Cheryl Pierson and Sean Pica. I hadn't thought of those names in years. Amazing how people so prominently in the news for months can just disappear from your memory. It was 1986. I was a junior in high school on eastern Long Island. They were juniors in a nearby high school. Cheryl was a popular cheerleader whose mom had just died and who said her dad was molesting her. She asked Sean to kill him. Sean was a shy Eagle Scout candidate who sat next to her in homeroom and who wanted to impress her. He said he'd do it for a thousand dollars.
Sean shot and killed her father in his driveway early one morning. Then he calmly went to school.
Cheryl was pregnant when she and Sean were arrested. She claimed that her dad was the father. Cheryl's younger sister says she's a liar. Weeks later, Cheryl miscarries, and DNA tests prove that the father is... Cheryl's boyfriend Rob Cuccio. Rob is never connected to the plot. Sean and Cheryl both went to jail. Cheryl spent three and a half months in jail, and upon release, Rob and friends pick her up in a rented white stretch limo. Rob proposes to her that day; nine months later, they marry. Nine months later, Sean is still in jail.
Almost too good to be real, eh? As you can imagine, this real-life soap opera was all over Newsday. And then inevitably, the media spotlight faded. So what happened to all of them? It wasn't a question I considered until today, because today Newsday answered that very question. Amazingly enough, Cheryl and Rob are still married, have two kids, and are living just a couple miles from where they grew up. Cheryl and her sister have made up. Sean spent 16 years in prison and was paroled this past December. He's working towards a master's degree in social work. And he claims he harbors no bitter feelings towards Cheryl. A nice neat ending for everyone, I guess.
(Sorry, I have no overarching point in bringing this story to your attention. I just found the article quite interesting, and re-reading some of the original articles was a fascinating, almost nostalgic experience...)
Comments (10)
THIS CASE IS A CLOSE ONE FOR ME .AT THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED NOT ONLY WAS I IN SCHOOL WITH BOTH SEAN & CHERYL.BUT I IN FACT KNEW THEM. THEN MY NAMES WAS R. BROWN WE WERE ALL STUDENTS IN NEWFIELD HIGH SCHOOL I'M GLAD TO SEE SEAN IS WELL. AND I DON'T THINK AT ANY TIME HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAD AT CHERYL.YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY NO ONE MADE HIM DO THIS . I'M ALSO GLAD CHERYL HAS REMAINED MARRIED SHE HAS A EXCELLENT HUSBAND OF WHOM ALSO WENT TO SCHOOL WITH US.
GOD IS GOOD AND SO ARE ALL OF PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTED. THE TRUTH OF THIS STORY WE SHALL NEVER KNOW. BUT THE FACTS REMAIN I WISH EVERYONE ALL THE BEST.SEAN WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT I KNEW THAT KILLED SOMEONE.BUT TIME CAN'T DEAL WITH SEAN BECAUSE HIS TIME IS UP .SEAN IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE NOTE GOD IS WITH YOU .YOU SHALL ONLY HAVE THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE .I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU.THIS STORY MAKES ME REMEMBER THIS DAY LIKE YESTERDAY.ALL MEMORIES ARE NOT BAD.
Posted by SEIXAS | April 2, 2004 1:00 PM
Posted on April 2, 2004 13:00
THIS CASE IS A CLOSE ONE FOR ME .AT THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED NOT ONLY WAS I IN SCHOOL WITH BOTH SEAN & CHERYL.BUT I IN FACT KNEW THEM. THEN MY NAMES WAS R. BROWN WE WERE ALL STUDENTS IN NEWFIELD HIGH SCHOOL I'M GLAD TO SEE SEAN IS WELL. AND I DON'T THINK AT ANY TIME HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAD AT CHERYL.YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY NO ONE MADE HIM DO THIS . I'M ALSO GLAD CHERYL HAS REMAINED MARRIED SHE HAS A EXCELLENT HUSBAND OF WHOM ALSO WENT TO SCHOOL WITH US.
GOD IS GOOD AND SO ARE ALL OF PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN AFFECTED. THE TRUTH OF THIS STORY WE SHALL NEVER KNOW. BUT THE FACTS REMAIN I WISH EVERYONE ALL THE BEST.SEAN WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT I KNEW THAT KILLED SOMEONE.BUT TIME CAN'T DEAL WITH SEAN BECAUSE HIS TIME IS UP .SEAN IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE NOTE GOD IS WITH YOU .YOU SHALL ONLY HAVE THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE .I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU.THIS STORY MAKES ME REMEMBER THIS DAY LIKE YESTERDAY.ALL MEMORIES ARE NOT BAD.
Posted by SEIXAS | April 2, 2004 1:01 PM
Posted on April 2, 2004 13:01
Thanks for the info. I am watching a movie about this case now and it too hits close to home for me. I was sexually abused at age 10 which was in the 1980's when it wasn't talked about and when it was things were hush hush. I was abused again by a boyfriend for a few months.
My heart goes out to this girl & I so glad thigns are going well for her now. Things like this can eat you up for years.
God bless her and her family.
Ashley
Posted by Ashley | June 16, 2004 4:31 PM
Posted on June 16, 2004 16:31
I think that I am writing to Renee but if I am not then if you know her send this to her. Renee, my life is in the dumps right now,please help me. I think that you are awsome. Please write me back.
Katie
Posted by Katie | February 2, 2005 3:34 PM
Posted on February 2, 2005 15:34
I think that I am writing to Renee but if I am not then if you know her send this to her. Renee, my life is in the dumps right now,please help me. I think that you are awsome. Please write me back.
Katie
Posted by Katie | February 2, 2005 3:34 PM
Posted on February 2, 2005 15:34
I think that I am writing to Renee but if I am not then if you know her send this to her. Renee, my life is in the dumps right now,please help me. I think that you are awsome. Please write me back.
Katie
Posted by Katie Smith | February 2, 2005 3:35 PM
Posted on February 2, 2005 15:35
I just got done reading "A Deadly Silence" and with reading everything and researching after reading the book I have to say I believe she is lying and I think her brother was in on it and the boyfriend all for the money. One thing stands in my mind...how can all those people who thought something was wrong live with themselves??
Posted by Dianna | February 5, 2005 11:18 PM
Posted on February 5, 2005 23:18
I just got done reading "A Deadly Silence" and with reading everything and researching after reading the book I have to say I believe she is lying and I think her brother was in on it and the boyfriend all for the money. One thing stands in my mind...how can all those people who thought something was wrong live with themselves??
Posted by Dianna | February 5, 2005 11:19 PM
Posted on February 5, 2005 23:19
i am absolutely appalled at what cheryls father did to his children the one person a girl should be able to trust his her dad. her story troubled me greatly she has paid a high price. hope the rest of her life is filled with happiness god bless you cheryl.
Posted by bru | October 6, 2005 9:11 PM
Posted on October 6, 2005 21:11
No one wants to jump to untrue conclusions, but this much I know: A) In high school during the 60's and 70's by best friend was sexualy molested by her father. Everyone considered him the "piller" on the commuinty...he was just like Cheryl's father. My friend's family was dysfunctional and destroyed and she was scarred for life...and B) my ex-husband's father molested his oldest daughter...he was a police officer at the time...so, the "immpossible" can happen...father's can molest even if they seem like good guys. We as society should not be judgemental and should be educated in the signs and symptoms of such abuse. I just thank God every day for my wonderful father and the fine, loving example he set for me. If more men fathered like him, daughters would be lucky indeed!
Posted by BHB | January 29, 2006 5:42 PM
Posted on January 29, 2006 17:42