Judge: Gonzalez search details must remain secret

LYNN – Judge Michael Lauranzano Friday rejected The Daily Item’s and Boston Globe’s request to make public details of a Nov. 28 police search in the Giovanni Gonzalez disappearance case, saying the information’s release “at this stage of the proceedings would in fact interfere with the defendant’s constitutional right to a fair trial.””I find that release of this information at this time would contribute to increased psychological and emotional distress of the parties involved and cause them apprehension. This is a case where pretrial publicity is a real concern,” Lauranzano wrote in his three-page decision.His decision sets June 4 as the date for the search information to be released.Lauranzano, at the request of District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office, ordered all details of the search, including the scope and reason for it, sealed from public view on Dec. 4.In requesting release of the information, lawyers for the newspapers underscored the high level of publicity surrounding the search for 5-year-old Giovanni Gonzalez with Item Managing Editor Henry J. Collins stating, “while we respect the decision of Judge Lauranzano, we are disappointed the public will remain in the dark regarding the search for Giovanni Gonzalez.”Considering the fact that Ernesto Gonzalez has graphically detailed how he killed and dismembered his son, we don’t see how information released to the public could cause any more stress and apprehension to the parties.”The search for the boy dates back to Aug. 17 when Giovanni Gonzalez’ mother went to pick up her son at Ernesto Gonzalez’ apartment and could not find the boy or Gonzalez.Ernesto Gonzalez told police that evening he had not seen his son since the previous week. Police charged him with child endangerment a day later and launched a search for the boy and a search of Gonzalez’ apartment.The Item reported Aug. 22 that two initial searches of the apartment found traces of blood on a mop and other items. Investigators subsequently discounted any link between the blood and the boy’s disappearance, but Gonzalez, in a Nov. 26 published interview, said he killed the boy, dismembered him and tossed the body parts in downtown Dumpsters.The boy’s mother, Daisy Colon, said Friday she does not believe the confession and thinks Gonzalez is “protecting” another person who is holding her son.”I don’t believe it because everything that has come up has come up negative – the mop that was all over the news – all the tests. They have checked everything. He wants attention. I’m not sure why he’s doing it. It doesn’t make sense he would say anything like that. If it’s true, why wouldn’t he say it in front of a judge? He’s had plenty of chances. In my opinion, it’s attention. I believe my son is alive. It’s like a feeling; a mother instinct. Someone is helping Ernesto. He’s protecting that other person. Why? That’s my question every day.”Prosecutors refused to say where they conducted their search two days after the confession, but a Brightwood Terrace resident who lives opposite Gonzalez’ apartment said police swarmed through the residence and focused on the bathroom.Ernesto Gonzalez initially pleaded innocent to child endangerment and to subsequent charges of misleading police and parental kidnapping. He is due back in Superior Court in February for a pretrial hearing.