By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The State Commission of Investigation has found there was no wrongdoing on the part of the Erie County Medical Center in the Anthony Capozzi case.
The commission says the delay in identifying the evidence that cleared Capozzi of his rape convictions was not due to negligence. The investigation found that it was law enforcement officers themselves who did not follow a protocol that was put in place by the hospital for requests of medical evidence.
"On the day we found out about the confusion surrounding Mr. Capozzi's case, we apologized to him and his family for the terrible injustice he and they suffered," said Michael A. Young, ECMC president. "But we knew at the time, and the state has now affirmed, that the efforts of ECMC staff and law enforcement had in fact helped free Mr. Capozzi once the proper and legal process was followed."
"Thank God ECMC was the only agency that did not discard this information. Had our people not saved clinical evidence for 30 years when they were not required to do so, this case may not have reached its proper conclusion."
Capozzi was freed from prison last Spring after it was determined that convicted bike path killer and rapist Altemio Sanchez was responsible for the rapes authorities thought Capozzi had committed.