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Teen to be tried as adult in killing of Lauderdale doctor
By Jon Burstein
Staff Writer
Posted February 12 2005
A 17-year-old will stand trial as an adult in the strangulation death last month of a Fort Lauderdale anesthesiologist.
A Broward Circuit Court grand jury indicted Scott Whisenant and his friend, Joseph Fleischer, 18, on Thursday on first-degree murder and home invasion robbery charges in Dr. Harry Grossman's Jan. 21 slaying. Grossman, a physician at Weston Outpatient Surgical Center, was choked to death with a leather dog leash, according to court records made available Friday.
The Broward State Attorney's Office is still weighing whether to seek the death penalty against Whisenant and Fleischer, said Assistant State Attorney Brian Cavanagh. Both are in the Broward County Jail without bail.
Fort Lauderdale police said Whisenant and Fleischer entered Grossman's Citrus Isles home through an unlocked sliding-glass door and surprised the doctor as he walked from the bedroom into the living room. Grossman had befriended Whisenant a couple years ago, letting the teen do odd jobs around his waterfront home until the doctor began suspecting last year that the boy was stealing from him.
The two would-be robbers beat, kicked and choked the doctor when he confronted them, authorities said. The teens then are accused of stealing $2,000 in cash and Grossman's wallet, taking off in the doctor's SUV.
Police arrested Whisenant and Fleischer on Jan. 26 after finding the wallet and bloody sweatshirts in a garbage can on the beach, and the abandoned SUV. Someone linked the clothes to Whisenant and Fleischer, leading to their arrests.
Both teens confessed to participating in the bloody robbery and Fleischer admitted to "restraining, kicking and striking Grossman in the head with a pellet handgun," according to police documents.
Assistant Public Defender Bruce Raticoff, Whisenant's attorney, said Friday he wasn't surprised that Whisenant was charged as an adult. The defense attorney reiterated earlier comments he made to a juvenile court judge that he's exploring allegations that Grossman had inappropriate sexual contact with Whisenant.
That misconduct may have acted as the catalyst for Grossman's death, Raticoff said.
Grossman's friends and family have called Raticoff's accusations despicable, saying that there's no evidence to support the defense attorney's claims and there will never be such evidence. Friends have described Grossman as a gentle and giving man who doted on his loved ones and his Akita.
Jon Burstein can be reached at jburstein@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4491.
The 17 year old Scott Whisenat is my cousin. I love him and if anyone has a problem take it up with him
hahahaha
picture available here>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>http://www.sheriff.org/apps/arrest/big.cfm?id=500502080 only if you cant see the picture below
By Jon Burstein
Staff Writer
Posted February 12 2005
A 17-year-old will stand trial as an adult in the strangulation death last month of a Fort Lauderdale anesthesiologist.
A Broward Circuit Court grand jury indicted Scott Whisenant and his friend, Joseph Fleischer, 18, on Thursday on first-degree murder and home invasion robbery charges in Dr. Harry Grossman's Jan. 21 slaying. Grossman, a physician at Weston Outpatient Surgical Center, was choked to death with a leather dog leash, according to court records made available Friday.
The Broward State Attorney's Office is still weighing whether to seek the death penalty against Whisenant and Fleischer, said Assistant State Attorney Brian Cavanagh. Both are in the Broward County Jail without bail.
Fort Lauderdale police said Whisenant and Fleischer entered Grossman's Citrus Isles home through an unlocked sliding-glass door and surprised the doctor as he walked from the bedroom into the living room. Grossman had befriended Whisenant a couple years ago, letting the teen do odd jobs around his waterfront home until the doctor began suspecting last year that the boy was stealing from him.
The two would-be robbers beat, kicked and choked the doctor when he confronted them, authorities said. The teens then are accused of stealing $2,000 in cash and Grossman's wallet, taking off in the doctor's SUV.
Police arrested Whisenant and Fleischer on Jan. 26 after finding the wallet and bloody sweatshirts in a garbage can on the beach, and the abandoned SUV. Someone linked the clothes to Whisenant and Fleischer, leading to their arrests.
Both teens confessed to participating in the bloody robbery and Fleischer admitted to "restraining, kicking and striking Grossman in the head with a pellet handgun," according to police documents.
Assistant Public Defender Bruce Raticoff, Whisenant's attorney, said Friday he wasn't surprised that Whisenant was charged as an adult. The defense attorney reiterated earlier comments he made to a juvenile court judge that he's exploring allegations that Grossman had inappropriate sexual contact with Whisenant.
That misconduct may have acted as the catalyst for Grossman's death, Raticoff said.
Grossman's friends and family have called Raticoff's accusations despicable, saying that there's no evidence to support the defense attorney's claims and there will never be such evidence. Friends have described Grossman as a gentle and giving man who doted on his loved ones and his Akita.
Jon Burstein can be reached at jburstein@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4491.
The 17 year old Scott Whisenat is my cousin. I love him and if anyone has a problem take it up with him
hahahaha
picture available here>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>http://www.sheriff.org/apps/arrest/big.cfm?id=500502080 only if you cant see the picture below