| Connecticut Post Newspaper April 27, 2006 Daniel Tepfer - Reporter Murder Suspect Held On $2 Million Bond Bridgeport - A man police say orchestrated the execution of a Canadian man on the East Side five years ago returned to Connecticut Wednesday to face charges. Miguel Zapata, 21, was arrested last month in Tennessee, where authorities learned he was wanted in Connecticut. He waived extradition and was brought here to face a murder charge. On Wednesday, Zapata was ordered held in lieu of $2 million bond by Superior Court Judge Susan Reynolds. "The arrest was the result of an excellent job by detectives Heitor Texeira and Robert Sherback of the department's Cold Case Squad," said Lt. James Viadero. "This was a particularly difficult case, but they along with Detective Mike Fiumidinisi, did an outstanding investigation." Zapata is accused in the Sept. 28, 2001, death of 24-year-old Zoltan Kiss of Toronto, Another man connected with the case, Orema Taft, 30, was arrested last month. "It's been four years, 211 days since my son was killed and now the animals who did it has finally been arrested," said the victims' mother, Eva Kiss. "I hope he finally gets what he deserves." Police said Zapata is a member of a well-known crime family in the city known as the "Number One Family." Kiss, who had come to the city to visit his father, was slumped in a car on Jane Street. According to the autopsy report he had been shot 25 times. Eva Kiss, who lives in Toronto began an intensive campaign to find her son's killer, offering a $10,000 reward in addition to the $50,000 offered by the state. In September Eva Kiss and her own mother came to the site of Zoltan Kiss's murder and began walking the street, banging on doors in an effort to find witnesses to the crime. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Kiss and some friends had been taking Ecstasy and Kiss told the others he was going out to get more of the drug. Witnesses said Kiss pulled up on Jane Streeet and asked people on the street, if anyone had Ecstasy for sale. Zapata then walked up to Kiss and began shooting him, the affidavit states. On March 21, police said Henderson County, Tenn., sheriffs pulled over a Ford Escape with Connecticut license plates for speeding. Inside the car police sheriffs said they found a loaded .38-caliber handgun. Zapata, a passenger in the sports-utility vehicle, was taken into custody. Deputy sheriffs later learned there was an arrest warrant pending from Connecticut for Zapata's arrest and notified Bridgeport police. |
 |
 |
 |
| With much thanks, to the Henderson County, Tennessee - Sheriff''s Department |