Tony Viola proved his innocence at a second trial using evidence Prosecutors Mark Bennett and Dan Kasaris claimed didn't exist. Dawn Pasela, the Office Manager of the prosecutor's office, knew Bennett and Kasaris suppressed evidence proving Tony's innocence before his first trial. She gave Tony this evidence before his second trial and offered to testify as a defense witness about misconduct by these prosecutors. Tony proved his innocence AND misconduct by prosecutors at the second trial, but Dawn Pasela never made it to Court. She was found dead in her apartment shortly after her scheduled testimony. Incredibly, no investigation into her death has ever taken place.
Recently, both the Department of Justice and the FBI both admitted making made false statements about evidence, and Tony was released from jail. Perhaps more importantly, the evidence proving Tony's innocence likely exonerates hundreds of other defendants prosecuted by these same prosecutors on similar charges. Prosecutors Bennett and Kasaris have been caught red-handed hiding evidence, using fabricated testimony at trial, "losing" computers seized in televised raids, threatening to prosecute Dawn for testifying in Tony's case and covering up a romantic relationship between Kasaris and government witness Kathryn Clover. Despite all of this, no court has ever looked into the misconduct in Tony's case and Prosecutors Bennett and Kasaris have faced no consequences whatsoever for their illegal activities, In fact, they are continuing to utilize the same tactics to prosecute other citizens. This Petition seeks the public's help in compelling Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman, to suspend these prosecutors, look into Dawn's death (her picture is above), have Bennett and Kasaris properly investigated and re-open old criminal cases where the evidence Tony used at his second trial likely exonerates hundreds of other Americans.
Details about Tony's case are summarized below and can be found at www.FreeTonyViola.com,
Jeff German bravely explosed corruption and criminal conduct by Robert Telles - a short politician who enjoyed tormenting women:
German saw no particular reason to fear the politician, a short, bullet-headed lawyer named Robert Telles who headed an office that settles the estates of county residents who die without a will. At the time, he had two much more chilling messages on his voicemail from hard, angry men calling him every name in the book and threatening to come after him.
Recent coverage (as of March 2026) shows her family pushing Parma police/city council to reopen the investigation, with media like Cleveland 19 and WKYC reporting on it.
Tony Viola (@tonyviola on X) frequently shares updates and links related to this.
Dawn Pasela was a 26-year-old woman from Parma, Ohio, who died on April 25, 2012. Her death was officially ruled an accidental alcohol overdose (with a reported blood alcohol level of around 0.59), but her family and supporters have long maintained it was suspicious and possibly foul play. She worked as an office manager for the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force and was reportedly set to testify as a whistleblower in a case involving alleged prosecutorial misconduct by figures like Mark Bennett and Dan Kasaris. This testimony was linked to the trial of Tony Viola, who claims her death prevented her from providing evidence that could have helped prove his innocence (he was later exonerated or prevailed in a retrial).Her family, including parents Edward and Karen Pasela, has been advocating for years to reopen the investigation, arguing the initial probe by Parma Police was inadequate (e.g., no witnesses interviewed, limited evidence collected). There are dedicated sites like justicefordawn.com and freetonyviola.com pushing for justice, along with a Facebook group "Justice For Dawn Pasela."Recent updates (as of March 2026):
The case has gained renewed attention in the past few weeks. In mid-March 2026, Dawn's family and supporters (including Tony Viola) urged the Parma City Council to revisit and reopen the 2012 death investigation, citing new evidence, expert reviews (like pathologist reports), and prior court rulings compelling evidence production. They addressed the council around March 16-17, 2026, expressing hope for answers. Local news covered this push, with reports from outlets like Cleveland19 (WOIO), WKYC, and others highlighting the family's calls for a new look at the case 14 years later.There are also mentions of new episodes in an investigative series ("Seeking Justice") released or planned around March/April 2026, focusing on the suspicious circumstances, interviews (e.g., with retired Detective John Morgan), and related misconduct claims.Videos:
Several news segments and investigative videos discuss the case:
Longer investigative content on YouTube channels like Seeking Justice (playlist on Dawn Pasela) covers her story in detail, including episodes questioning if it was homicide or overdose, evidence tampering, and ties to wrongful conviction narratives.
