Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire (55 page)

41
But at 10:55 Patty Sanetti left to go home
Witness statements of Richard Sanetti and Patricia Sanetti.

7.
YOURS, IN FIRE SAFETY
…

42
Mike thought back to his bachelor party at The Station
Jennifer Levitz, “The Guest List,”
Providence Journal
, December 19, 2003.

42-43
In Rhode Island, local fire inspections are carried out by
Tom Mooney and Zachary R. Mider, “The Fire Marshal,”
Providence Journal
, December 18, 2003.

43
In addition to his home, he owned
Stephanie Ebbert, “Town Officials’ Ties Raise Eyebrows; Nightclub Fire Exposes Municipal Dealings,”
Boston Globe
, March 25, 2003; West Warwick Tax Assessor’s Office records.

43
The job of fire code inspector in West Warwick
Mooney and Mider, “Fire Marshal.”

43
Although the job paid the same as his old position, $42,216
Agreement between the Town of West Warwick and Local 1104, International Ass’n. of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, July 1, 1996–June 30, 1999, p. 28.

43
Bull-necked and stocky, with a fireman’s trademark mustache
Assistant deputy state fire marshal ID card of Denis Larocque, December 31, 1999.

43
In December of 1999 his work took him to The Station
Memo from Peter Brousseau to Gerald Tellier, November 15, 1999.

43–44
Larocque’s capacity calculations
Zachary R. Mider, “The Station’s Capacity Went from 50 to 404 since ’69,”
Providence Journal
, August 24, 2003.

44
The Rhode Island state fire code mandates
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 23, chap. 28.6.

44
On December 30, 1999, he wrote to Police Chief Brousseau
Memo from Denis Larocque to Peter Brousseau, December 30, 1999.

44
Just over two months later
Grand jury testimony of Denis Larocque, June 25, 2003, pp. 18–21; memo from Denis Larocque to Peter Brousseau, March 2, 2000.

44
The fire code relied upon by Larocque
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 23, chap. 28.6, secs. 3, 4.

44
According to William F. Howe
Mider, “Station’s Capacity Went from 50 to 404.”

45
Kimberly and Stephanie Napolitano
Kimberly Napolitano and Stephanie Napolitano, in discussion with the author, August 31, 2011.

45
The foam ran the length of the south wall
Deposition of Timothy Arnold in
Gray et al. v. Derderian et al
., CA No. 04–312-L, USDC–RI, May 2, 2005.

45
The state fire code requires decorative
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 23, chap. 28.6, sec. 15.

45
Under that test protocol
Ibid.

45
Had the match flame test been applied
Results of statutory match-flame test conducted by author, presented to West Warwick Town Council, April 2, 2008.

45
An earlier attempt at sound insulation
Grand jury testimony of Denis Larocque, June 25, 2003, p. 13.

45–46
The first West Warwick fire inspection thereafter
Field Inspection Notice, Town of West Warwick Fire Department, November 21, 2000.

46
A year later, in November 2001, Larocque himself
West Warwick Fire Department Inspection Report, November 10, 2001, by “D. Larocque”; witness statement of Denis Larocque, February 25, 2003.

46
Larocque returned to The Station in November 2002
Ebbert, “Town Officials’ Ties Raise Eyebrows”; West Warwick Fire Department Inspection Report, November 20, 2002, by “D. Larocque.”

46
On December 2, 2002, a “compliance inspection report” confirmed
Witness statement of Denis Larocque, February 25, 2003.

46
However, the offending door
Grand jury testimony of David M. Stone, April 4, 2003, pp. 36–39, 50.

46
New England Custom Alarms
Deposition of Joseph LaFontaine, New England Custom Alarms, in
Gray et al. v. Derderian et al.
, CA No. 04–312-L, USDC–RI, April 4, 2005; letter from Joseph LaFontaine to The Station, December 4, 2002, stating, “A copy of this letter will be forwarded to the West Warwick Fire Prevention office.”

47
Larocque would testify after the fire
Witness statement of Denis Larocque, February 25, 2003
;
Grand jury testimony of Denis Larocque, June 25, 2003, pp. 46–47.

47
That door was completely covered with the gray egg-crate foam
Grand jury testimony of David M. Stone, April 4, 2003, pp. 36–37.

8.
SUDS, SPARKS, AND SPONSORSHIP

48
We’re back! We’re fuckin’ back
Matthew Pickett audiotape, February 20, 2003.

48
This was the between-set patter of emcee
Gerald M. Carbone, “WHJY DJ the Doctor Is among the Missing,”
Providence Journal
, February 22, 2003.

48
Dan Biechele, set up an apparatus
Report of Robert Mowry Jr., Rhode Island Fire Marshal’s Office, August 19, 2003; witness statements of Dan Biechele, February 21, 2003 (1:21 a.m.), February 21, 2003 (7:13 a.m.), February 28, 2003, and March 3, 2003; testimony of Dan Biechele at plea proceeding, February 7, 2006.

48
Gonsalves, forty, shared some personal history
Carbone, “WHJY DJ the Doctor Is among the Missing.”

48–49
Like Mike Hoogasian, Gonsalves
Memorial Biography of Michael Gonsalves,
Providence Journal
, March 20, 2003.

49
Budweiser’s interest in the concert
Witness statement of Donald N. Trudeau, March 7, 2003; affidavit of Donald N. Trudeau, April 3, 2007.

49
McLaughlin & Moran was a substantial advertising customer
Affidavit of Charles Borkoski, April 3, 2007; memorandum to Charles Borkoski (WHJY) from Jennifer Garner, February 17, 2003.

50
That impression was cemented by Dr. Metal’s on-air telephone interview
Grand jury testimony of Douglas Bardsley, June 25, 2003; letter of Robert Grasso to Police Chief Peter Brousseau, February 21, 2003; witness statements of Robert Grasso, February 24, 2003, and April 22, 2003; grand jury testimony of Robert Grasso, July 14, 2003; witness statement of Ronald Goodinson, March 5, 2003.

50
The night of Great White’s appearance at The Station
Witness statement of Donald N. Trudeau.

50
The two beer men were joined near the horseshoe bar
Grand jury testimony of Jordan Clark, May 28, 2003; grand jury testimony of David McGinn, May 28, 2003; grand jury testimony of Jill Malinowski, May 28, 2003; grand jury testimony of Stephen Scarpetti, May 28, 2003; grand jury testimony of Jeremy Gately, May 28, 2003.

50–51
On the floor at center stage
Instructions for Pyropak Tube Devices / Gerbs, Luna Tech Inc.; fax from Dan Biechele to Randy Bast containing Great White pyro order, January 2003; statement of Michael A. Roland, S.A., Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, regarding Randy Bast interview of February 21, 2003; letter to Ivan Holder (Luna Tech) from Randy Bast, January 16, 2003; grand jury testimony of Randy Bast, July 16, 2003; grand jury testimony of Robert Hutchins, June 18, 2003.

51–52
Rhode Island law, like that of most states
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 23, chap. 28.11.

52
Plans for Great White’s show had not always been so flashy
Grand jury testimony of Randy Bast; letter to Dan Biechele from Randy Bast, January 13, 2003; High-Tech Special Effects Invoice no. 412 to Jack Russell Touring, January 16, 2003.

52
About a year earlier, Paul Vanner
Grand jury testimony of Paul Vanner, May 7, 2003.

9.
FILM AT ELEVEN

53
In the early morning hours of February 17
Jodi Wilgoren, “21 Die in Stampede of 1,500 at Chicago Nightclub,”
New York Times
, February 18, 2003; Jodi Wilgoren, “Tapes Show Desperation and Panic at Chicago Club’s Exits,”
New York Times
, March 1, 2003.

53
It was this tragic event
Bryan Rourke, “Fire Marshal Thought Disaster Would Be ‘Remote,’”
Providence Journal
, February 22, 2003.

53–54
So, around 10:40 on the night
Grand jury testimony of Brian Butler, June 9, 2003.

54
At times, King’s six-foot-two, three-hundred-pound body
Memorial Biography of Tracy King,
Providence Journal
, March 20, 2003.

54
As Butler’s camera pans stage left
Witness statements of Dan Biechele, February 28, 2003, and March 3, 2003; Brian Butler videotape of Station walk-through, February 20, 2003.

54–56
As Butler’s camera traverses the dance floor
Brian Butler videotape.

56
DeMaio, the single mother of a seven-year-old son
Memorial Biography of Dina DeMaio,
Providence Journal
, March 20, 2003.

56
As Butler’s camera pans left
Brian Butler videotape.

56
Hired as a “private detail” by the Derderians
Witness statement of Anthony Bettencourt, February 26, 2003.

57
Knott was on routine patrol
Witness statement of Mark Knott, February 28, 2003.

57
On the wall behind Andrea Mancini hangs
Brian Butler videotape.

57
At 11:04, Station light man Scooter Stone
Witness statement of David Stone, February 22, 2003; grand jury testimony of David Stone, April 4, 2003.

57–58
At 11:05, guitar feedback signals
Brian Butler videotape.

58
In a few seconds Kinan will take off
Angie Cannon, “Looking for Answers in the Ashes,”
U.S. News and World Report
, February 12, 2004.

58–59
At the thirty-six-second mark
Brian Butler videotape.

59
A few yards behind him in the pack, Erin Pucino
Pietra (née Erin) Pucino, in discussion with the author, July 7, 2011.

10.
THIS WAY OUT

60
West Warwick patrolman Mark Knott
Witness statement of Mark Knott, February 28, 2003; Tom Mooney, “Saving Lives at the Open Gates of Hell,”
Providence Journal
, April 13, 2003; witness statement of Anthony Bettencourt, February 26, 2003.

60–62
Al and Charlene Prudhomme
Witness statement of Albert Prudhomme, March 2, 2003; witness statement of Charlene Prudhomme, March 2, 2003.

62
Jack Russell’s motel housekeeper guests
Witness statement of Jacqueline Bernard, February 27, 2003; Elizabeth Mehren and Stephen Braun, “Nightclub Fire Toll Nears 100,”
Los Angeles Times
, February 22, 2003.

62
Tom Conte and his girlfriend
Witness statement of Thomas Conte, March 11, 2003; witness statement of Kimberly Phillips, March 1, 2003.

62–63
Redheaded Gina Gauvin
Witness statement of Gina Gauvin, October 17, 2003; Ally Donnelly, “One Woman’s Survival Story of the Station Nightclub Fire,” New England Cable News (NECN), March 13, 2009; Gina Gauvin, in discussion with the author, October 21, 2011.

63
John Fairbairn and his wife
Witness statement of John Fairbairn, February 22, 2003; witness statement of Andrea Fairbairn, February 26, 2003.