| Murder of Mattieo Condoluci | |
|---|---|
| Location | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Date | May 14, 2020 |
Attack type | Homicide by shooting |
| Victim | Mattieo Condoluci, aged 64 |
| Perpetrator | James Fairbanks |
| Charges |
Second-degree murder
|
| Sentence | 40 to 70 years in prison |
On May 14, 2020, Mattieo Condoluci, a convicted sex offender, was murdered by James Fairbanks in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Fairbanks had arrived at his house, and shot Condoluci seven times. After the killing, public opinion was divided. Some people claimed that Condoluci's murder was not justified, and other people expressed their support for Fairbanks. Condoluci's murder sparked debate over violence and intimidation against registered sex offenders, and the role of moral panic in enabling it. Several copycat killings against registered offenders ensued following Condoluci's murder.
Mattieo Condoluci was an Italian immigrant who resided in the US sinch the early 1990s, he worked as a security officer and was known for molesting 2 children. One in 1994 where he molested a 5-year old boy in Florida and in 2007, a 13-year old girl. He served 5 years in prison for the 1994 and 2 years for the 2007 case. Condoluci also domestically abused and molested his daughter, Amanda Henry during her early childhood to teen years which led to Henry having post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) because of it. He also worked as a nightclub bouncer before his job as a security officer.
James Fairbanks was a school teacher who had been divorced and was a father of two. [1]
On May 14, 2020, Fairbanks had gone to Condoluci's house armed with a handgun. His intent was to intimidate Condoluci after he saw him watching kids play from his driveway. Condoluci answered the door, and Fairbanks began to threaten him, however when he noticed Condoluci advancing on him he opened fire. One bullet pierced his forehead, and other bullets shot his back and chest. Overall, Condoluci was shot seven times. [2] After the killing, Fairbanks anonymously sent a letter to the KMTV news station, confessing to the crime. [3]
Fairbanks pleaded no contest to second degree murder. On July 14, 2021, he was sentenced to 40-70 years in prison. [3]
Condoluci's daughter, Amanda Henry, defended Fairbanks and was thankful when she heard that Condoluci had been killed. Henry claimed she was constantly abused by Condoluci, and claimed that he had molested her. [4] However, his son, Joseph Condoluci, was deeply upset about the killing. [5]
Laura Smith also campaigned to free Fairbanks. Smith's son was raped by Condoluci in 1994, and died of a drug overdose several years later. [6]
- ^ Kearney, Aidan (May 19, 2020). "Alternative school teacher confesses to murdering sex offender on community Facebook page after seeing him try to lure children". tbdailynews.com.
- ^ Writer, Todd Cooper World-Herald Staff. "Vigilante won't fight murder charge for shooting sex offender 7 times". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- ^ a b Markel, Katrina (2021-07-14). "James Fairbanks sentenced: 40–70 years in murder of convicted sex offender". KMTV. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- ^ "Daughter of sex offender killed shares details of past". KMTV. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- ^ Dillard, DaLaun (2020-05-19). "'The guy didn't know my dad': Son of killed sex offender doesn't believe father deserved to die". KETV. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- ^ Melendez, Pilar (2020-05-20). "Nebraska Mom Fights to Free the Man Who Killed Her Son's Molester". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2024-06-12.