Heroes pay widow's debt to killer

Elizabeth "Bette" Bernoskie waited 41 years to find out who killed her husband, Rahway Police Officer Charles Bernoskie. Suspected serial killer Robert Zarinsky was charged with the officer's murder in 1999. Two years later, a jury acquitted him after a criminal trial in Elizabeth because the prosecution didn't prove it's case "beyond a reasonable doubt," but jury members said afterward they believed he killed the officer. Bernoskie sued Zarinsky in a wrongful death civil lawsuit and won. In 2003, A jury awarded her $9.5 million plus interest and Zarinsky was forced to turn over a mutual fund worth $154,000. From his cell in the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, where he serving a life sentence for the murder of Atlantic Highlands teenager Rosemary Calandreillo, Zarinsky appealed the jury award and the appeals court ordered Mrs. Bernoskie to repay him. But the money had been dispersed among her six children and spent. Mrs. Bernoskie was preparing to sell her modest home in Rahway to be able to repay the killer. Yesterday, the State Policemen's Benevolent Association stepped in and promised to cover the debt. See the full story at http://www.nj.com/deadlysecrets/ (Video by John O'Boyle)

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• zarinsky
• bernoskie
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[dogcookielady]

Bette was a trooper when we were in nursing school together and she still is. Raising six great kids as a single mom is no easy task, but she did it.

[rmmann1]

Zarinsky's dead now, hopefully there's some reckoning for him elsewhere.

[peaceman1967]

I was one of his correction officers at one time. He was truly scum of the earth. He will get what he deserves one day. Remember that now he has OUR money...God Bless you and your family Mrs. Bernoskie.

[ten8goa]

THAT FAMILY HAS BEEN THROUGH HELL

[ten8goa]

WHAT THE DID FOR HER WAS AMAZING