[Philadelphia Online] THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS Local
Tuesday, June 17, 1997

Major Figures in the Ira Einhorn case: Then and now


ARLEN SPECTER - Early defense lawyer for Einhorn. Got him out on $40,000 bail. Withdrew from case in 1980, replaced by Norris E. Gelman. Einhorn fled in 1981.

Now: U.S. senator. On Einhorn's capture: ``I think it shows you can run but you can't hide.''

JUANITA KIDD STOUT - Common Pleas judge who presided over Einhorn's 1993 ``trial in absentia.'' Was senior judge who served briefly on state Supreme Court. Permitted ``hearsay'' statements - repetition of what Maddux told others - about her intention to leave Einhorn. Agreed with defense lawyer Gelman that testimony about Einhorn beating Maddux would prejudice jurors.

Now: Stout is a senior judge in Philadelphia's Common Pleas Court.

JOEL ROSEN - Assistant district attorney who prosecuted Einhorn in 1993.

Rosen told jurors that Holly Maddux came to Philadelphia to ``calm Ira down.'' She was here one night, the prosecutor argued, ``and she was murdered.''

Now: Rosen still is ADA. Said yesterday: ``I feel happy for the Maddux family.'' Of law enforcement officials: ``They have never given up hope.''

MICHAEL CHITWOOD - Philadelphia police detective who discovered mummified body of Holly Maddux in a steamer trunk at Einhorn's Powelton apartment. ``When we went into the apartment, we never expected to find the body,'' Chitwood said. ``He was still living there.''

Now: Police chief in Portland, Maine. Said yesterday: ``It's not fair. There's a system for people who have nothing, and there's a system for people who have wealth and fame.''

NORRIS E. GELMAN - Einhorn's defense lawyer since 1980. Sat beside Einhorn's empty chair at the 1993 murder trial.

Now: Gelman, who says he last spoke to Einhorn in 1988, remains Einhorn's attorney and vows to fight extradition from France.

LYNNE M. ABRAHAM - As a Common Pleas judge in 1979, signed search warrants that led to discovery of Maddux's body. As district attorney in 1993, she decided to put Einhorn on trial in absentia.

Now: Still DA. Said yesterday: ``I think that everybody in law enforcement feels a great debt of gratitude, vindication and relief that he is finally in custody and he will finally get the punishment that the court and jury thought he so richly deserved.''

RICHARD DIBENEDETTO - Investigator on the case almost since beginning in the DA's fugitives and extradition unit. Helped prosecutors prepare for the murder trial and has helped lead the pursuit of the fugitive murderer.

Now: Head of DA's fugitives and extradition unit. Said yesterday: ``Persistence pays off. I'm just glad it's come to a conclusion for the family.''