By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
NEW BRUNSWICK — For 25 years, the topic of what happened to Timothy “Timmy” Wiltsey was not “taboo” or off limits amongst the Lodzinski family, according to family members.
Although the state objected, Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves ruled that Michelle Lodzinski’s two sons, Daniel and Benjamin Lodzinski, could testify before the jury last week. Lodzinski is on trial for the murder of her son Timmy in 1991.
Both Daniel, 18, and Benjamin, 14, told the jury on April 19 that they knew about their older brother Timmy and that he had passed away.
Both brothers told the jury that they had lived with their mom in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and now live with Lodzinski’s older sister and her husband — the boys’ aunt and uncle — Linda and David Hisey in Florida.
On direct examination, Gerald Krovatin, Lodzinski’s attorney, asked Daniel if the topic of Timmy was off limits.
“No, sir,” Daniel answered, adding that he had talked about Timmy with his mom.
Daniel and Benjamin told the jury they recognized a framed photo of Timmy that was on a nightstand in their mother’s bedroom, a photo album of Timmy that was in their house, and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ceramic figurine that was made for Timmy by Linda Hisey and was at one point in both of their rooms.
The defense concluded its second week of witness testimony on April 21.
Edward Lodzinski Sr., who had lived in the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge and now lives in Port St. Lucie, testified that his daughter called him the early morning hours of May 26, 1991, and told him Timmy was missing.
“She was scared and upset. … [Michelle] don’t show emotion,” he said.
Lodzinski had reported Timmy missing on May 25, 1991, after she said she went to get a soda at the carnival held in Kennedy Park in Sayreville and when she turned around, Timmy had vanished.
Lodzinski Sr. said he went to Sayreville Police Headquarters the morning of May 26, 1991, which he recalled was crowded with news reporters.
He said after the remains of Timmy were found in April 1992, a funeral was held and Lodzinski Sr. said he could tell his daughter wanted to “bust loose crying.”
“We had to help her a bit,” he said.
On cross-examination, Assistant Prosecutor Scott LaMountain asked Lodzinski Sr. if he recalled that he and his wife, Alice, reached out to Sayreville police on June 27, 1991, telling police they thought their daughter was withholding information about the disappearance of Timmy.
After reading the police report, Lodzinski Sr. said he recalled that they did. He said that he had asked his daughter point blank if she had any involvement in the disappearance of Timmy and said he was “satisfied” with her version of events.
LaMountain asked if Lodzinski Sr. was aware of the different versions that Lodzinski told police about what happened at the carnival.
Lodzinski Sr. said he learned of the different versions of events through the newspaper at the time.
The jury had previously heard testimony that Lodzinski told police that a woman named Ellen, who she recognized as a client at an Amboy Bank she used to be employed at, put Timmy on a ride as she went to get a soda.
In another interview with police, she told police that Ellen was a go-go dancer and was with two scraggly-looking men and a young girl. She said Ellen and the two men had put a knife on her and threatened her if she said anything and then left with Timmy.
Lodzinski Sr. added that the media presence had been constant from the day Timmy disappeared and for the next seven years.
“Every anniversary [of Timmy’s disappearance or Timmy’s birthday], a reporter calls,” he said.
David Hisey told the jury that he treated Timmy as one of his sons. Lodzinski had lived with the Hiseys for about two years with Timmy.
“He was like my third son,” Hisey said, explaining that it took a long time for Timmy to learn to call him “Uncle Dave” rather than “Daddy.”
When he and Linda moved from South Amboy to Florida in January 1990, he said they stayed in touch with Lodzinski and Timmy.
In April 1991, Hisey told the jury he came up to South Amboy during Easter weekend to retrieve some of his tools that he had left at his old business and stayed at Lodzinski’s apartment on Augusta Street.
The jury was shown photos of Timmy with his Easter basket that Hisey said he took. As he was looking through the photos, Hisey choked back tears.
Hisey said Timmy had asked if he could go to Florida with him; however, he said he told Timmy that he had to stay for his graduation from St. Mary’s School in South Amboy.
He said they had made plans for Lodzinski and Timmy to come visit his family in Florida in July 1991.
Linda Hisey said when she lived in South Amboy she and Lodzinski would see each other almost every day. She said she would also babysit Timmy for her sister.
She told the jury that her sister and Timmy had a normal mother-son relationship.
“She worked to support Timmy,” Hisey said.
On May 24, 1991, Hisey said she had spoken to Lodzinski and Timmy for 5-10 minutes on the phone.
“[Timmy] was excited to go to the carnival,” she said.
During the early morning hours of May 26, 1991, Hisey said she learned about Timmy’s disappearance through a phone call from her sister.
“Michelle was crying and upset,” she said, adding that she had traveled to New Jersey a week later.
Hisey said she had questioned her sister on what had happened to Timmy and said she was “satisfied” in what Lodzinski had told her.
“I believe my sister,” she said. “She told me one story and that is fact.”
In the summer of 1991, Hisey said Lodzinski visited her to get away from the media attention surrounding Timmy’s disappearance. She explained that her sister appeared to be withdrawn and quiet during the visit.
On cross-examination, Hisey said she would do anything to help her younger sister, which Assistant Prosecutor Christie Bevacqua included digging out of storage the anecdotes of the framed photo of Timmy, a photo album of Timmy, a number of blankets and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ceramic figurine.
“You’re her protector, right?” asked Bevacqua to Hisey.
Hisey answered, “No, she’s my sister.”
Bevacqua said Police Sgt. Scott Crocco of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office left his business card at Hisey’s front door in Florida for her to call them when the case was reopened in 2011.
“You never called [the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office],” she said. “It’s better to let the sleeping dog lie.”
Hisey answered she did get the card and wasn’t home at the time.
The trial is expected to last three months.