Ricky Kasso - The Aftermath

The Aftermath

In the aftermath, Kasso reportedly bragged about the murder to local teens, claiming the murder was a "human sacrifice". Kasso told some that he had murdered Lauwers because Satan had commanded him to. Kasso claimed Satan manifested in the form of a black crow, and that the crow had cawed, something he interpreted as Satan's command to murder Lauwers. Kasso even brought several disbelieving teens to view Lauwers' decomposing body. However, it wasn't until two weeks went by, on July 1, that the murder was reported to the police via an anonymous tip. The tip reportedly came from a girl who claimed she had overheard a group of girls discussing the murder. On July 4, 1984, police used dogs to search Aztakea woods and recovered the decomposing and mutilated body of Gary Lauwers. On July 7, two days after his arrest, Kasso committed suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell.

Jimmy Troiano signed a confession that he later recanted. Quinones gave witness account that Troiano helped Kasso during the murder. However, due to his drugged state, the testimony of Quinones was brought into question and Troiano was acquitted of second-degree murder in a trial by jury in April 1985.