BSO Detective Honored For Freeing The Innocent
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Jerry Frank Townsend has an IQ of roughly 50 to 60.
Police detectives claimed in 1979 that Townsend knew what he was doing when he confessed to six murders and one rape in Broward and Dade County.
The mother of one of those murder victims, 13-year-old Sonja Marion, later asked that the case be reopened and the file landed in the lap of Det. John Curcio of Fort Lauderdale. Curcio’s investigation cleared Townsend after semen in the child’s shorts was found to be that of another convicted murderer.
Further DNA testing cleared Townsend of other murders. He was freed in 2001 after 22 years in prison.
Curcio will be recognized April 12 by the Innocence Project of Florida, a group that works to free innocent people from prison.
Det. John Curcio
One of the nation’s legendary homicide detectives, Curcio joined the Fort Lauderdale Police in 1980 as a patrol officer. He quickly worked his way up to homicide detective.
“I was always one of those guys who wanted to be a policeman since I was a kid,” Curcio told the A & E Network, which included him in “The First 48” documentary show on homicide detectives.
Describing his weirdest case for the Sun-Sentinel last year, Curcio told the story of a 1990s era suspect that killed a woman and carried the victim’s head in a bag for days. The suspect even bought the woman’s head sunglasses and earrings after her death.
Curcio retired from the Fort Lauderdale Police after 29 years. Ten days later, he took a job at the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He told A & E he enjoys the job today as much as he did in 1980.
An animal lover who once owned 50 birds, Curcio is married with three children.
He told the Sun-Sentinel in an interview last year that outside of work, “I am a very boring person.”
Curcio will be honored during a Night of Comedy on April 13 benefitting the Innocence Project. Tickets can be purchased at FloridaInnocence.org.
Here is the flyer for the event (click to enlarge):
March 31st, 2014 at 5:02 pm
John is one of those guys you want to be in a foxhole with, I have had the pleasue of knowing John over 20 years . He has also been an outstanding coach in PAL for many years . However it does appear he is dyeing his hair !
Congratulations John, Job well Done!
March 31st, 2014 at 6:18 pm
He has a very high forehead.
March 31st, 2014 at 7:43 pm
I believe that Curcio worked to free convicts who were wrongly convicted because he believed in justice, not just in locking people up. Too few officers are like Curcio. He is an example that the finest police officers search for the truth.
March 31st, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Congrats to this detective. One thing to express to the residents is the police (most) are on your side. If you break the law naturally they will arrest you. I can’t tell you how many times the police have actually helped me. Oh case numbers. Police reports etc. See when you go before a judge they want to see these times of reports. What the cops are going to lie. So you present your facts, photos, reports etc, then the judge has to rule in your favor(got that John). It doesn’t matter what you are wearing(dress to the nines people). It doesn’t matter your education level. It doesn’t matter what race you are. What matters is those case numbers, photos and esp. police reports. The judge then has to rule on facts presented to them. Know this and we will call you Perry Mason(showtime Santa)……
March 31st, 2014 at 8:59 pm
And also a tip of the hat to Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Doug Evans. He did his best to convince FLPD, BSO, and anyone who would listen, as to who the real murderer was. RIP Detective Evans
April 1st, 2014 at 11:01 am
He is the best at what he does.