Expert Pathologist Peter Mazari disputes findings of Medical Examiner, advocates changing cause of Dawn Pasela’s death, joins calls for New Investigation

  • County Sheriff investigation found the Parma, Ohio police ignored procedures, failed to collect multiple cell phones or any evidence from the death scene, erred in not investigating Dawn’s missing computer
  • Parma Police refuse to take any action to reopen the case – even after a directive to do so
  • Mounting evidence suggests that Dawn was murdered
  • Fired and disbarred federal prosecutor Mark Bennett now admits Dawn was ordered to make illegal voice recordings, contradicting his earlier sworn statements in federal court

Executive Summary

Expert Forensic Pathologist Dr. Peter Mazari reviewed every available document concerning the death of Dawn Pasela and concluded that the death was “unnatural” and said “I would strongly suggest revision and reinvestigation.”  In his comprehensive report, Dr. Mazari disagreed with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s “assessment of the manner of death” of an accidental alcohol overdose, stating “no evidence of any sort of ethanol ingestion was noted at the scene other than bottles of vodka. No glasses to support oral consumption,” raising “the possibility that the scene was altered prior to Ms. Pasela being discovered.”

Background

Whistleblower Dawn Pasela was found dead under suspicious circumstances as she was set to testify at the second criminal trial of Tony Viola about wrongdoing by Prosecutor Mark Bennett and Senior Assistant Ohio Attorney General Dan Kasaris.  Tony was exonerated, thanks to evidence Dawn provided, but Dawn’s death was deemed suspicious because:

  • Three cell phones were found in her apartment – including one with an outbound call long after the supposed time of death – but the Parma Police never collected them or ANY evidence.
  • The heat in her apartment was set very high to accelerate body decomposition, but the window was wide open, and may have been used by an assailant to exit her apartment.
  • Dawn’s computer, containing evidence in a myriad of criminal cases, was stolen.
  • Dawn’s blood alcohol content, close to .60, was inconsistent with the police photos taken at the scene, including ongoing food preparation.  Moreover, no vomit or urine was present.

Mounting evidence that Dawn’s death was the result of foul play, and that multiple individuals had reason to harm her, has come to light.  Kindly consider:

  • One of Dawn’s colleagues at the Task Force where she worked, Chairman Donald Cleland, stated under oath that Dawn possessed hard drives from the Task Force that contained evidence in hundreds of state and federal criminal cases.
  • Facebook messages from Susan Kasaris, the wife of Dan Kasaris, confirmed Dawn’s allegations that Prosecutor Kasaris was having an affair with government witness Kathryn Clover, who testified in dozens of criminal cases on behalf of prosecutors.  Kasaris also destroyed his own computer the day Dawn died.
  • The Justice Department fired Mark Bennett and blamed him for making false statements about evidence in Tony’s case, further confirming Dawn’s allegations.  Bennett was suspended him from the practice of law, Disciplinary Counsel v, Bennett, case number 2022-034; DOJ Inspector General Report Number 21-005.
  • Records obtained in 2023 establish tht the Parma Police didn’t call an ambulance to Dawn’s apartment but a mortuary service.
  • A review of Dawn’s file by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff shows that Parma Police violated procedures and failed to collect cell phones or any evidence, failed to canvass the area around Dawn’s apartment, interview witnesses, obtain surveillance video, or coordinate any investigation with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
  • According to Dawn’s friend Jason Samide, Dawn reached out to him shortly before her death, asking for his help and expressing fear for her safety.
  • New evidence indicates that Marty Maurer was the last person to see Dawn alive and may possess critical information about what happened to Dawn, but Maurer has refused to cooperate with any investigation.  In 2024, Maurer was caught making contradictory statements about his presence in Dawn’s apartment the night she died.
  • Despite specific directives by the County Sheriff to the Parma Police, that department refuses to follow any recommendations or turn the file to another investigative agency.

Overview of Dr. Mazari’s Report

Attorney Kim Corral retained Dr. Peter Mazari,  a Forensic Pathologist who has served as a Medical Examiner in Southern New Jersey for nearly a decade, to review the case file.  Dr. Mazari, pictured above, previously provided Medical Examiner services in Maryland and Pennsylvania, performed over 1500 autopsies and consulted on dozens of civil and criminal legal cases. Dr. Mazari earned his medical degree (M.D.) as well as a separate doctorate (Ph.D.) in molecular biology and biochemistry at Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Dr. Mazari’s full report has been posted in the FreeTonyViola.com Evidence Locker, but key findings of the prominent pathologist include:

  • “Regarding the manner of death, … several findings leave the circumstances murky enough that I would suggest the manner of death be revised to ‘Undetermined’ at this point pending further police investigation.”
  • “At autopsy, however, a significant amount of ‘food’ was noted in her stomach … [which] raises the possibility that she had ingested the ethanol through a different means than oral ingestion, possibly after she had already eaten.”
  • “Additionally, there is evidence that another person had been present with Ms. Pasela on the night of her death. There were two coffee mugs both containing apparent coffee on the dining table … and an outgoing call was noted at 04:39 AM” but never investigated.

 

Dr. Mazari concludes that “it is my opinion that the manner at this time would be best classified as “Undetermined” and that further police investigation would be necessary to adequately rule out the possibility of foul play.”

Attempts to present this report to the Medical Examiner were rebuffed, while city officials in Parma failed to respond to the report itself, leading Attorney Kim Corral and Dawn’s family to make Dr. Mazari’s report public.

A $10,000 reward is available for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in Dawn's murder. If you would like to submit a tip, kindly complete the form on the JusticeForDawn.com website, or contact Attorney Kim Corral at (216) 926-7285, private investigator Bob Friedrick at (440) 546-8393 / [email protected], or Tony Viola at (330) 998-3290.

To learn more about what happened to Dawn Pasela, kindly visit www.JusticeForDawn.com.

Additional information about Attorney Kimberly Corral’s law practice and recent accomplishments can be found on her website, www.kimlawcrimlaw.com.

To learn more about the criminal prosecution of Tony Viola, and how he established his innocence at a second trial, or to view any of the documents mentioned in this blog post, kindly visit www.FreeTonyViola.com.

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