The Cohen Cast of Characters

Jon Spear: Retired Miami homicide detective who, in 1993, reportedly expressed doubts about the hit-man theory. Gail Bright: Channel 10 crime reporter who recently revealed that Spear had expressed those doubts. Mario Hernandez: Bright's Channel 10 cameraman. Stanley Cohen: Millionaire builder murdered March 7, 1986, in his Coconut Grove mansion...

By Arthur Jay Harris

December 17, 1998

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Jon Spear: Retired Miami homicide detective who, in 1993, reportedly expressed doubts about the hit-man theory.

Gail Bright: Channel 10 crime reporter who recently revealed that Spear had expressed those doubts.

Mario Hernandez: Bright's Channel 10 cameraman.

Stanley Cohen: Millionaire builder murdered March 7, 1986, in his Coconut Grove mansion.

Joyce Cohen: Stanley's young wife, convicted in 1989 of hiring hit men to kill him.

Frank Zuccarello: Prosecution's star witness who testified that Joyce Cohen hired him and two accomplices as hit men.

Bruce Raticoff: Zuccarello's attorney who helped fashion the plea deal with Dade prosecutors.

Anthony Caracciolo: One of Zuccarello's two alleged fellow hit men. Pleaded guilty but now says he's innocent.

Tommy Joslin: The other alleged hit man. Also pleaded guilty and now says he's innocent.

Joe Gross: Metro-Dade detective who first heard Zuccarello claim inside knowledge of the Cohen murder.

James Wander: Gross's sergeant. He questioned Zuccarello's credibility.

Steve Emerson: FDLE agent who doubted Zuccarello's credibility. Also claims Detective Spear expressed doubts about the hit-man theory.

David Waksman: Dade assistant state attorney on the Cohen case for the first nine months. Encouraged Gail Bright to come forward.

John Kastrenakes and Kevin DiGregory: Prosecutors who convicted Joyce Cohen at trial. They affirm her guilt, Zuccarello's truthfulness.

Abe Laeser: Assistant state attorney who supervised the Cohen prosecution. Now doubts the hit-man theory.

Tony Fantigrassi: Broward Sheriff's Office captain who doubts Zuccarello's credibility.

Brian Cavanagh: Broward assistant state attorney who believes Anthony Caracciolo and Tommy Joslin are credible.

Alan Ross: Joyce Cohen's defense attorney who has filed a motion to vacate her conviction

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.