Danny Casolaro Mysterious Suicide Death in Martinsburg West Virginia

Joseph Daniel “Danny” Casolaro was born on June 16, 1947, in Fort Meade, Maryland. From an early age he exhibited an insatiable curiosity and a gift for writing. After graduating from high school, he attended Providence College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English. An early fascination with politics and power structures drew him toward journalism, and by the 1980s he had established himself as a freelance writer and magazine publisher. Driven by a steadfast belief that the press serves as the guardian of democracy, he covered stories ranging from local corruption to international intrigue. Colleagues described him as tenacious, meticulous, and tireless—traits that would come to define his most ambitious investigation yet.

The Octopus Investigation

In the summer of 1990, Casolaro first began to assemble threads that he believed formed a sprawling conspiracy he nicknamed “The Octopus.” At its core was the Inslaw–PROMIS affair: the allegation that the U.S. Department of Justice had misappropriated proprietary software created by the small Washington firm Inslaw, then distributed it covertly—via secret government channels—to foreign intelligence agencies. As he dug deeper, Danny became convinced that PROMIS was merely one “tentacle” of a much larger network that linked Iran–Contra, the October Surprise allegations, BCCI money-laundering, covert support for drug trafficking, and clandestine arms deals. He spent months interviewing former insiders, poring over court documents and CIA memoranda, and traveling to informants across the country. By mid-1991 he believed he was on the verge of exposing the full extent of the Octopus.

The Build-Up to Martinsburg

By July 1991, Casolaro felt his research was closing in on a breakthrough. He assembled a thick dossier of photocopied memoranda, handwritten notes, and battered journal entries. He had lined up meetings with key figures—some cooperative, others cryptic. Among these was Michael Riconosciuto, a one-time PROMIS developer with ties to both law enforcement and fringe networks. Contacts indicated that Riconosciuto might reveal how the software had been used to clandestinely monitor high-level communications. Then came word of a new source in West Virginia, someone allegedly within arms-deal circles tied to Central American operations. Eager for fresh leads, Danny booked a room at the Sheraton in Martinsburg, arriving in town on August 8, 1991.

Arrival in Martinsburg

Martinsburg, a small city in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, offered both anonymity and convenient access to regional courthouses and retired justice-department personnel. Casolaro’s plan was to meet a contact who claimed to possess new documents verifying off-the-record DOJ instructions on PROMIS dissemination. He checked into Room 517 on the afternoon of August 8, left instructions to be reached by pager between meetings, and spent the evening reviewing his notes. Despite a long day of travel, he appeared enthusiastic and focused when he phoned colleagues to report promising developments. No one who spoke to him that day detected any hint of personal despair or intent to harm himself.

Discovery of the Body

On the morning of August 10, 1991, a hotel housekeeper knocked on Room 517 and, receiving no answer, entered to prepare the room for the day’s arrivals. What she found was a scene both perplexing and gruesome: a naked man lying in a bathtub filled with water tinged red; both wrists bore multiple lacerations, and a single razor blade lay on the tub’s rim. The water level suggested the cuts had been inflicted while the tub filled. No detailed diary or suicide note was found—only a brief folded slip of paper containing a single line: “The Octopus has its tentacles in every branch.” Hotel management summoned local police, and within hours word of Casolaro’s death spread through journalistic and legal circles nationwide.

Autopsy Findings and Official Ruling

The Berkeley County medical examiner conducted an autopsy and toxicology screen on the same afternoon. Officially, the cause of death was ruled a suicide by exsanguination due to wrist lacerations. However, the examiner’s report noted several anomalies: the depth and angle of some cuts were so severe they would have damaged tendons and bones, raising questions about whether Casolaro could have administered them himself. Toxicology results showed no significant levels of alcohol or sedative drugs in his system. Despite protocol, the coroner permitted the body to be embalmed before family notification, complicating further forensic examination.

Unanswered Questions and Foul Play Theories

Almost immediately, friends and family voiced doubts about the suicide ruling. Danny was known for his optimistic determination; those closest to him insisted he had no history of depression or self-harm. The violent nature of the wounds, the presence of only one shaving razor in the room, and the missing research materials—all pointed toward possible homicide. Witnesses reported that the hotel’s staff had been unusually slow to secure the crime scene, and towels bearing bloodstains vanished during cleaning. Rumors circulated that local law-enforcement personnel were under pressure to classify the case as self-inflicted, given the politically sensitive nature of Casolaro’s investigation.

Missing Manuscripts and Notes

Perhaps the most troubling aspect was the disappearance of Casolaro’s files. When family members arrived days later, his briefcase was gone, and the stacks of photocopies and notebooks that had filled his room were nowhere to be found. Only two spiral notebooks—containing seemingly innocuous jotting of phone numbers—remained. Efforts to trace the missing material led to dead ends. The FBI, invited by some of Danny’s colleagues to investigate, found no definitive proof of document seizure. Yet the vanishing of evidence struck many as more consistent with sabotage than honest misplacement.

Family and Colleague Reactions

Danny’s brother, Dr. Anthony Casolaro, a respected surgeon, publicly challenged the suicide finding and pushed for a homicide investigation. Fellow journalists—among them congressional reporters and investigative authors—pledged to continue his work and demanded full disclosure of all law-enforcement records related to the case. In Providence and Washington, D.C., memorial gatherings were held, where speakers described Casolaro as a fearless truth-seeker. Donations poured in to fund legal appeals and private inquiries. Despite years of requests, no state grand jury was convened, and the case remained closed after minimal review.

Media Attention and Public Fascination

Over the decades, Danny’s death has been revisited in books, magazine exposés, podcasts, and court filings. Each retelling has underscored the central mystery: why would a man on the cusp of a major story take his own life so violently, yet leave no comprehensive note? Some authors portrayed Casolaro as a tragic lone crusader, while others painted him as the focal point of a vast cover-up. True-crime aficionados debated the plausibility of secret-society involvement, while skeptics argued the simplest explanation—suicide—was most likely. The wide gulf between these interpretations only amplified public interest.

Legacy and Continuing Mystery

More than three decades after his death, Danny Casolaro’s legacy endures. His “Octopus” theory remains a provocative framework for understanding the cross-section of government, finance, and covert operations. Archives in university special-collections libraries house copies of his surviving notebooks and correspondences, which scholars mine for insight into late-20th-century investigative techniques. Annual gatherings of journalists and legal historians feature panels on ethical reporting and the perils faced by those who challenge powerful interests. While the official cause of death stands as suicide, many who knew Casolaro—along with new generations of researchers—continue to seek answers, hoping to uncover what truly happened in Room 517 on August 10, 1991.