West
Trenton – Long-time fugitive Joanne
Chesimard will be looking over her shoulder
a lot more in Cuba now that the reward
for her capture has been increased to
$1,000,000. Attorney General Peter Harvey,
Colonel Rick Fuentes and others today
announced that the U.S. Attorney General
authorized the federal bounty to be increased
from $50,000 on April 28, 2005.
Chesimard
was a member of the Black Liberation Army
on May 2, 1973, (32 years ago today) when
she and two accomplices began a shootout
with two state troopers. Trooper Werner
Foerster was severely wounded and then
executed on the roadside by Chesimard.
One
of the armed attackers, James Coston,
was killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Chesimard and the car’s driver,
Clark Squire, were arrested after an intensive
manhunt. They were charged, tried and
sentenced for murder. Squire remains in
jail, but in 1978, Chesimard escaped with
help from the B.L.A. She later fled to
Cuba.
Now
known as, Assata Shakur, the 57-year-old
Chesimard is living free in Cuba under
the protection of Fidel Castro. The State
Police has gathered intelligence about
her ever since her escape from jail. Diplomatic
efforts have so far failed to bring the
convicted murderer to justice.
One
year ago, Attorney General Peter Harvey,
Colonel Rick Fuentes, State Police Lt.
Kevin Tormey and officials from the Newark
Division of the FBI met with FBI Director
Robert Mueller. They relayed the details
of the case along with the status of the
fugitive investigation and requested the
$1 million reward. The lengthy justification
and approval process at the U.S. Department
of Justice culminated with the authorization
of the money by Attorney General Gonzales
last week.
“Trooper
Foerster gave his life bravely in the
line of duty, protecting the people of
this State and dedicating himself to the
highest principles of the New Jersey State
Police,” said Attorney General Harvey.
“He was brutally murdered 2 years
and 10 months into his service as a Trooper.
This reward will help bring his killer
to justice.”
The
reward money will be given for information
leading to the capture of Joanne Chesimard
and her safe return to New Jersey to continue
her prison sentence for the murder of
Trooper Foerster. Since 1979, she has
been classified as a federal fugitive
and the subject of an Unlawful Flight
to Avoid Confinement warrant.
“This
money sends the message that the passage
of time does not diminish the intent and
energy of the State Police and FBI to
bring this convicted killer to justice,”
said Colonel Rick Fuentes. “We believe
that this increased reward, and the placing
of her name on terrorism lists will bring
opportunities for the capture and return
of Joanne Chesimard.”
Fuentes
said that wanted flyers in both English
and Spanish announcing the reward have
been prepared and will be distributed
across the U.S., the Caribbean, South
America, Central America and Europe. Earlier
this year, Lt. Colonel Juan Mattos took
advantage of an invitation to go to the
Dominican Republic to brief police officials
from Latin-American countries on the fugitive
investigation.
“Our
police, just like our soldiers, put their
lives on the line every day so the rest
of us can be safe,” Acting Governor
Richard J. Codey said. “Trooper
Werner Foerster was a hero. His killer
must be found and brought to justice.
I welcome anyone to come forward if they
have information that can lead to an arrest.”
U.S.
Attorney Lee Solomon, ASAC Peter Ruiz
and ASAC Richard Kelly of the F.B.I. Newark
Office, New Jersey Department of Corrections
Commissioner Devon Brown and other law
enforcement representatives were at today’s
event to lend their critical support to
this fugitive investigation. Also in attendance
was retired State Police Lt. Rich Ryan,
who undertook the initial fugitive investigation
in 1979.
Clark
Squire, a.k.a. Sundiata Acoli, remains
in jail serving a life sentence for his
involvement in the murder of Trooper Foerster.
The State
Police continue to offer input each
time he comes up for a parole hearing.