WEST WARWICK -- The police will not charge a Warwick woman who
publicly admitted taking memorial crosses honoring Great White guitarist
Ty Longley, they announced yesterday.
Diane Mattera told The Journal Tuesday that she took the crosses from
the site of The Station nightclub fire, in which both Longley and
Mattera's daughter, Tamara, died. Mattera left a note saying she didn't
want her daughter's memorial shared with that of a "killer."
"Given the facts at hand," the Police Department said in yesterday's
statement, "no charges will be brought against Mrs. Mattera.
"The department, as well as the municipality, is saddened by the actions
of those involved and would hope that persons visiting the site would
honor the sanctity of memorial items left there. The department
understands the significance of the site in the grieving process, and we
have always maintained this position to the families and friends of all
those lost there . . .
"Persons who visit the site should realize that items left in memorial
of 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," the
statement continued.
"We have and will continue to maintain a presence there with the hopes
of allowing persons to continue visiting the site. Hopefully the
families and friends of all those touched by this tragedy will continue
respecting the wishes of those in mourning."
Jody King, vice president of The Station Family Fund, filed a complaint
with the police Monday after learning of the disappearance of the
crosses. He could not be reached yesterday.
