WEST WARWICK -- Local police will not charge the mother of a Station
nightclub fire victim for removing crosses left at the club's site for
Great White guitarist Ty Longley, the police announced today.
Diane Mattera, of Warwick, told reporters yesterday that she had taken
two wooden crosses, photos of Longley's son, and a teddy bear left in
his son's honor, from the Cowesett Avenue site on Friday.
She said she removed the items because pyrotechnics set off by the band
ignited the Feb. 20 fire that killed 100 people, including Mattera's
daughter, Tamara Mattera-Housa, 29. About 200 more were injured.
"I just threw them into the woods," Mattera said, "because Ty does not
belong there. I feel sorry for him that he died, but the only thing is
he doesn't belong there."
Police Chief Peter Brousseau told The Associated Press that authorities
determined criminal charges are not warranted because items placed at
the site are considered abandoned property.
The attorney general's office also reviewed the case, Brousseau said.
In a press release issued today, the West Warwick Police Department
said, "No charges will be brought against Mrs. Mattera. Persons who
visit the site should realize that items left in memorial to those who
perished are left at their own peril.
"We would hope that persons visiting the site would respect those items
left, however, they are left there as an offering and not as personal
property."
One of Longley's original crosses was made by his father and his
girlfriend, Heidi Peralta. Attached to it were pictures of Longley's
son, Acey Ty, who was born this summer.
Peralta said Longley was an innocent victim of the fire.
Friends and well-wishers replaced Longley's stolen wooden cross with a
welded-steel cross, built into a poured cement base.
Mattera said yesterday she hopes to remove that cross as well.
In its press release, the police department said it will continue to
keep a police presence at the site while allowing people to continue
visiting.
"Hopefully, the families and friends of all those touched by this
tragedy will continue respecting the wishes of those in mourning," the
release said.
-- With reports from The Associated Press