A podcast-style discussion: "77. The Life and Mysterious Death of Dawn Pasela with Tony Viola" on The Silver Linings Handbook Podcast.
For more, check justicefordawn.com or related YouTube channels for ongoing series and updates. The story remains active in true crime and justice advocacy circles, with no official reopening announced yet, but public pressure continues.
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JUSTICE FOR DAWN Indict Mark Bennett and Dan Kasaris
Tony Viola proved his innocence at a second trial using evidence Prosecutors Mark Bennett and Dan Kasaris claimed didn't exist. Dawn Pasela, the Office Manager of the prosecutor's office, knew Bennett and Kasaris suppressed evidence proving Tony's innocence before his first trial. She gave Tony this evidence before his second trial and offered to testify as a defense witness about misconduct by these prosecutors. Tony proved his innocence AND misconduct by prosecutors at the second trial, but Dawn Pasela never made it to Court. She was found dead in her apartment shortly after her scheduled testimony. Incredibly, no investigation into her death has ever taken place.
Recently, both the Department of Justice and the FBI both admitted making made false statements about evidence, and Tony was released from jail. Perhaps more importantly, the evidence proving Tony's innocence likely exonerates hundreds of other defendants prosecuted by these same prosecutors on similar charges. Prosecutors Bennett and Kasaris have been caught red-handed hiding evidence, using fabricated testimony at trial, "losing" computers seized in televised raids, threatening to prosecute Dawn for testifying in Tony's case and covering up a romantic relationship between Kasaris and government witness Kathryn Clover. Despite all of this, no court has ever looked into the misconduct in Tony's case and Prosecutors Bennett and Kasaris have faced no consequences whatsoever for their illegal activities, In fact, they are continuing to utilize the same tactics to prosecute other citizens. This Petition seeks the public's help in compelling Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman, to suspend these prosecutors, look into Dawn's death (her picture is above), have Bennett and Kasaris properly investigated and re-open old criminal cases where the evidence Tony used at his second trial likely exonerates hundreds of other Americans.
Details about Tony's case are summarized below and can be found at www.FreeTonyViola.com,
SIGN THE PETITION:
https://chng.it/rqpdBnbFSR
FACEBOOK SUPPORT Group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/Mf5ZLzTvUrMhWk2E/
RIP Journalist Jeff German - Justice For Dawn
Jeff German bravely explosed corruption and criminal conduct by Robert Telles - a short politician who enjoyed tormenting women:
German saw no particular reason to fear the politician, a short, bullet-headed lawyer named Robert Telles who headed an office that settles the estates of county residents who die without a will. At the time, he had two much more chilling messages on his voicemail from hard, angry men calling him every name in the book and threatening to come after him.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/17/jeff-german-las-vegas-journalist-murder-trial
Thank you GROK
Recent coverage (as of March 2026) shows her family pushing Parma police/city council to reopen the investigation, with media like Cleveland 19 and WKYC reporting on it.
Tony Viola (@tonyviola on X) frequently shares updates and links related to this.
The case has gained renewed attention in the past few weeks. In mid-March 2026, Dawn's family and supporters (including Tony Viola) urged the Parma City Council to revisit and reopen the 2012 death investigation, citing new evidence, expert reviews (like pathologist reports), and prior court rulings compelling evidence production. They addressed the council around March 16-17, 2026, expressing hope for answers. Local news covered this push, with reports from outlets like Cleveland19 (WOIO), WKYC, and others highlighting the family's calls for a new look at the case 14 years later.There are also mentions of new episodes in an investigative series ("Seeking Justice") released or planned around March/April 2026, focusing on the suspicious circumstances, interviews (e.g., with retired Detective John Morgan), and related misconduct claims.Videos:
Several news segments and investigative videos discuss the case:
For more, check justicefordawn.com or related YouTube channels for ongoing series and updates. The story remains active in true crime and justice advocacy circles, with no official reopening announced yet, but public pressure continues.