Background & Season Long Investigative Series!

Whistleblower Dawn Pasela was found dead under suspicious circumstances as she was set to testify at the second criminal trial of Tony Viola about wrongdoing by Prosecutor Mark Bennett and Senior Assistant Ohio Attorney General Dan Kasaris.  Tony was exonerated, thanks to evidence Dawn provided, but Dawn’s untimely death was deemed suspicious because:

• Three cell phones were found in her apartment – including one with an outbound call long after the supposed time of death – but the Parma Police never collected them or ANY evidence.
• The heat in her apartment was set very high to accelerate body decomposition, but the window was wide open, and may have been used by an assailant to exit her apartment.
• Dawn’s computer, containing evidence in a myriad of criminal cases, was stolen.
• Dawn’s blood alcohol content, close to .60, was inconsistent with the police photos taken at the scene, including ongoing food preparation.  Moreover, no vomit or urine was present.

Since Dawn's death, mounting evidence that Dawn’s death was the result of foul play, and that multiple individuals had reason to harm her, has come to light.  Kindly consider the following newly discovered evidence unearthed by Dawn's investigative team:

• One of Dawn’s colleagues at the Task Force where she worked, Chairman Donald Cleland, stated under oath that Dawn possessed hard drives from the Task Force that contained evidence in hundreds of state and federal criminal cases.
• Facebook messages from Susan Kasaris, the wife of Dan Kasaris, confirmed Dawn’s allegations that Prosecutor Kasaris was having an affair with government witness Kathryn Clover, who testified in dozens of criminal cases on behalf of prosecutors.  Kasaris also destroyed his own computer the day Dawn died.
• The Justice Department fired Mark Bennett and blamed him for making false statements about evidence in Tony’s case, further confirming Dawn’s allegations.  Bennett was suspended him from the practice of law, Disciplinary Counsel v, Bennett, case number 2022-034; DOJ Inspector General Report Number 21-005.
• Records obtained in 2023 establish tht the Parma Police didn’t call an ambulance to Dawn’s apartment but a mortuary service.
• A review of Dawn’s file by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff shows that Parma Police violated procedures and failed to collect cell phones or any evidence, failed to canvass the area around Dawn’s apartment, interview witnesses, obtain surveillance video, or coordinate any investigation with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
• According to Dawn’s friend Jason Samide, Dawn reached out to him shortly before her death, asking for his help and expressing fear for her safety.
• New evidence indicates that Marty Maurer was the last person to see Dawn alive and may possess critical information about what happened to Dawn, but Maurer has refused to cooperate with any investigation.  In 2024, Maurer was caught making contradictory statements about his presence in Dawn’s apartment the night she died.
• Despite specific directives by the County Sheriff to the Parma Police, that department refuses to follow any recommendations or turn the file to another investigative agency.

More information and key evidence can be found in our Evidence Locker here or or at www.FreeTonyViola.com