Author of new book on Island murder to sign copies tomorrow
Staten Island Advance
Saturday, November 15, 2003
Linda Principe has a story to tell, but the details aren't pretty
and sweet: Her story is about a brutal, gruesome murder.
Not only that, it's a murder whose consequences Ms. Principe, a
Bulls Head resident, experienced firsthand and recounts in her book,
entitled, "Surviving Murder: A True Crime Memoir."
The book will be highlighted during a book-signing tomorrow from 2
to 4 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble bookstore, New Springville.
Ms. Principe's uncle and aunt, Anthony and Ann Camerlengo, were
brutally murdered by their adopted son, Thomas Camerlengo, on June
26, 1990 in the family's Willow Road East residence in Graniteville.
Camerlengo was sentenced to 50 years to life for the murders.
"I decided, really, during the trial to write the book," Ms.
Principe said. "And I decided primarily to write the book because I
think when watching shows like 20/20 and Dateline NBC there's a lot
of people who go through the same experience and not everyone can
voice that."
She never envisioned that her life would become "an episode of The
Practice," Ms. Principe said, and used the book to restore some
humanity to her aunt and uncle.
"One of things that got lost in the trial was the victims. These
were human beings. These weren't just body parts," she said.
She doesn't shy away from horrific details, using court records,
transcripts and even some family information to recount the reality
of what happened that fateful summer evening. But finding out the
whole truth, "was very difficult. One thing is, you think you know
what happened, and you don't know what happened. You go and listen
to the testimony and you think you know the story but the real story
came out at the trial," she said.
Ms. Principe also calls the book an indictment of the justice system
and the treatment many victims endure at its hands.
"That's nothing new... you have to fight for everything," she said.
In the meantime, Ms. Principe continues to lead what appears to be a
normal life. She continues her job as a part-time adjunct professor
teaching English at the College of Staten Island, Willowbrook, she
also writes poetry and cares for elderly family members.
"You move on with your life but you don't forget. Basically, you
learn to live with it and you do what you can," she said.
By Kiawana Rich
Reprinted here with permission from the
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