Attorney William Gerace Featured in FOX61 Cold Case Sentencing Coverage
FOX61 Features Attorney William Gerace at Sentencing in Hartford Cold Case Trial
Hartford, Connecticut — Attorney William T. "Bill" Gerace of Gerace & Cavallari LLC was featured in FOX61's courtroom coverage of the sentencing in one of Hartford's most closely followed cold case prosecutions. In the report, published July 24, 2019 , and headlined "Justice delayed but not denied as cold case double murder suspect gets 100 years behind bars," Gerace is identified and quoted as the defense attorney for Harold Patterson.
Gerace's Role in the Case
According to the FOX61 report, Patterson was convicted in the 2008 shooting deaths of two men on Edwards Street in Hartford — a case that went unsolved for years before it was prosecuted — and was sentenced to a total of 100 years, out of a possible 120.
Speaking to FOX61, Gerace made clear his client's position had not changed: Patterson, he said, "vehemently proclaims his innocence." Gerace also raised a pointed concern about the reliability of cold case prosecutions, telling the station, "The cold case gave time to incubate a conspiracy." Per the report, Gerace said Patterson planned to appeal the sentence.
What This Coverage Illustrates
A defense attorney's responsibility does not end with a verdict. In the highest-stakes cases, it continues through sentencing and into the appellate process — challenging the evidence, preserving the record, and giving voice to a client who maintains his innocence even after conviction. That is the role FOX61 captured Gerace performing in this coverage.
Cold case prosecutions present distinctive challenges: witnesses' memories fade, evidence ages, and years can pass between the events and the trial. An attorney experienced in these cases understands how to scrutinize decades-old evidence and hold the state to its burden of proof.
Decades of Statewide and National Media Recognition
The 2019 FOX61 coverage is part of a long record of media attention to Gerace's casework in Connecticut's most serious prosecutions. His trials and commentary have also been featured by HBO, CBS News' 48 Hours , CNN, NBC Connecticut, WFSB, the Hartford Courant, and the New Haven Register. Practicing since 1985, Gerace holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer rating and has tried hundreds of criminal cases across Connecticut, including Part A felony matters.
You can learn more about the firm and its attorneys on our About Us page.
Read the Original Coverage
The original FOX61 report is available directly from the source:
- Read the Full Article on FOX61 — "Justice delayed but not denied as cold case double murder suspect gets 100 years behind bars" (July 24, 2019).
Talk to a Hartford Criminal Defense Attorney
If you or a loved one is facing murder charges, a cold case prosecution, or an appeal anywhere in Connecticut, the trial-tested team at Gerace & Cavallari LLC is ready to help. Our office at 21 Oak Street in Hartford serves English- and Spanish-speaking clients throughout the state.
