Brother held in man's death
Mother says pair feuded for years
Noah Haglund
The Post and Courier
Berkeley County Sheriff's Detective Geno Alteri (in white shirt) confers with Pfc. Dave Kolega outside the house at 1 Fanwood Road on Thursday morning. A 47-year-old man was found dead inside the house.
Video
A man was found dead inside this home on Fanwood Road in the Sedgefield subdivision near Goose Creek Thursday morning, Oct. 16. Watch »
GOOSE CREEK — A Berkeley County man is behind bars, accused of killing his brother early Thursday while his mother slept nearby in her bedroom.
Loretta Lake is devastated. The 71-year-old said her sons had been feuding with each other for years, and she begged them to put their differences aside.
"They wouldn't let it go," she said. "They just kept on and kept on."
J. Leroy "Jimmy" Moricoli, 46, got out of jail last week and went home to live with his mother and brother, 38-year-old Aaron Moricoli. He was sleeping on a mattress in the dining room of the red brick, ranch-style home on Fanwood Road in the Sedgefield neighborhood, where Lake has lived for 44 years.
About 5 a.m. Thursday, Lake heard a knock at her bedroom door and got up to answer.
"Aaron said, 'Mom, don't go in the dining room. Jimmy is dead.' "
Lake found Jimmy Moricoli, the oldest of her three sons, stiff and cold on the mattress.
There was blood on the sheets and on his head and face, she said.
"I didn't get to say goodbye," the mother said.
Berkeley County sheriff's deputies didn't release details about the slaying except to say that the killing happened inside the house.
They said Aaron Moricoli was taken into custody there without incident and charged with murder.
He is scheduled for a bond hearing at 8 a.m. today, when more information might be released.
Lake wouldn't say why Jimmy Moricoli had been in jail.
She said the brothers were in a fight two days before his death.
Neighbors said the house has been frequented by law enforcement.
Previous Story
Homicide victim identified; Man found dead in home near Goose Creek Thursday morning, published 10/16/08
"Every time you turn around, there are cops there," Fanwood Road resident Pat Wright said.
Said neighbor Robin Downey: "The cops were constantly there, and every once in awhile you'd see an ambulance or a firetruck there."
Lake lives on a fixed income of Social Security benefits. She said she was working at the Publix on St. James Avenue before doctors told her she had to stay off her feet or lose them to a severe case of diabetes.
Lake said now she's alone. Her third son lives out of state.
Noah Haglund contributed to this report.
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by give_it_a_rest on October 17, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What could possibly make him kill his btother in his mothers house?
Posted by NativeSon on October 17, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like one of many South Carolina families who do not raise their children to fear God and respect the law as well as each other!
Posted by coahtrtaylor on October 17, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NativeSon, this family are transplants to the south, they are originally from New Jersey. Guess that throws your theory out the water. Don't post remarks unless you know what and whom you are writing about.
Posted by counterpoint on October 17, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wow. I just... wow. No wonder my parents made me move on after college.
Posted by oldglory on October 17, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm so sorry for your troubles and sorrows, Mrs. Moricoli.
This is an incomplete story which could have been fleshed out as to why Jimmy Moricoli had been jailed earlier. It probably would have required someone checking the public records though. (Also, I think most of us know that were we in a similar situation we would be much more rude than Mrs. Moricoli was. I know I would be using some nasty language should anyone impose upon my grief to merely report other details.)
Posted by armymom on October 17, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
coahtrtaylor, what NativeSon said is true everywhere, regardless if you're a yankee or a redneck! lol
Posted by Missing_Home on October 17, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It Sucks, Couldn't imagine upsetting my mom like that.
Very sad she has lost one son in death, now she stands to lose the other to the system.
I think Arron is a selfish loser. I feel bad for the mother, 71, probably in her sunset years. What a tragedy.
Posted by madcity on October 17, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where are all the comments about them being products of the welfare system and all that other good stuff I read on here when there is a murder in North Charleston or downtown?
Posted by My_Opinion on October 17, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NativeSon___ These were men, 38 & 46, not children that were raised wrong, Their unbringing ended many years ago then they formed their own characters in life and this is who these men chose to be..... Opinions like yours are so closed minded. I feel sorry for this elder mother who lost 2 children yesterday.
