Dennis Delmar Lincoln

Case record: Dennis Delmar Lincoln

Status / legal outcome

Dennis Delmar Lincoln was sentenced to life in prison on May 10, 2003.

The offence

Marco Pesce, 38, an Italian immigrant jeweler who owned Italia Jewelry in Livonia, was murdered along with his mother, Maria Vergati, 68, and his three children: Melissa, 6; Sabrina, 9; and Carlo, 12.

The killings were described as occurring execution-style in the Pesce home after a robbery at their suburban Detroit home. Police said the safe was open and the house ransacked. The family safe had been emptied of jewelry and cash.

Investigators said the killings happened after Pesce dropped his children off at his house in Livonia, then went to his office without entering the home, and prosecutors said: "We believe these three children walked into a home where the armed killers waited for them,"

It was also stated that the burglars may have forced Carlo Pesce to call his father and ask him to come home after realizing the children didn't know the combination of the safe.

Two men were charged with murdering five family members during a December 21, 2002 robbery at their suburban Detroit home: John Wolfenbarger, 31, and Dennis Lincoln, 27. Lincoln and Wolfenbarger were charged with five counts each of premeditated murder and felony murder.

Lincoln and Wolfenbarger were also charged with armed robbery, home invasion, being a felon in possession of a firearm and using a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Victims

• Marco Pesce, 38, jeweler and head of household.
• Maria Vergati, 68, Marco Pesce’s mother (visiting the family from Italy).
• Carlo Pesce, 12, Marco Pesce’s child.
• Sabrina Pesce, 9, Marco Pesce’s child.
• Melissa Pesce, 6, Marco Pesce’s child.

Investigation and evidence

Investigators suspected the two men began zeroing in on Pesce's house sometime in early December 2002.

It was stated that Pesce’s 3,000-pound safe was filled with jewels, watches and other valuables.

Lincoln made a written statement to the police explaining his role and describing how he and Wolfenbarger planned and prepared to rob Marco Pesce at his home.

According to Lincoln, on December 19, 2002, he and Wolfenbarger communicated by cell phone as they targeted Marco Pesce and watched Italia Jewelry while traveling in separate cars. They attempted to follow Marco home, but could not tell which driveway he turned into.

According to Lincoln, on the next evening, December 20, 2002, he and Wolfenbarger followed Marco home again and succeeded in as certaining the location of Marco’s home.

According to Lincoln, on December 21, 2002, he and Wolfenbarger purchased a clipboard, delivery receipts, and a teddy bear to have Wolfenbarger pose as deliverymen to gain access to the Pesce family home. They also borrowed a pick-up truck from Wolfenbarger’s friend to use when they committed the robbery.

According to Lincoln, late in the afternoon of December 21, 2002:

• Wolfenbarger drove the truck to the Pesce home, parked it in the driveway, and got out with the teddy bear.
• Wolfenbarger approached Vergati, who was in the garage.
• Lincoln put his hand in his coat pocket, which contained a .380 pistol.
• Wolfenbarger and Vergati went inside the home.
• Lincoln claimed Wolfenbarger made a gesture with his hand, so Lincoln left the Pesce home in the pick-up truck and drove to Italia Jewelry to watch for Marco.
• Defendant and Wolfenbarger communicated by cell phone during this time.

According to Lincoln, Wolfenbarger told him that he: "told Carlo to call Marco at work and tell him that one of his sisters chipped her tooth to lure Marco home."

Lincoln claimed he fell asleep while sitting in the parked truck waiting for Marco. He claimed he awakened at 6:21 p.m. and then drove to the Pesce home and picked up Wolfenbarger.

Lincoln asserted that when Wolfenbarger got into the truck, he said: "five dead, Bro’."

Lincoln and Wolfenbarger then returned the truck to Wolfenbarger’s friend and brought bags containing items from the Pesce home to Tracy Letts’ home.

Lincoln denied being the shooter and claimed he simply dropped off and picked up Wolfenbarger at the Pesce home. He also claimed Wolfenbarger had determined that defendant did not need a gun because he would not go inside the Pesce home.

Arrest and procedural events

Two men were arrested and were to stand trial for the Dec. 21 robbery and murders of a 38-year-old retail jeweler and his family in Livonia, Mich., a Detroit suburb.

The arrests were described as occurring on Christmas Eve following an intense police investigation. During Christmas Eve raids, police recovered the stolen jewelry—including a watch taken from Pesce's wrist—and the alleged murder weapon.

It was stated that the relatives of the Pesce family established the Carlo, Sabrina, and Melissa Light of Life Memorial Fund, named for the three murdered children, to help save the eyesight of children of poor Italian families who did not have enough money to cover medical bills.

Trial

Lincoln and Wolfenbarger were described as pleading innocent. It was stated that each faced mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole.

Separate juries found John Wolfenbarger and Dennis Lincoln guilty. The verdict against Lincoln was reached last month and was sealed until the verdict against Wolfenbarger was reached.

Sentencing

On May 10, 2003, Dennis Lincoln was sentenced to life in prison.

Other people and background facts included in the case record

Wolfenbarger and Lincoln were described as former prison cellmates. The Local 4 Defenders described that they met while serving time at the Boyer Correctional Facility in Carson City, and that, once out, it took five days for the men to plot and pull off the crime.

It was stated that Lincoln served nine years for armed robbery, and Wolfenbarger served eight years for a series of burglaries. It was also stated that they were paroled earlier in the year.

William Smith, 36, of Detroit, was identified as Wolfenbarger’s uncle who testified in a preliminary hearing that Wolfenbarger had bragged about something that would make the national news. It was stated that Smith said he went to police after his nephew came to his home late on the night of the killings looking for a change of clothes and bragged that something he did would be shown on CNN.

A quote was included from Prosecutor Michael Duggan:

A separate report stated that because the murder occurred during the commission of a robbery, which also was a felony, the crimes were considered felony murders and carried a penalty of life imprisonment.

The case record also included a statement attributed to Lincoln’s attorney to the effect that even if Lincoln wasn't in the Pesce home, he could be found equally guilty as if he had committed murder.

Timeline

• December 19, 2002 — Lincoln and Wolfenbarger communicated by cell phone in separate cars as they targeted Marco Pesce and watched Italia Jewelry.
• December 20, 2002 — Lincoln and Wolfenbarger followed Marco Pesce home again and succeeded in determining the home’s location.
• December 21, 2002 — The robbery and killings occurred; police later reported the family safe was open and the house ransacked, and the victims were found shot to death in the Pesce home.
• December 23 — Wolfenbarger’s uncle reported the suspects to police on Dec. 23 because of the children's murder.
• Christmas Eve (year not specified) — Police arrested Lincoln and Wolfenbarger and recovered stolen jewelry and the alleged murder weapon.
• May 10, 2003 — Lincoln was sentenced to life in prison.