Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Lee Harvey Oswald grimaces as he is shot at close range by Jack Ruby (Wikipedia pic). Carlo Dorelli, then 11, was perp-walked by order of Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood last September in a school terrorism threat that was actually made by another kid.
This is the opening sidebar to a Headline Surfer Investigative Report on the 'perp walk' of an 11-year-old boy, Carlo Dorelli, by Volusia County, FL, Sheriff Mike Chitwood on September 16, 2024, despite the fact that Chitwood's deputies had spoken with another boy earlier that morning who admitted to making the threat. And Chitwood had bragged on the campaign trail for re-election that he had the boy's father sent to prison for trafficking in cocaine. A felony criminal charge against the boy, now 12, was dropped by the state on March 26.
This opening segment chronicles some of the most famous perp walks of criminal suspects in US history. The main story on the perp walk of the boy will follow.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- Perhaps the most famous example of a "perp walk" in the US is the one involving Lee Harvey Oswald, who was fatally shot by Jack Ruby on Nov. 22, 1963, while being escorted from the Dallas city jail to the county jail after being arrested for gunning down a Dallas police officer and the earlier assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Has there ever been a 'perp walk' of a child, especially one under the age of 12? Few, if any, that is, until last year when Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood made an example of one 11-year-old boy, Carlo Dorelli.
The boy was perp walked by one of Chitwood's deputies the morning of Sept. 16, 2024, and taken to a juvenile jail in Daytona Beach in handcuffs, despite the fact that another kid told deputies earlier that morning that he was responsible for the threat.
Sheriff Michael Chitwood has refused to comment on any and all aspects of this news coverage from Headline Surfer. The criminal case against Carlo Dorelli was tossed by the state on March 26, and the judge ordered items belonging to the boy be returned (this larger story will be posted next).
Here's a more detailed look at the Lee Harvey Oswald perp walk and other notable examples:
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The Perp Walk: Oswald was being transferred from the Dallas city jail to the county jail, and during this walk, he was shot by Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner, in a crowded basement.
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Significance: This event highlighted the dangers of public escorts and led to increased security measures for future perp walks.
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Context: Oswald was arrested for the fatal shooting of a Dallas police officer, J.D. Tippit, approximately 45 minutes after the assassination of President Kennedy.
Multimedia video
Headline Surfer YouTube video download / CNN / Lee Harvey Oswald speaks to the press during perp-walk / Oswald answers reporters' questions before his own assassination. From "The Assassination of President Kennedy."
Other Notable Perp Walks:
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RICHARD WIGTON: Led out of his office on charges of insider trading. Background: The Kidder Peabody trader was arrested on Feb. 13, 1987, and led from his office handcuffed and crying. Two and a half years later, the insider trading investigations of Wigton and Timothy Tabor, another trader arrested on the same day, were called off. The New York Times noted the investigation was halted "with nary an apology" to Wigton and Tabor. Wigton retired in 1989 and died in 2008. Source for this summary: Reuters
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JOHN WAYNE. GACY: Photographed by Roy Hill, hiding his face with his cuffed hands during a perp walk. Background: Gacy was an American serial killer who raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys in Norwood Park Township, near Chicago, Illinois. He became known as "the Killer Clown" due to his public clown performances before his crimes were discovered. On May 10, 1994, the state of Illinois executed Gacy, 52. Source for this summary: Chicago Tribune.
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CARLOS TRUJILLO: Arrested for conspiracy to commit murder. Background: Trujillo was perp walked on March 24, 2008, in Greenwich, Connecticut, after being arrested for conspiracy to commit murder. He was allegedly involved in the murder of Andrew Kissel, according to the New York Times. The motive for Kissel's murder was reportedly greed, with Trujillo and his girlfriend potentially benefiting from Kissel's assets. Kissel was later convicted of attempted murder. Source for this summary: The New York Times.
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LUIGI MANGIONE: Arrested for murder and terrorism in NYC, with a perp walk that included Mayor Eric Adams. Background: Mangione was perp-walked, or publicly escorted to jail, after his arrest in Pennsylvania on December 19th, 2024, for the alleged murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. This occurred after Mangione was transported to New York to face charges. The perp walk was mocked because New York City Mayor Eric Adams was shown walking in the background. Source for this summary: The New York Times.
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CHARLES MANSON: Escorted to court for the arraignment on conspiracy murder charges in the slaying of Sharon Tate and seven others. Background: Police officers escorted Manson to court for arraignment on conspiracy murder charges in the slaying of Sharon Tate and the other murder victims by several of Manson's devoted followers. Manson died in a California state prison on Nov. 19, 2017, at the age of 83. Source for this summary: New York Daily News.
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KENNETH LAY: Enron's CEO, underwent a perp walk after being indicted on federal fraud charges. Background: Lay was led away in handcuffs on July 12, 2004. He surrendered to the FBI after being indicted by federal prosecutors in Houston. The indictment charged him with conspiring to deceive shareholders, regulators, and the public. Lay was found guilty on May 25, 2006, on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy. Lay, 64, died on July 5, 2006, before he was to be sentenced. Source for this summary: Houston Chronicle.
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SCOTT SULLIVAN: Multi-billion-dollar accounting fraud from WorldCom, who underwent a perp walk on Aug. 1, 2002. Background: Sullivan was the former chief financial officer, secretary, and board member of WorldCom, who was convicted as part of the company's $3.8 billion accounting fraud scheme, at the time the largest scandal of its kind in U.S. history. He served four years in prison. Source for this summary: NBC News.
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LINDSAY LOHAN: The actress was perp walked by Los Angeles cops while being taken into custody on March 16, 2011. Background: This occurred after she violated the terms of her probation for a 2007 DUI conviction. Lohan, then 24 years old, was sentenced to 120 days in jail and ordered to perform community service. Source for this summary: E! Online.
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JOHNNY DEPP: Another notable perp walk in 1994. Background: Johnny Depp, then 31, was arrested and perp walked on Sept. 13, 1994, at The Mark Hotel in New York City for allegedly trashing his hotel room after a fight with his then-girlfriend, Kate Moss. The charges were later dropped, but Depp was ordered to pay the hotel nearly $10,000 in damages. Source for this summary: People magazine.
About the Headline Surfer Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008, which serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando via