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Two arrested in connection with murder-for-hire plot
| Thursday, Nov 29 2007 11:56 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Nov 30 2007 9:24 AM
Two men were arrested Thursday night in connection with a murder-for-hire plot of a Rosedale area man who defended his home against the men who were allegedly hired and who broke into his home with the intention of burning it down.
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Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Komin said Thursday morning that the men were apparently hired to kill Steven Stewart at his house in the 15000 block of Westdale Drive.
Francis Giangrossi, owner of Coast Roofing, and his stepbrother, Jim Skiba, were booked on murder, attempted murder and conspiracy charges, according to KGET Channel 17. Skiba, 41, was arrested Thursday afternoon at the roofing company. Giangrossi, 62, was taken into custody at the sheriff’s Norris Road headquarters around 8 p.m.
Investigators say Giangrossi shot himself in a suicide attempt Nov. 17 or 18, but survived his injuries, KGET said.
The botched murder for hire plot was motivated by jealousy, police said. Giangrossi is married to the victim’s former girlfriend, KGET said.
Stewart previously told The Californian that he thought the attack on him might have been caused by an ex-girlfriend.
He offered a 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle as reward for information about why he was targeted.
Ulises Espino, 19, Alberto Torres, 18, Cesar Montoya, 23, and Jesus Estrada, 29, arrived at Stewart's house on Nov. 5 and Espino broke in through the front window, according to Sheriff’s Department reports. Stewart, hearing the noise, fired several rounds from a shotgun at Espino, fatally wounding him.
Torres, Montoya and Estrada have been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.