Teen Accused in Vitale Murder Dramatically Changed Look

Oct. 24, 2005 — -- Friends of the teen accused of killing Pamela Vitale, the wife of prominent defense attorney Daniel Horowitz, say the boy underwent a dramatic transformation from Boy Scout to "goth" in recent years.

Scott Dyleski, 16, was charged Friday with bludgeoning Vitale 39 times with a piece of crown molding and carving a t-shaped symbol on her back. Dyleski has been charged as an adult and his bail set at $1 million.

"Just knowing him for such a long time, just imagining him doing that to someone, I couldn't imagine it and picture it in my head," said Adam Garay, Dyleski's former classmate.

Friends say Dyleski's appearance and demeanor changed during middle school, shortly after his half-sister was killed in a car accident. He grew out his hair and began wearing black nail polish, adopting a "goth" look.

"Whether or not the allegations against him are true or not, I don't see what happened as so much about the goth subculture as his personal history," said Rick Ross, an expert on controversial groups and movements.

Just days before Vitale's murder, Dysleski's father and stepmother filed for divorce.

Dyleski's next hearing is Thursday.