By Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald–A Las Vegas man who tried to claim a $2 million reward for almost walking into accused Southie serial killer James “Whitey” Bulger years ago told the Herald last night he’s the one who uncovered the most wanted gangster and should pocket the bounty.
Keith Messina said the “feds” called him about a month ago to say they were writing the check for spotting Bulger to a woman from Iceland.
“I’m peeved,” Messina said. “I would have been happy with half. I did all the work and you give it to a person in Iceland? The FBI is hiding something.”
He said he wants to call or meet the woman in Iceland to prove she’s for real.
“The feds told me ‘We’re writing the check as I speak’ to the woman, ” Messina said in a telephone call from his Las Vegas home.
Bulger was captured in June in Santa Monica, Calif., where he’d been living with longtime galpal Catherine Greig.
Messina tried to claim the reward because he reported seeing Bulger in Santa Monica in 2008 while the reputed mobster was reading a book outside near where people play chess near the Pacific Ocean.
“I was sitting in front of him next to the chess area. He was standing up reading a thick, brown book,” the 45-year-old Subway manager said. “I want half the money, if not all.”
Messina said he reported his find immediately and even told the Fox show “America’s Most Wanted.”
“I want the truth for the people in Boston,” the angry father of three added. “They deserve straight answers.”
The FBI in Boston refused to confirm Messina’s claim.
The door was left open to confirming the payment at a later day, the feds added.
Meanwhile, family members of Bulger’s alleged victims left court in Boston again yesterday hungry for answers.
A status hearing in the case against the former reputed mob boss concluded within minutes in U.S. District Court, only for another hearing to be scheduled for Nov. 21.
“They have an obligation to let us all know the truth,” said Steven Davis, whose sister, Debra, was killed allegedly by Bulger in 1981. “I want revenge. My sister should be here today. That guy had no right to take anyone’s life.”
Marie Szaniszlo contributed to this report.Click here: Vegas man: I deserve money for spotting Whitey Bulger – BostonHerald.com
