Though it has been seven years since Dianne and Steve Valiante of Mays Landing were informed that their 18-year-old daughter Tiffany had intentionally jumped to her death in front of a New Jersey Transit Train, the mystery surrounding Tiffany’s tragic death remains a point of contention and interest for the media, as the publication of a new article on The Daily Beast takes a closer look at the mishandling of the case by investigating authorities.
The idea that their daughter committed suicide has never sat right with the Valiantes, who remain convinced that something criminal happened to Tiffany on the night of July 12, 2015. The Valiantes are not alone in their belief that there was a rush to judgement by authorities over their daughter’s tragic death. Attorney Paul D’Amato, and consultant Stephan Rosenfield have worked diligently with the Valiante family on their quest for answers, as continuous findings of mishandled evidence and new clues point to the theory that Tiffany may have been murdered.
Approximately two weeks after her daughter died, Dianne discovered some items under a tree about a mile from her home. According to Diane, she found Tiffany’s headband and shoes lined up in the grass, as if someone had put them there deliberately. There was also a keychain and sweatshirt nearby, both of which Dianne did not recognize as belonging to Tiffany. Detectives interviewed the Valiantes for the first time three days later, and subsequently misplaced the keychain before it had a chance to be analyzed. D’Amato has cited other examples of evidence being mishandled by authorities, including a missing ax with red markings found near the crash site and contamination of Tiffany’s clothing and other items, rendering them forensically useless.
In light of the reports, D’Amato has been fighting to get the official manner of death changed from suicide to undetermined. In March 2018, New Jersey State Medical Examiner Andrew Falzon decided to leave the manner of death unchanged. This has not deterred D’Amato from continuing his pursuit of justice for the Valientes.
It is clear that the Valientes and their team of advocates will not stop fighting until they receive justice for Tiffany. In Tiffany’s honor, the Valiante family erected a small hut decorated with pictures of happy memories, along with a bench, by the train tracks where she died. Steve also constructed the beach volleyball court he had promised to build his daughter and laid down a plaque in a backyard memorial garden that reads, “Rooted in love, forever in our hearts.” You can read the full Daily Beast article here.
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If you lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions, contact a compassionate South Jersey wrongful death lawyer at the D’Amato Law Firm. We can help you obtain the financial compensation you are entitled and ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable. From our office in Egg Harbor Township, we represent clients throughout Atlantic City and South Jersey. To discuss your case, please contact us online or call us at 609-926-3300 for a free consultation.