelle was killed by them. DNA at the murder scene did not match any of the mentioned accused.

Eric Wilson served 9 years in prison. Danial Williams, Derek Tice, Joseph Dick were sentenced to life in prison.

On Thursday, August 6, Governor Timothy M Kaine gave the convicts conditional pardons. Kaine said the men were not declared innocent as they couldn’t prove their innocence. Thus, Kaine said he could not give them absolute pardons.

Omar Ballard, a convict in jail, wrote a letter to tell his friend about killing Michelle Moore- Bosko. Ballard’s DNA matched that found at the murder scene. Ballard is serving a life sentence.

Danial Williams, Derek Tice, Joseph Dick and Eric Wilson said they were forced to make confessions by detectives.

Nov 11 2008.
FBI agents defend Norfolk Four on Michelle Moore-Bosko.

Thirty retired FBI agents have thrown their weight behind an appeal to overturn the convictions of the Norfolk Four. The Norfolk Four are four sailors who were convicted for the rape and murder of Michelle Moore-Bosko.

The sailors confessed after a detective allegedly threatened them with the death penalty. Their accounts were varied and inconsistent with the crime but they were convicted nevertheless. The Norfolk Four’s DNA did not match with the DNA found at the scene of the crime.

Derek Tice, Danial Williams and Joseph Dick Jr. confessed to the crime and are serving life sentences in Virginia prisons for the rape and murder. A fourth man, Eric Wilson, served eight and a half years for the rape conviction and he was released in 2005.

Omar Ballard, a convicted rapist, wrote a letter to his friend, boasting that he committed the crime on Michelle Moore-Bosko. Omar Ballard’s DNA matched the DNA at the crime scene.

The FBI agents and a team of professionals are working on getting pardons for the three imprisoned men of Norfolk Four. The long story is at the link.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 2:54 am and is filed under Music, News.