New K.C. lawyer on case for parents of missing baby Lisa Irwin

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Missing

Lisa Irwin

/ KCTV

(CBS/KCTV) KANSAS CITY - A local Kansas City lawyer who has publicly decried having his clients speak with police has joined the legal team for Debbie Bradley and Jeremy Irwin, the parents of missing Kansas City infant Lisa Irwin.

Pictures: Baby Lisa Irwin

Joseph Tacopina, Irwin and Bradley's New York-based lawyer, announced Tuesday that defense attorney John Picerno would be joining the team.

Picerno is replacing Kansas City attorney Cyndy Short who was forced off the case late last week, reports CBS affiliate KCTV.

In an interview with the Kansas Star last week, Picerno said the thought of putting his clients in a room with police officers makes him nervous

"My own view is that my clients should never talk to police," Picerno reportedly told the newspaper. "I tell them, 'The prisons are full of people who talked to the police. The police are going to do what they are going to do, with or without your cooperation and your statement.' "

According to KCTV, Tacopina claimed in Tuesday's statement that the focus on the parents' and their lawyers has been harmful, saying, "the focus needs to shift back on the investigation and hopeful recovery of Lisa, both alive and well. In the past week, we have observed potentially vital information regarding possible sightings of Lisa, corroborated by multiple and independent witnesses, take a backseat to announcements of witness meetings with law enforcement and attorney press conferences." Tacopina continued, "The family believes that these distractions shift the focus away from where it should be placed."

The 10-month-old infant was reported missing from her crib in the family's home four weeks ago.

Complete coverage of Lisa Irwin on Crimesider

8 Photos

Kansas City police search for missing 10-month-old Lisa Irwin

View the Full Gallery »

8 Comments +

Add a Comment


by lokibear2 November 3, 2011 11:52 AM EDT: the baby should be EVERYONE'S first and foremost concern.; Reply to this comment

by TittoBanana November 3, 2011 11:09 AM EDT

Makes sense. There is no reason to help police when it's your baby. WAIT. Help police? Why would you do that? It's not like it's your baby that's missing. Wait, I'm so confused.

If you're innocent, why wouldn't you help police? Why would you even be concerned with whether or not you're a suspect? You should be concerned first about your child then yourself. That's how I would be because I'm a responsible parent. Oh crap, I used a bad word: RESPONSIBLE.

Reply to this comment


by browniesanyone November 3, 2011 1:15 PM EDT: they were being cooperative. then they started tearing their home apart, tearing their reputations and lives apart. i would lawyer up too. the police want free reign to do whatever they want and that is not right. these people have taken lie detector tests, there is no evidence to suggest they had anything to do with this disappearance, so i don't see what the big deal is about them saying enough is enough look somewhere else.


by browniesanyone November 3, 2011 1:18 PM EDT: edit to say: the m other took a lie detector test, not the father. the police then falsely told her that she failed the test but couldn't tell her which questions they felt she answered untruthfully. this is a typical cop game. we all know it too.


by Ladybug71 November 14, 2011 1:39 AM EST: Do you know how many babies/toddlers this makes missing over the last couple of months? I am inclined to agree with you, all of these couples did not have their children stolen, it's ludicrous! RESPONSIBLE applies here, because it was what all of these childens' parents seemed to not know the meaning of, or they are hiding something terrible! Maybe not this couple, per say, but all of these kids are not disappearing or injuring themselves! What is this world coming to?


by andie52 November 3, 2011 10:49 AM EDT: "According to KCTV, the high-power representative of Lisa's parents Joseph Tacopina said in a statement Tuesday that the focus of the case needed to "shift back on the investigation and hopeful recovery of Lisa, both alive and well."

In an interview with the Kansas Star last week Picerno told the paper that he is generally opposed to having clients speak directly with police.

Picerno said that he tells his clients, 'The prisons are full of people who talked to the police."; Reply to this comment


by browniesanyone November 3, 2011 10:49 AM EDT: i would definitely get a lawyer if i ever found myself in this predicament.
the police abuse their positions in many cases with respect to family members of missing children, and the average person is not only ignorant of their rights in this regard, but are also grieving and going through hell as well.
this is exactly the time you need someone to represent you that does know the law.
these people have cooperated with the police, but unless you allow them to pretty much do whatever they want you are considered uncooperative.
nonsense.; Reply to this comment