Posted by majorjohnson on October 17, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So judeo-christians don't kill family members and people who don't fear your god do? I'm from a pretty athiest family, and to the best of my knowledge none of us have murdered anyone.
NativeSon sounds more like NaiveIdiot to me.
Posted by kontact on October 17, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I get your point madcity. I get your point. It doesnt sound like these brothers were the best of citizens Goose Creek had to offer but regardless I offer condolences to the mother. The same people that make everything a race issue turn a blind eye when the suspects/victims look similiar to them. There is nothing I think that can change that on these post except the cnstant reminder that IGNORANCE knows no color. Thats why I do understand where your coming from and dont feel like its inappropiate for you to bring that up now. If this was a shooting in the black community then the post would be lots more racially charged. Thats not right so WE should call it like we see it.
To All: Please dont be offended when we (minorities) bring up the subject of race and how it affects us in stories like this because if you spent a day in our shoes then you would see the importance of race and how it affects our lives on a daily basis. Not Everyone is a racist but we cant forget that there is a elemnent out there that is;if we didnt the we would be doing ourselves a disservice.Read the post about any NAACP article and you will see for yourselves!!
Posted by smosellem on October 17, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"This is an incomplete story which could have been fleshed out as to why Jimmy Moricoli had been jailed earlier. It probably would have required someone checking the public records though."
UM, please don't forget that such research and detailed reporting is called JOURNALISM. If reporters only wrote the story that was convenient, it would be called gossip, and P&C treads a fine line between the two, it seems.
Posted by BravesFan on October 17, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First, I want to offer my deepest condolences to the Moricoli family. I don't care if you're rich, poor, white or black, when you lose a family member in such a horrible way I can only imagine the sorrow you must feel. My prayers are with you.
kontact & madcity-
There is no possible way to know what color the people are that post here. Are you trying to say that only white people are racist?
<< good grief, i wish there were a more appropriate story to discuss racial issues >>
Posted by Girleygirl on October 17, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder what the brothers were fighting about?
I do feel sorry for the mother.
Posted by cindy on October 17, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Loretta, I am so very sorry for Your loss. I saw You on the news last night and I believe You worked at the same place I did when I worked for Mr.T 20 years ago. As a Mother Myself I can only imagine the pain You are going thru. I remember You as a very hardworking good person, and I am sure You raised Your children too be good law abiding citizens. Please lets all remember kids can have the best upbringing in the world and some of Them will break the law. Again My deepest condolenses too Ms. Loretta and Her Family.
Posted by BravesFan on October 17, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
serialmooner-
wow...you weren't kidding, i think i'll stay away from that trap. am i the only one that thinks there are several people who have multiple user names and have conversations with themselves?
Posted by majorjohnson on October 17, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey serialmooner (What kind of name is that? Must be a god fearing christian thing.), I think you've shown the ignorance here. I donate to charity, treat people right, have a college degree and a job, pay my taxes, own my home, help my neighbors and served my country. I've never murdered anyone, I'm not a thief or drug addict. And you want to say I'm a failure because of your interpretation of a book full of witchcraft where the most common god commanded punishment is stoning and women who have had a child can't enter the church until they've made a blood sacrifice of a lamb and a bird?
By the way, does the tooth fairy still visit you too?
Posted by Missing_Home on October 17, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Holy pole smokin homos batman, here come the silent minority.
Posted by thewaterboy on March 10, 2009 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One man wants to know why James Moricoli was in jail prior to returning to his mom's house.
He went to jail for setting the house on fire because his mom would not open her bedroom door and give him some of her presciption drugs.
How do I know? Because I rent a room in the house and would have burned too if I hadnot called 911. The room is adjacent to that of Ms. Lake, Jame's mom.
James has been in and out of jail since a teen ager. He intimdated everyone he came into contact with; extorting money, stealing personal property and taking it to a pawn shop, shop lifting, burglary, credit card and debit card theft, forging checks. Many people in Sedgefield sub-division were his victims without their knowledge. Those of us living in the household lived in terror of him, including me, his mom and Aaron.
How would you feel at 68 years old with a strong man holding a baseball bat in the strike ready position daring you to report him to the police.
Ben Laden is not the only terrorist in this world. James did pretty good job of it.