Florida police believe robbery may have been the motive behind the slaying of a Toronto couple found dead at their winter home in January.
In the first clue to emerge regarding a possible motive in the deaths of David Pichosky, 71, and Rochelle Wise, 66, her wedding band, valued at more than $15,000, was missing from their condo in Hallandale Beach.
“We believe [the ring] is a size 6-1/2, [with a] platinum finish. It did have five half-karat white diamonds at the top,” said Hallandale Beach Police Capt. Sonia Quinones.
“The ring may be engraved with the letters ‘DCC.’ [Wise] was known by family and friends to always have that ring on. The fact is that we’ve catalogued numerous amounts of property and evidence and we did not find that ring.”
Ms. Wise and “Donny” Pichosky were asphyxiated at their residence on Jan. 10; their bodies discovered by neighbours they were due to meet earlier in the day.
Police say the ring has led them to believe that robbery was the motive for the double murder.
“It is the first item of great value that’s missing,” said Capt. Quinones. “We’ve checked with about 50 local pawn shops in the area to see if anybody has any information, anybody’s turned one in, but nobody has come forward.”
She described the ring as unusual.
“What’s unique about it is the locking mechanism. It allows the ring to be placed on the finger without actually sliding it on the finger. It has a glass locking mechanism that opens and closes at the face of the ring.”
A $51,000 reward was offered by the local police Crime Stoppers Unit to anyone with information regarding the case. Police are also looking for a woman seen walking around the Pichosky-Wise residence the day before the couple’s bodies were found. A surveillance video from a neighbour’s home shows the woman carrying something to the back of the home, but returning to the front without holding anything.
She is not considered a suspect, but police are asking her to come forward.
“She may not think it’s important but it could be vital to our investigation,” said Capt. Quinones.
Ms. Wise and Mr. Pichosky were married about four years ago and her son has said they were just beginning to take advantage of their retirement.
Ms. Wise, a popular former day camp director and educator, and Mr. Pichosky were at the local Jewish temple on Jan. 8 then went to a Wal-Mart and returned home, police have said.
National Post, with files from The Canadian Press
