We often learn about crimes once they reach a neat conclusion. The killer gets nabbed, the fraudster has their day in court, and the police valiantly apprehend their suspect. But what happens in between? We get the ending but rarely the beginning or the middle.
How do you spot a suspicious death? What happens to those left behind in the aftermath of a crime? And who do you call when you get hoodwinked by an alleged murderer?
This week on Runaway Joe listeners are transported back to the 1960s as the podcast retraces the final days of June Maloney, the life-changing impact of her death and the beginning of a 60-year investigation to track down her husband and alleged killer.
The creators unpack what happened to the Maloney children once their mother died, the psychological impact June's death had on her loved ones, and how a courageous act turned what could have been suspected as a "suicide" into a murder investigation.
Also, if you’ve ever wondered what an FBI manhunt looks like, this is definitely the episode for you.
Now, if any of the above does not make sense to you, clearly, you are behind on your audio obligations and need to start streaming episodes one and two of Runaway Joe immediately. That’s an order.
Alternatively, continue reading this inspired piece of writing for a full breakdown of episode three - Manhunt.
Please approach this episode with particular caution as it deals with murder, violence, suicide and coercive control. If you’re affected by any of these themes, please reach out to rte.ie/helplines where you’ll find contacts for a variety of support networks around abuse and domestic violence.
And remember, Runaway Joe is a live investigation, so I’m just going to leave this note here:
TIPS: If you have any information or knowledge of Michael O’Shea/Joe Maloney, please send it through to documentaries@rte.ie
Losing June
At the end of last week’s episode, June became ill after her son's birthday. Her condition quickly deteriorated.
Wanda Brooks, June's neighbour, recounted what happened: ""June," I said, "Are you alright?" She said, "I’m not feeling good". She said, "Wanda, I have this awful headache.""
Despite June’s protests, her ex-husband Joe Maloney insisted on staying at her apartment. She begged Wanda not to leave her alone with him. But Joe stood in the doorway, watching the women until the discomfort was too much, and Wanda left.
Wanda: "She said, "No I want her to stay here." Then finally I just left. I thought, "Oh man, I shouldn’t leave her there by herself". I wished I had the insight to know that somebody could be that mean.""
Remember, Wanda was 19 at the time of these events.
Two days later, Joe brought June to the hospital, and shortly after, she fell into a coma. While June’s family struggled to understand what had happened, Joe had an explanation ready. He claimed June had attempted suicide, and her boyfriend was the cause.
While Wanda refused to believe this theory, the hospital was more easily convinced. Wanda recalled Joe asking a nurse what would happen if he pulled a plug...
But, there was another man in June’s life who had become increasingly concerned and frightened by Joe’s behaviour - her boyfriend, Lee DiClemente.
After she was admitted to the hospital, Lee contacted his lawyer and later the police. Of course, the podcast team has his original police statement - therefore, you will hear it.
Before she slipped away, June had told him she was positive her husband had spiked her drink. "She said, "Lee, I love you and I don’t want to die". I said, "Has he said anything to make you think he put anything in the drinks?"
But when investigators reached out to the hospital, they were rebuffed because Joe claimed it was a suicide attempt...
A week later, June died. Her husband controlled her life until the very end.
You don’t commit suicide if you’re planning your life. To do things. Joey would have started school in September. You think she really wanted to put that on Joey? No. Not at all. This woman would not commit suicide. I bet all my life on it - Wanda Brooks
The Arrest (take one)
Upon June’s death, the investigation kicked into high gear. Wanda was taking care of June’s two children when she received a call from the Monroe County Sheriff; he wanted her to come down to his office for questioning.
Afterwards, she was tasked with removing the children from June’s apartment, where they were staying with their father…..
Before the police could move in on Joe, they needed to ensure the children were safe because there was about to be a showdown, one of many between Joe Maloney and the police.
I won’t divulge exactly what happened after a detective crawled through the apartment window, gun drawn. But I will say this - Joe knew what was coming…
If you’re irritated by my secrecy, I think it’s time you hit play, don’t you?
If it had not been for the phone call I received from Mr DiClemente, the day after Mrs Maloney went into the hospital, neither neither the DA’s office nor the police department would have had any knowledge of this incident. Consequently, Mrs Maloney’s death may have gone unquestioned. - Robert Agnello - Lee DiClemente’s lawyer.
Lost Lives
June’s death sent shockwaves around her inner circle, her loved ones never recovered from her sudden, horrific death.
Her childhood friend Kay Walter explained that the community was in complete shock upon learning of June’s death… and how it happened. " It was just shocking. At that time, things like that didn’t happen to people from this quiet little sleepy bedroom town."
There were multiple victims attached to this crime, two of whom were Joe’s children - Joey and Patty Ann. When June died and Joe was taken into custody, they were essentially orphaned. At this point in the episode, the listener is emotionally eviscerated as Wanda describes watching social services take the children from her care.
A barely five-year-old Joey locked himself in the bathroom, pleading with Wanda not to "let them take me". But she had no choice…
As the series progresses, the makers will update listeners on what happened next to the Maloney kids.
