Brown said corruption at the suburban Philadelphia prison extends into the upper levels of management and that some guards give special treatment to inmates in exchange for money, drugs and sexual favors. (Amended Complaint at 91-94.) He was then . The two bikers had just committed a commercial burglary. On May 6, 1995 Police Sgt. Not long before, Mud had burned down a store on the Ocean City, New Jersey boardwalk. Brown was among five Pennsylvania inmates expected to testify at the hearing in Harrisburg. He was unpredictable. 'The key is whether any of this is true,' said Pennsylvania state Sen. Mike O'Pake. The Mudman was beefy, scraggly-bearded and ponytailed, with an ever-present smile and small, deep-set blue eyes with a lunatic gleam. We use people. Hey, you. [20] Earlier that day, a nearby Environmental Heating building had been burglarized and the vehicle occupied by both men was situated within the vicinity. Mudman met Squirt Boy on death row. Ambrose Harris. The reporters were much better off remaining at a safe distance, like visitors to the lions den at the Philadelphia Zoo. Along with his testicles, which Yo was now clutching with both hands. A diner that later served as the setting for a pivotal scene in a popular Oscar-winning film. "I know I'll die in prison, so I've essentially been sentenced to death for planning a burglary and being there when an officer was killed," Staples wrote in a typed letter to the South Jersey Times. Christie Whitman has asked for a report on the parole bureaus role. Ill catch up with you later! he hissed behind Mr. Carrs back. Yo-Yo did catch up with me later. And Im scared of dentists., That apparently struck a raw nerve. While I hated the things that he did and shed no tears over his death, the fact is that The Mudman was also just Bobby Simon from the neighborhood, who made bologna sandwiches at the corner store, adopted and loved stray dogs, protected younger kids from bullies, changed flat tires for senior citizens and helped my mom carry her groceries. Suspiciously, it is known that one of the club's members began to make arrangements for Simon's living arrangements even before Simon's parole was approved. His biggest fault was also his most respectable feature hed take the hit before hed ever tell. Pattis letter reminded me about the Warlock MC gang. In the immortal words of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Girl, we cant change the places where we were born. They described him as one of the worst sociopaths they had ever encountered. We love ridin our motorcycles fast and hangin with our brothers.Touch one ya touched us all They have 3,158 followers and had a food drive in November and a Harvest Party in October. Not only for the Gonzalez family, but for the Franklin Township Police Department," said Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean Dalton, who was a state legislator at the time of the shooting. With some petunias. As Simon was let out of his cell so it could be fumigated, he tried to tackle Harris in a recreation cage, sources said. Robert "Mudman" Simon, 48, was the first to meet such an end since the moratorium on capital punishment in the United States was lifted 23 years ago. It was believed they were picked-up in the Warlocks' trolling ground, the old MacDade Mall, but were killed when they refused to participate in the gang's "initiation rites". A jury acquitted Harris of Simons death, saying he acted in self-defense. On May 6, 1995 Police Sgt. They are active throughout the Delaware Valley, including South Jersey and Wilmington, with Delco and Philly being their main stomping grounds. He moved toward me once again. They still have to pull over that car and they don't know what's behind the tinted window," Sand said of police work -- a world of "real threats and unknown dangers.". The most highly publicized case heard in Lavelle's courtroom was the 1982 trial of Robert "Mudman" Simon, a founding member of the Philadelphia-based Warlocks motorcycle gang. Stopping to help, he finds that the driver, Michael Ballard, is aliveand drenched in blood. You go outside and Ill follow you., Dont worry about it, little brother. "They're the guys on the street. Mudman, many felt, received a lethal Bollingen Prize of poetic justice. Simon pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to death row following the 1996 trial in Hunterdon County. For your grave.. He was an eyewitness to the 1999 slaying of Robert "Mudman" Simon, a Warlocks gang member convicted of killing a Franklin Township police officer. It might have been related to a school project. 404 pages. Simon stood accused of murdering his girlfriend, Beth Smith Dusenberg of Drexel Hill, and dumping her body in a water-filled coal mine pit near Hazleton, where it was . He was convicted of brutally murdering his girlfriend in a room atop the Darby garage of a fellow Warlock whose testimony about Nauss proudly showing him her body, secured Nauss's conviction even though her body was never found. It is a figure made of mud, imbued with a tormented soul. The jury of five men and seven women had deliberated 11 hours over two days before returning the verdict. The Mud Man is an enemy in the Castlevania series. He said it was Bobby and when Bobby went to court, he took the hit because he wasnt going to tell them who really did it, cause thats what bros did for one another. Like the other 1% gangs, the Warlocks murder, deal drugs, rob, and bat the crap about of people, among other activities. ``I expressed in as forceful language as I could my strong opinion that Robert Simon should never see the light of day in Pennsylvania or any other place in the free world, said Lavelle, who wrote to the state parole board in 1992 to object to Simons release. The Mudman lived there too. Such is the life of the 1%. When they were left together briefly this morning at the New Jersey State Prison, prison officials said, Ambrose Harris beat to death Robert (Mudman) Simon after a bloody fistfight in a fenced . Following a lengthy series of felonies and several prison stints, Mudman Simon was convicted of murdering a local girl who had disrespected him at a party. It was a community of quirky demographics and zoning apparently born of midnight handshakes and envelopes plump with cash. Roaches, apparently, being considered cruel and unusual punishment for a group of convicted murderers. Get lost.. The gang member, Robert Simon, 45, who was also known as Mudman, showed no emotion as the verdict was pronounced. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In 1995, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole paroled Warlocks bike gang member Robert "Mudman" Simon, disregarding strong warnings from the judge who convicted him. Yo-Yo rolled around on the sidewalk, moaning and crying, his face bloody and already beginning to swell. I was even luckier, I suppose, ultimately spending a great deal more time in close proximity to Simon than Yo did. Even when it wasnt cool to the majority, he didnt care, he stopped it. The Judiciary Committee is investigating how Simon, a member of the Warlocks motorcycle gang, was able to win parole and move to Williamstown, N.J., a community known for Warlocks activity. . "Then he climbed on a table and stomped on his head." There was a steel mill, a stone quarry, a beer distributorship that looked like an aircraft hangar, a sandwich shop built to resemble a space ship, a truck depot and a Knights of Columbus hall. I was in sixth grade. Even by Warlock standards, Simon was a piece of work. Simon was a motorcycle gang member who was sentenced to death . I just read the Waltons very poignant very real! At various points in his career as a hardened outlaw biker, Simon burned down a store on the Ocean City, New Jersey boardwalk and committed armed robbery. Neither the judge in Simons murder case, John Lavelle, nor a trooper who knew him years ago expressed surprise. So strong was Robert "Mudman" Simon's influence at the Graterford state prison that he was able to run a drug ring from behind bars, according to a cell block neighbor. While examining Simon's Social Security Card and Staples' driver's license, he requested for backup on his police radio. Simon stated that he shot Gonzalez because he didnt want to go back the prison. ', Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. The trial court "failed to put these matters to rest," and failed to "deal with these ambiguities" in Simon's answers. If someone was getting roughed up, he stopped it. There were also large center hall stone homes with Lincolns, Cadillacs and Mercedes in the driveways, with colorful gardens and in-ground pools. It's a real shame, but a certain amount of blame falls on his shoulders," Sand said of Staples when asked about his feelings regarding the man. Simon was a motorcycle gang member who was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Franklin Township Police Sgt. He murdered his girlfriend in 1974 and was released on parole in 1995. [21] Evidence collected from the car confirmed that the two gang members were, in fact, the ones who had robbed Environmental Heating building. 'If even only half of it is true, Graterford is in sad shape in terms of its management and lack of professional responsibility.' March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. Gonzalez was fatally shot on May 6, 1995 by Robert "Mudman" Simon, who was beaten to death in prison in 1999. "I have to do 31 years, four months and 19 days before becoming eligible for parole on Oct. 26, 2026. 2d 615 (E.D. While in prison, authorities said Harris viciously beat inmate Robert Mudman Simon, 48, to death in a recreation area in 1999. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. Then one night, Staples suggested burglarizing a house he knew was unoccupied at the time. He shoved me hard, knocking me onto the grass. A Jewish cemetery. After that, paroles, like commutations, declined dramatically. A 19th Century mansion on a wooded tract owned by two wealthy eccentric spinster sisters. Very interesting. Police officers recount night of fatal shooting in 10th anniversary column. Robert Simon was a member of the Upper Darby teen gang called the Warlords that merged with a group from Darby to create the Warlocks. Simons parole was approved by a board member and a hearing examiner, Parole Board spokeswoman Darlene Zelazny said. On a Saturday when the Delaware County Daily Times' regular courthouse reporter was off, I had to cover Nauss' trial. Retired Trenton Deputy Police Chief Joe Constance, who led the team of detectives on the Huggins case, told NJ Advance Media Wednesday that Harris was the most evil person Ive encountered in the 32 years I was on the job.. Pennsylvanias parole board chairman, Allen Castor, on Thursday called Simons release ``incomprehensible. He said the Warlock walked free under a state law that requires approval from two of the five parole board members or a board member and a hearing examiner. Simon shot gonzalez twice, in the head and neck, and gonzalez died instantly. ``He was a sociopath. Simon, originally from Darby and believed to be one of the founders of the Warlocks, had been released from prison after serving more than 12 years for the shooting murder of his young girlfriend after . Ippolito "Lee" Gonzalez, 'They shot Lee!' Simon, a member of the Warlocks bikers' gang, was the first to die on death row since New Jersey readopted capital punishment in 1982. Clipped by. Harris' life was spared when New Jersey abolished the death penalty in 2007. Robert "Mudman" Simon, 48, was the first to meet such an end since the moratorium on capital punishment in the United States was lifted 23 years ago. The Mudman virtually shoved me out the door. He was known to be a bit touched in the head, and not by an angel. Ippolito Gonzalez. Family and community. A.K.A. As a condition of his parole, Simon was ordered to have no contact with Warlocks members. I used Simon as the basis for the character of Ronnie Sludgeman Simmons in my novel The Blue Route. If you Google the words Robert Mudman Simon or type them into the archives of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, links to hundreds of articles magically appear. [18], Unbeknownst to the parole board's officials, the Warlocks Motorcycle Club had quite the presence within the area, which was even regarded to be a "stronghold" for the biker gang. Ippolito Gonzalez. Mr. Carr loved Trixie; a few white lies never hurt anyone. Therefore, the final execution to take place at the prison was a January 22, 1963 electrocution. Of course, none of us. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. [13] Throughout his prison tenure, he received a total of 49 misconducts, which included drug trafficking in addition to drug use. Yo-Yo either did not hear this last sentence or chose to ignore itwith disastrous consequences. Of course, none of us wants to go to prison and therefore avoid illegal activities like burglary and murder. Publication date. Michael Dimauro, also of Delaware County, allegedly shot David Rossillo in the cemetery, then disposed of his body in an underground crypt after tying a . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Fellow officers rushed to the scene a few hundred feet shy of police headquarters. Harris was sentenced to death and sent to prison in 1994 for kidnapping, raping and killing 22-year-old Kristin Huggins. Required fields are marked *. A number of others that crossed paths with cheerful sociopath Robert F. Simon werent quite so fortunate. Ippolito "Lee" Gonzalez. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The cops? Simon had either dropped out of or was expelled from high school. The county political boss lived nearby, as did the avuncular anchorman of Philadelphias top-rated TV newscast and a once-famous 50s rock and roller. new jersey pulled over warlocks members robert mudman simon and charles shovel staples on a traffic stop moments after the two had committed a commercial burglary. Something Sand saw, or at least thought had increased after the shooting, was more than one officer responding to a motor vehicle stop. It was something forced upon him from being through the system as he was. Ippolito "Lee" Gonzalez, left, and Charles "Shovel" Staples, right, as seen in a recent prison photo. As an honor to Gonzalez, two graduating Delsea Regional High School students are awarded a $1,500 scholarship every year to further their education in law enforcement. While on death row, Simon was stomped to death by Ambrose Harris. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. You could hear something break. And the local child molester had recently been dragged out of the creek, beaten half to death by unknown assailants. He had formerly been sentenced to death by the state of New Jersey on May 6, 1995 for his part in the fatal shooting of Franklin Township police sergeant Ippolito Gonzalez. While in prison, authorities said Harris viciously beat inmate Robert Mudman Simon, 48, to death in a recreation area in 1999. According to police informants, her body was buried in Tinicum Marsh. In 1999, Harris stomped another death-row inmate in NJ State Prison - Robert "Mudman" Simon - to death. Writers are, of necessity, selfish. In sometimes emotionally charged testimony, Brown claimed guards at Camp Hill state prison, where he was transferred for his appearance before the committee, threatened to kill him if he went public with his claims. Simon and the driver of the car, defendant Charles "Shovel" Staples, are members of the "Warlocks" motorcycle gang . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. His lawyers argued self defense, and a jury acquitted him. 6 years later, one of the 3 guys got picked up on a coffe and donuts but and offered up the location of her body in return for being let go. ``Its the only case where I ever wore a bulletproof vest, Lavelle said. English. They committed the act, Gonzalez pulled the duo over right before his shift was about to end, Simon fatally shot the officer before being wounded himself. A rich fantasy life wasnt required in order to imagine whom he planned to take his irritation out on, given half the chance.