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Paul D’Amato Files Suit Alleging Tiffany Valiante Was Murdered in a Hate Crime

Paul D’Amato, Esq. of the D’Amato Law Firm has filed a landmark lawsuit on behalf of the family of Tiffany Valiante, an 18-year-old Mays Landing student struck and killed by a New Jersey Transit train on July 12, 2015. Filed under the New Jersey Constitution’s Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights Act, the lawsuit seeks court-ordered access to critical state-held evidence that the Valiante family believes will identify those responsible for Tiffany’s death, long alleged by the family to be a premeditated hate-crime murder, not suicide.

An accomplished student-athlete and openly gay teen, Tiffany’s death was quickly ruled a suicide. However, forensic experts who have reviewed the case contend that critical evidence was ignored or mishandled. The case has drawn national attention, especially following the 2022 release of the Netflix Unsolved Mysteries episode “Mystery at Mile Marker 45.”

“For nearly a decade, our firm has worked closely with the Valiante family,” said Mr. D’Amato. “Our legal and forensic team is now seeking court-ordered access to all relevant state evidence so we can finally determine what really happened to Tiffany.”

New revelations in the Complaint include:

  • Hate-filled, violent, and anti-lesbian text messages directed at Tiffany, recovered through advanced digital forensic analysis.
  • Expert forensic opinion that Tiffany was likely murdered, and her body was placed on the tracks to stage a suicide.
  • Investigators never explored Tiffany’s sexual identity as a possible motive, nor considered hate crime or foul play.
  • No full autopsy, rape kit, or psychological autopsy was conducted.
  • Grave concerns from a first responder about the “surgical” nature of Tiffany’s dismemberment, inconsistent with a typical blunt-force train impact.

The lawsuit asks the court to authorize a comprehensive review of all evidence held by New Jersey Transit Police and the Medical Examiner’s Office, including access to the NJT train involved, surveillance footage, and physical and digital evidence. The family’s pro bono forensic team will present its findings to prosecutors upon completion of the review.

In addition to Mr. D’Amato, the Valiante family is represented by Stephen VanNatten, Esq., and Alexa D’Amato Barrera, Esq.

View the filed complaint here

Read the latest press release here

D’Amato Law Firm is a full-service personal injury law firm. To learn more about our legal services, call 609-926-3300 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients throughout South Jersey.