Serial killers and true crime

Marin judge says accused serial killer Joseph Naso can view pantyhose evidence

By Gary Klien, Marin Independent Journal

A Marin County judge ruled Friday that an accused serial killer can view four pairs of pantyhose removed from a murder victim 35 years ago.

Joseph Naso, 78, will not be allowed to touch or manipulate the evidence, which was found with Roxene Roggasch’s body in 1977. But he will be able to examine the evidence from a distance of several feet under supervision by authorities.

Naso, who is representing himself in the case, filed a motion previously for access to the evidence. The motion was heard Friday afternoon before Judge Andrew Sweet.

The evidence in question includes four pairs of pantyhose — one found shoved in Roggasch’s mouth, two others tied on her body and a fourth she was wearing. Authorities say semen on Roggasch’s pantyhose matched Naso’s DNA profile, and that Roggasch was strangled with pantyhose that contained the DNA of Naso’s wife.

It is unclear why Naso wants to view the pantyhose, but criminal defendants are entitled to examine the evidence against them. Naso told the judge there is something about the pantyhose that “concerns me.”

“I promise I won’t jump on them or do anything to damage or destroy them,” he said.

The judge instructed prosecutor Dori Ahana to prepare guidelines for his approval on how, when and where Naso can look at the evidence.

In addition to Roggasch, Naso is charged with the murders of Carmen Colon, 22, found near Port Costa in 1978; Pamela Parsons, 38, found in Yuba County in 1993; and Tracy Tafoya, 31, found in Yuba County in 1994.

Naso, a retired commercial photographer, was identified as the suspect after a 2010 probation search at his Reno home revealed a vast collection of photographs of dead or unconscious women in various states of undress, incriminating writings, sadistic magazines, and diaries describing sex crimes, investigators said. Authorities are still investigating whether he can be linked to additional homicides.

Naso has pleaded not guilty. He says the photos are his private artwork and that the women are in staged poses.

All four murder cases are being prosecuted in Marin under an agreement among county authorities. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The trial is scheduled to begin in November.

Contact Gary Klien via email at gklien@marinij.com.

I just get this disturbing image in my head of him smiling and stroking them. *shivers* 

This old man creeps me out anyway and this just adds to it.

Really, just look at him. Do you want him touching your pantyhose?