Serial-killing suspect Naso, in closing pitch, says women voluntarily disrobe for him
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19790041
By Gary Klien
Marin Independent Journal
Posted: 01/21/2012
Accused serial killer Joseph Naso insisted Friday that he had no need to dominate and subdue women because he "could probably get half the women in this room to disrobe" just by virtue of his natural charm.
"It's got nothing to do with power," said Naso, referring to his vast photography of bound and allegedly incapacitated women. "It's got to do with rapport."
But Naso, who declined to hire a lawyer, might have slipped when he said he had "dated or whatever" the murder victim Tracy Tafoya, one of four prostitutes he is charged with killing. Until that moment, there was no direct evidence that Naso knew or had contact with Tafoya, 31.
Naso, 78, will resume his closing statement on Monday, when his preliminary hearing continues. Then Judge Andrew Sweet will decide whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence to justify holding Naso for trial.
In addition to the murder of Tafoya, Naso is charged with killing Roxene Roggasch, an 18-year-old Oakland prostitute who was strangled and dumped just west of Fairfax; Carmen Colon, 22, found near Port Costa in 1978; and Pamela Parsons, 38, found in Yuba County in 1993.
The pantyhose Roggasch was wearing when her body was found contained semen that matched Joseph Naso's DNA profile, an investigator testified earlier this week. Another set of pantyhose wrapped about Roggasch's throat contained the DNA of Naso's ex-wife.
Naso was identified as the suspect after a 2010 probation search at his Reno home revealed a vast collection of photographs of dead or unconscious women in various states of undress, incriminating writings, sadistic magazines, and diaries describing sex crimes, investigators said. Authorities suspect that a list of 10 unnamed women found at Naso's home refers to the four known murder victims and six yet to be found.
On Friday, the prosecution rested its case in the two-week preliminary hearing, giving Naso his chance to present evidence.
Naso called no witnesses and declined to take the stand, lest he be cross-examined by prosecutors. The only evidence he submitted were two newspaper articles about erotic art, and an apparently racy menu from the Moonlight Bunny Ranch Bordello in Nevada.
Naso said the evidence showed that sex, prostitution and erotic images "are part of Americana." Likewise, he said, his interest in making "glamor, pin-up, cheesecake" photographs was constitutionally protected free expression, not evidence of criminal activity.
"I am demonstrating that I am not unique, that this goes on all over the country," he said.
Deputy District Attorney Dori Ahana offered a methodical summary of the prosecution's case, saying the evidence is overwhelming that Naso is a killer obsessed with the "dehumanization of women."
Naso said Ahana's presentation was "a nice speech, but completely false."
"It's all circumstantial," he said.
But his offhand remark about dating Tafoya gave prosecutors some support in one of their weaker cases. Although Naso kept a newspaper clipping about her murder, and Tafoya's husband said he recognized her panties in Naso's photo collection, there was no direct evidence they had contact.
Tafoya, a prostitute, was found dumped near Marysville Cemetery, which was close to Naso's residence at the time. The 10th entry on Naso's list referred to a "girl" from Marysville with the word cemetery next to it.