Silent Witness
Help the Phoenix Police find the killers of two gay men
By Luis Garcia
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department wants the GLBT community to know that they are not giving up in finding the responsible parties for two separate crimes involving the murders of two gay men.
Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Tracy Montgomery hopes the public is aware that they can step forward by utilizing the Silent Witness program and help with leads in arresting the killers of Maurice Green, 22, who was murdered on March 21, 2006, and Anthony Maplethorpe, 33, who was found dead on Aug. 22, 2007.
In March 1979, the Phoenix Police Department started Silent Witness to provide the public with an anonymous means of providing police with information on non-drug felonies.
In the past 29 years, the program has been involved in more than 7,500 felony cases, resulting in excess of 5,000 arrests, and the payment of more than $1 million in reward money.
According to a witness, Green was killed by a Hispanic male while walking northbound on 35th Avenue at Glenrosa. Maurice was dressed as a female at the time of the murder.
After the incident, a second Hispanic male was seen providing the first Hispanic male with a bicycle to flee the scene. This second Hispanic male left on foot.
A candlelight vigil has been held every year since his murder by District 4 Phoenix City Councilman Tom Simplot, who represents the area where the murder took place. He has vowed that Green's death would not be forgotten.
“The Phoenix Police Department is committed to solving the homicide of Maurice Green,” Simplot said. “Unfortunately, a lack of information has made their work difficult so far. “I hope that other people will consider donating to Silent Witness, to help solve crimes and support victims.”
Simplot has helped raise the Silent Witness reward to $4,000 and has personally donated some of his own money for information leading to the arrest of the homicide.
Maplethorpe’s body was found almost exactly 16 months after the Green murder in an alley near Central Avenue and Dobbins Road. Investigators believe that the victim died as a result of blunt force trauma. Police have few clues in the case, despite the fact that an $11,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of his murderer.
Frank Grassi, who would have been Maplethorpe’s business partner, has opened Tony's Mamma Mia Express on Indian School Road at Eighth Street, in honor of his friend.
Grassi has called Maplethorpe the warmest, most kind-hearted, goofy guy that you'll ever meet.
“He's the kind of guy that when you came into a room put a smile on everyone's face,” Grassi said. “He'll be missed."
Businesses interested in supporting the Silent Witness program can call 602-534-9961. Residents are encouraged to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS if they know, see, or hear anything that even remotely may be of value to the police.
For more information, visit www.silentwitness.org.
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