Mom Hires PR Firm Against Alleged Hammer Attacker

May 21, 2009 — -- Spurred by a judge's decision to try the teen suspected of attacking her daughter with a hammer as a juvenile, Pittsburgh mother Grace DeIuliis bucked the system and hired a public relations firm in desperate pursuit of an appeal.

With DeIuliis' help, Pittsburgh's Forge Communications set up a Twitter page, Facebook group and a Web site called "Adult Time for Adult Crime," all aimed at persuading Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala to appeal the judge's decision last month to try 17-year-old Robertino DeAngelis in juvenile court.

DeAngelis was charged with attempted homicide in October 2007 for allegedly luring DeIuliis' then-16-year-old daughter Sarah, his ex-girlfriend, to a secluded area near Mt. Lebanon High School and beating her over the head with a hammer. The alleged attack was interrupted when an off-duty police officer happened to walk by.

"We're desperate," DeIuliis told ABCNews.com. "The juvenile system is not equipped to deal with such a violent act. ... I'm just a mom of a young daughter that we're trying to protect. If this alleged violent predator is released into our community once more, we believe we are all at risk.

"It's a very adult decision to make a life or death choice over an individual," she said.

Since it went live mid-day Monday, the family's Web site has received more than 2,000 hits and the "lion's share" of the comments left have been in favor of the DeIuliis' cause, Forge Communications managing director Daryl Clemmens told ABCNews.com. The Web site also allows visitors to e-mail or call the district attorney's office directly.

In a move DeIuliis family lawyer John Gismondi called unusual, the family hired the PR firm after its appeals to the office of the district attorney were denied.

"I think that with a family like the DeIuliises, they follow all the rules," Forge's Clemmens said. "They dot all their I's and cross all their T's and at the end of the day, the justice system didn't serve their needs. They have the right to be heard."

While family lawyer Gismondi said his client believed hiring the PR firm was their "only chance" at a possible appeal, he was not confident the tactic would work.

"I'm sure the D.A. is not happy about it and I can understand why," Gismondi said. "I think the D.A. has made their decision."

Mike Manko, a spokesman for Zappala, told ABCNews.com the case "has been decertified and is proceeding through juvenile court," declining to answer additional questions.