WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	A Missing Attorney May Face State Criminal Charges (Hartford-WTNH) _ It has been 11 days since the mysterious disappearance of F. Mac Buckley. Police are investigating the prominent Hartford defense attorney from a new angle. State's Attornies have asked police to investigate whether he stole thousands of dollars from one of his clients. Buckley represented the estate of 18 year old Nicole Fracchia from Hebron, killed in a drunk driving accident eight years ago. Buckley sued the driver, and reached a settlement for several hundred thousand dollars. When Buckley was reported missing last week Fracchia's parents checked up on that money he was supposedly keeping for them as a trustee. Sure enough, they found $146,000 missing from the account. They are unsure about another $300,000 he had supposedly invested for them. The total amount of money in question is $446,000. The Fracchias are devastated. Robert Britt, Fracchia Family Attorney: "One, it's the revisiting the tragedy of their daughter's death. And two its the missing aspect of, an attorney, and quite frankly a friend as well." The Fracchias have now hired one of Buckley's friends, fellow Hartford attorney Robert Britt. He's in the awkward position of asking the police to investigate whether Buckley took that money. Robert Britt, Fracchia Family Attorney: "It is the topic of discussion among lawyers in the courthouse. It is the speculation, the hope he's OK. Its just the uncertainty that we are all facing today." The State Grievance Committee found that Buckley embezzled $500,000 to $1 million from another client, murder suspect David Messenger. But at this point, prosecutors have not asked police to investigate those allegations. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

A Missing Attorney May Face State Criminal Charges
(Hartford-WTNH) _ It has been 11 days since the mysterious disappearance of F. Mac Buckley. Police are investigating the prominent Hartford defense attorney from a new angle. State's Attornies have asked police to investigate whether he stole thousands of dollars from one of his clients.

Buckley represented the estate of 18 year old Nicole Fracchia from Hebron, killed in a drunk driving accident eight years ago. Buckley sued the driver, and reached a settlement for several hundred thousand dollars. When Buckley was reported missing last week Fracchia's parents checked up on that money he was supposedly keeping for them as a trustee.

Sure enough, they found $146,000 missing from the account. They are unsure about another $300,000 he had supposedly invested for them. The total amount of money in question is $446,000. The Fracchias are devastated.

Robert Britt, Fracchia Family Attorney: "One, it's the revisiting the tragedy of their daughter's death. And two its the missing aspect of, an attorney, and quite frankly a friend as well."

The Fracchias have now hired one of Buckley's friends, fellow Hartford attorney Robert Britt. He's in the awkward position of asking the police to investigate whether Buckley took that money.

Robert Britt, Fracchia Family Attorney: "It is the topic of discussion among lawyers in the courthouse. It is the speculation, the hope he's OK. Its just the uncertainty that we are all facing today."

The State Grievance Committee found that Buckley embezzled $500,000 to $1 million from another client, murder suspect David Messenger. But at this point, prosecutors have not asked police to investigate those allegations.

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