Today's Evil Beet Gossip

Hogan Victim’s Dad Arrested for Putting a Hit Out on His Wife

Edward James Graziano

Stay classy, Pinellas County!

The people involved in this story just get crazier and crazier.

Edward James Graziano, father of the man injured in the Nick Bollea automobile crash, has been arrested and accused of plotting to kill his estranged wife Debra.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the arrest came as a result of a two-and-a-half month investigation in which Graziano is alleged to have held multiple meetings and negotiations with a tipster and an undercover detective posing as go-between to a hit man in order to solicit the murder of his wife.

Authorities said he later paid to have the crime committed.

According to detectives Graziano, 53, paid $1,100 in cash, another $1,000 in a personal check and a $13 gift card to Westshore Pizza to have his estranged wife murdered.

The Criminal Investigative Division began its investigation in mid-December.

Detectives believe the motive was divorce/financial related. They also say Graziano wanted Debra killed in an automobile accident.

Waaaaait, so he was going to pay $2100 and a pizza to have his wife killed??? Who the hell ACCEPTED that offer? I know the economy’s rough, guys, but this is just silly. Professional killers should totally be charging more than $2100 and a pizza! No wonder this all got bungled. You get what you pay for, Mr. Graziano!

20 CommentsLeave a comment

  • “According to detectives Graziano, 53, paid $1,100 in cash, another $1,000 in a personal check and a $13 gift card to Westshore Pizza to have his estranged wife murdered.”

    It sounds like Westshore Pizza is going to do the hit if you put a pause after “gift card”.

  • Shit, with this economy, give me the change you find in your car and a Taco Bell coupon – I’ll whack whoever you want.

  • hahahaa.. Pinellas County! shit like this really does happen every day. This family my fam used to be close to- the dad was gunned down in his driveway while his 5 year old daughter watched. yeah. crazy shit.

  • He was probably just some poor stoner looking for some cash. The pizza was just icing on the cake. Smoke a joint, murder a mom, pick up a pizza.

  • man you people are really slooow
    the “hitman” was a cop
    how do you think they even knew about it in the first place
    the only other way to find out, would be when she turned up dead

    the cops have a twisted sense of humor, when they get him on tape making the deal, they drag out it out for as long as they can. Amassing as much evidence as they can for court.
    After the serious part is out of the way, then they start in with anything else that comes to mind (even though they already have what they need).
    (How do you want it done)
    (Do you want her to suffer)
    (What’s your reason)
    (Can you come up with some more money? guns,lawnmowers,checks,gift certificates,jewelry,etc.)
    Of course, he wants the job done so he’ll offer anything he can think of. Even his dog (it’s been done before)
    All of this is amusing to law enforcement people, it certainly isn’t needed to further their case.
    It’s all just their own little laugh at the perp.
    AND of course in court it makes the accused look all the more moronic, which they play up to the public, feeding their already bloated ego’s.
    Look Helen, those cops are sooo smart they ALWAYS catch those dumb crooks.
    I’ve got no problem with puttin away these creeps, but just do the job by the book and be done with it.
    I guarantee you, it’ll turn out in court that he jokingly said “that’s all i’ve got, unless you want me to throw in this pizza coupon”
    Hitman say’s, yeah I’ll take it.
    And now they have their big laugh.

    Go back to posting your inane comments, I’m finished

  • Makes me proud to be raised & still living in Pinellas County, let me tell ya! Yeah, we’re crazy! No need to tell us to stay classy. Oh yeah- Westshore has some potent pizza…don’t let the price fool ya. Come visit to see this shit all the time!

  • Westshore Pizza is awesome!! And there’s an Amscot on every corner, so you can cash those whack job personal checks easily!

    There are always some weird shenanigans going on in Pinellas County and most have nothing to do with the Bollea’s. The tackiness here knows no bounds. Watch those Body of Evidence shows on Court TV with the FBI profiler Dayle Hinman. She’s always investigating some heinous crime perpetrated here in lovely Pinellas.

    We have some beautiful beaches, though. Y’all invited!