Putnam County Man Out on Bail; Waiting 3rd Trial for 1994 Rape & Murder

A Putnam County man convicted twice in for a 1994 rape and murder of 12-year-old girl is out on bail.

Anthony DiPippo, 40, of Putnam County was released from Putnam County Jail as he awaits his third trial for the 1994 murder of Josette Wright.

According to NBC, DiPippow was to house arrest as he awaits another trial.

In 1997, DiPippo,was first convicted of raping and murdering Wright in 1994. Her body was found in a wooded area a year after her disappearance. 38-year-old Andrew Krivack was also convicted of rape and murder.

DiPippo’s conviction was overturned in 2011 due to a conflict of interest on behalf of the DiPippo’s lawyer. In a second trial, in 2012, DiPippo was again convicted of murder.

The Court of Appeals ruled in March that in 2012, the defense should have been allowed to present evidence about Howard Gombert. Gombert has a history of rapes, knew the victim, and allegedly told an inmate he was attracted to the 12-year-old girl.

Joseph Santoro, who was incarcerated with Gombert in Connecticut claimed that Gombert made incriminating admissions. According to Santoro’s affidavit, Gombert told him that Putnam County authorities were “trying to get him for the killing of two girls” in the Putnam County area. Gombert named the victim as one of the girls, adding “they already convicted some other suckers” in connection with her death.

A third trial will now be set for DiPippo, more than 20 years after Josette Wright was killed.