Poison Candy: The Murderous Madam (33 page)

F
or his part in this collaboration,
Mark Ebner
would like to thank Elizabeth Parker for trying the case her way (despite admonishment from above), and the exhaustive amount of gold standard research material resulting from her thorough investigation. Thanks also to Michael Wright for matching him up with Parker; Joel Gotler for always standing his clients’ ground; partner-in-crime Paul Cullum; the BenBella Books crew; and the great state of Florida for being a wellspring of fantastic crime stories.

I would like to acknowledge those special people in my life without whom my career, this case, and this book would not have been possible. First and foremost, my mother Donna and father Edwin who instilled in me a tremendous work ethic and have supported my every endeavor in life. My brother, Jeff, for always being there to help and encouraging me when times were tough. My grandmother Doris, thank you for being my number one fan! Michael Kenyon, your friendship means the world to me. Larry Wood, my friend and talented photographer.

To the prosecutors I worked for at the New Orleans District Attorney’s Office, Glen Woods, Margaret Hay, Roger Jordan, and Tim McElroy, for mentoring me and instilling a desire to always fight for what is just.

To Barry Krischer, thank you for hiring me as a rookie prosecutor in 1998, but most important, without your support and belief in my abilities I would not be where I am today. You have always encouraged me to reach for the stars and to never look back.

To Ted Booras, thank you for your friendship, for picking me as your Deputy Chief in 2003, and then running for office, winning, leaving, and letting me take your spot.

To Douglas Duncan, thank you for mentoring me, but above all for being such a terrific and supportive friend.

To Pat McKenna, you are the best! Thank you for calling in your favors for my endorsements.

To all the prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and law enforcement officers that I have had the privilege to work with over the years. Through teaching, training, challenges, trials, and investigations, you have all been instrumental in shaping my career and contributing to my successes.

To all of those people that contributed to this case in so many different ways: Terri Skiles for letting me use your tag line, “She did it and you know it”; Jill Richstone for helping me find Larry Coe; Greg Kridos and Cheryl Caracuzzo for your intel on Buck Wild; Pete Zampini for your help in researching the reality show information; Dr. Stephen Alexander for your unique insight into Dalia’s personality; Pete McGovern for teaching me everything I ever wanted to know about computer forensics. To the State Attorney Investigators, Glenn Wescott, Mike Waites, Eric Hutchinson, and Theresa Wyatt, thank you for responding to my endless requests.

To Michael McAuliffe, for giving me the case and opportunity of a lifetime.

To the prosecution team: Terri Bramhall, there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t miss you as my assistant. Lindsey Marcus, thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to this case. Your investigative skills and ability to follow your intuition will serve you well in your career. I am so very proud of the lawyer you have become. Laura Burkhart Laurie, my co-counsel and friend. You are an unbelievably talented prosecutor. I was so honored to have you by my side in trial.

To Alex Moreno, Brian Anderson, Paul Sheridan, Frank Ranzie, Ace Brown, Widy Jean, and the entire investigative team from the Boynton Beach Police Department. Thank you for your dedication to seeking justice in this case, for spending hours with me preparing for trial, and for always having my back.

To Michael Dippolito, thank you for your support on this project. I hope this book helps give you the closure that you deserve.

A special thanks to Donna Tolmas for encouraging me to tell my story and for pitching it to Michael Wright for me. To Michael Wright, my publicist and friend, thank you for believing in me, arranging this deal, and
guiding me along this journey. To Glenn Yeffeth, my editor Erin Kelley, and the terrific team at BenBella, for allowing me the opportunity to tell my story and expertly steering this project.

Last but not least, to Mark Ebner, thank you for your genius story telling ability and for being my partner on this endeavor.

Elizabeth Parker began as a prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office in 1998 where she quickly rose through the ranks and achieved the position of Chief Assistant State Attorney in which she litigated high-profile cases.

She has appeared on
Dateline
,
Snapped
,
Sins and Secrets
,
Nothing Personal
, and
In Session
for her role as the lead prosecutor in the Dalia Dippolito case. In 2011, Parker opened her own victim advocacy and criminal defense firm in Palm Beach County, Florida.

As a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor, Elizabeth has appeared on
Nancy Grace
,
In Session
, and in
USA TODAY
as a legal analyst on high-profile cases such as Jerry Sandusky, George Zimmerman, John Goodman, Adam Kauffman, and Tammy Smith.