Opening Statements Start Monday in Serial Murder Trial of Former Piedmont Resident

A 12-person jury was finalized Wednesday in the trial of former Piedmont resident Joseph Naso, 79, on four counts of murder, according to an article in the Marin Independent Journal.

Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday, and the trial is expected to last about five months, the article says.

Naso is acting as his own attorney for the trial and personally questioned many of the jury prospects, the Marin IJ reported.

Naso is charged with the murder of Roxene Roggasch in January 1977; Carmen Colon, 22, in Contra Costa County in August 1978; Pamela Parsons, 38, in Contra Costa County on Sept. 19, 1993; and Tracy Tafoya, 31, in August 1994 in Yuba County. The victims were found along roadsides in the three counties.

The Marin County District Attorney's Office is alleging that Naso, a self-employed photographer who took photos of scantily-clothed women who appeared dead, asleep or unconscious, strangled the four women who worked as prostitutes.

Naso lived in Piedmont during the late 1970s and early 1980s, according to local residents who attended Piedmont schools with his sons.

You may read more about Naso's years in Piedmont in "A Glimpse of Accused Serial Killer’s Life in Piedmont 30 Years Ago."

You may read the complete Marin Independent Journal article here.

Bay City News Service contributed to this article.

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