Rochester, N.Y. – The case against Michael Pilato, the Webster teen accused of lighting his family’s Cardile Drive home on fire on December 7th, began with a surprise to many today.
A judge is throwing out all statements the then 15-year-old Pilato made to police.
The judge ruled that police did not notify Pilato’s mother about her son’s arrest, and that they didn’t allow his mother to be present for his questioning or invoke his right to a lawyer.
Pilato spent more than 7 hours in police custody the morning after the house fire. At that time, Pilato’s mother was at the hospital, but conscious and able to talk to the police.
Pilato’s father and two brothers died in the fire. His sister and mother were injured.
The trial is scheduled for January.
13WHAM News has obtained the court documents. They are attached to this story.