As I said before, this is not just a podcast about a murder or a murderer; it is about the long-term impact such crimes have on victims, families and communities.
I’ll never forget that as long as I live. It broke my heart. That poor kid. And Patty-Ann was too little. She didn’t know. But Joey knew what went on and everything, you know.
My heart broke for him - Wanda Brooks
First degree murder
Once he was arrested Joe was charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty, to quote former DA Wendy Lehmann, "as everyone does".
An autopsy report found that June Maloney had ingested a lethal dose of Methyl alcohol, the same chemical Joe had secured from his friend Neal Dunkleberg’s home laboratory. The drug is colourless, highly toxic and when mixed with something like say, whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters aka a Manhattan cocktail, undetectable to the person consuming it.
After Neal refused to furnish him with the drug, Joe returned to his home when he was conveniently absent. Neal’s sister Gail filled a small mayonnaise jar with the substance and gave it to him. Joe later claimed the jar broke, but he didn’t need any more…
The police found a jar with traces of methyl alcohol in Joe’s basement during their investigation. And with that damning bit of evidence, Joe Maloney was indicted on first-degree murder charges.
He should have been held in a prison cell to await his trial... but nothing in this tale is straightforward or fair.
Every time I turned around they were saying, 'That’s hearsay’. And I started crying. I just started bawling. I was up on the stand. I told them what I knew. The fact was she was fine when she left the house. She wasn’t fine when she came back. - Wanda Brooks
Insanity (in every sense of the word)
Instead of going straight to a Monroe County jail pending trial Joe Maloney had other ideas. According to the court transcripts (yes we have those too), he convinced his lawyers, who convinced the court that he needed a psychiatric evaluation before further legal proceedings could take place.
So, the court agreed that the defendant be committed to Rochester State Hospital for observation. If the name of that hospital is sounding alarm bells in your head, it should be. Rochester State Hospital is the same institution where Joe had worked alongside his father.
A place he knew like the back of his hand..
"I had a conversation with my client Mr Maloney. As his attorney, I respectfully request – subject to the district attorney and the court’s approval – that prior to the matter being tried, your honour, that he be sent to the hospital for a mental examination so that I may be assured that I can proceed with the defence" - Thomas Presutti, Joe’s attorney
Mental Escape
Unsurprisingly, the hospital psychiatrist found no trace of any mental disorder, except for "that of a psychopath" - so no huge surprises there.
It was decided that Joe was fully able to understand the charges against him, and the case could proceed.
Many believe Joe planned to escape the moment he arrived at the hospital.
He secured the services of a teenage employee, Lance Lohm, offering him $3000 for his help. It was decided that Joe would steal a billiard ball, and put it in a sock as his friends caused a distraction, then BANG… but that’s not what happened.
Instead, Joe took his time. His actual escape would be meticulous, subtle, and most importantly effective.
'Police in Monroe and surrounding counties put out an extensive dragnet last night to recapture an escaped murder suspect, who fled Rochester State Hospital about 8p.m' - News report, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Sept 26, 1967
Manhunt
After Maloney escaped from Rochester State Hospital, a manhunt broke out in upstate New York.
People were questioned, cars stopped, and airports staked out. Fun fact: Maloney was a qualified pilot – allegedly... Different locations were put under surveillance, and soon tips started to roll in. But ultimately, they yielded squat.
Then Maloney’s lawyer William Power got a call…
They spoke for 25 minutes, during which time Maloney said he was "good" but had "business matters" to attend.
A week later the fugitive called Power back and said he wanted to turn himself in.
I bet you didn’t see that coming.
He arranged to meet his lawyer at a hotel in Buffalo, but things didn't go as planned…
Instead, Joe Maloney would manage to escape local police, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the State Police, an army of bloodhounds and the FBI.
On one occasion, he would do so minus socks and shoes…
"We told the police to let us pick him up. The police had been told to leave us alone – that we would get him and turn him in in Buffalo." - Attorney William Power
Enter Michael Grace
Two years after the aforementioned events, a man called Michael Grace would legally apply to change his name in Ireland.
According to Superintendent John Mulderrig, the name belonged to a baby born in 1943 in the Rotunda Hospital to an English mother.
Born to a single mother with an address in England, the baby was the perfect candidate for someone looking to pick up a new identity.
When Maloney eventually hit Irish soil, he paid a visit to the registry of births and deaths, found Michael Grace’s identity, and took it.
Among criminologists, this type of crime is known as a ‘Day of the Jackal’ fraud after the book and movie of the same name.
Once he assumed the identity of Michael Grace, he changed his fake name to another fake name - Michael O’Shea.
Former DA Wendy Lehmann believes he was inspired by a man who worked with his father called Michael O’Shea.
Here is where the next chapter of Maloney’s life would begin, tucked away in a seaside Dublin suburb.
With a real birth certificate in the name of Michael Grace, Joe Maloney assumed the identity of that real person - Journalist Pavel Barter
TIPS: If you have any information or knowledge of Michael O’Shea/Joe Maloney, please send it through to documentaries@rte.ie
New episodes of Runaway Joe are available every Friday, wherever you get your podcasts - catch up here.
