Retired Cop Still Not Tried for Rape After 25 Years

Twenty-five years ago a lot of things happened.  The Lion King was released, Kurt Cobain’s death and Leonard Forte was accused of raping his 12-year-old daughter’s friend.  Forte was a detective with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in New York. The case that he was in the middle of was delayed because of heart problems that the former detective had.  Forte told the prosecutor that if he didn’t get a heart transplant, he would die within a year. Fortunately enough for Forte, the prosecutor delayed the case… for 25 years.  

Forte has been living in Florida as a retired man.  Taking vacations, collecting cool boats, and still using the same excuse as to why he can’t go to court.  Reporters are not able to reach Forte by phone and tried sending a letter to get through to him. Forte stated that he is “not strong enough to defend [himself], but [he’s] not guilty of these charges.”  he also stated that he was on oxygen “24/7.”  Although he says that, Forte was caught walking around in his yard, no oxygen tank in sight.  It was said by Dr. Mary Norine Walsh, past president of the American College of Cardiology and medical director of an Indianapolis heart center that it would be “extraordinarily rare” for him to be so well and alive if he was to have a severe heart disease.   Vermont judges and court officials have expressed their skepticism and impatience with Forte’s case and how he is put off the case for years.  “I’ve been dying for 25 years, your honor,” he stated to a judge of Vermont, “I’m sorry I’m still alive.”  

The then 12-year-old girl that accused Forte of raping her, Michele Dinko, is now a 45-year-old woman who has been waiting for Forte to make an appearance in the Vermont Courtroom. She stated that it was during a trip in 1987, heading to Landgrove, Vermont with her friend (Forte’s youngest daughter) when Forte raped or attempted to rape her.  Then she stated that Forte raped her again when they got back to New York when she was having a sleepover with her friend. Forte told her not to speak of it saying, “They wouldn’t understand our love.” Dinko’s mother wrote a letter saying that Forte got away with the crime that he was accused of because of the fact that he has ties to law enforcement.  And though Forte will not admit to anything he stated, “You had a great time,” to the victim, “I treated you like gold.” which brought suspicion among the court.  

 Though she is still fighting to get him to court, it is becoming less likely to happen.  Not only because Forte is approaching his 80s, but because it’s been found that Vermont officials have destroyed key materials to the case.  This mistake is all due to the age of the case, which is by far, the oldest case that is to be prosecuted in Vermont.