Dawn Pasela murdered, Prosecutors Dan Kasaris and Mark Bennett secretly recorded discussing 'foul play', FBI Tipster alleges

  • FBI Records Production Continuing, additional information forthcoming soon
  • Attorney Kim Corral Leading Rally for Justice for Dawn on Wednesday June 25 at Noon at 801 West Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Expert Pathologist Peter Mazari urges new investigation into Dawn’s suspicious death

Newly obtained documents reveal that the FBI received a tip that fired and disbarred prosecutor Mark Bennett and/or Senior Assistant Ohio AG Dan Kasaris were recorded talking about Dawn Pasela’s murder by an individual became alarmed and started recording the discussion.  In late 2023, the FBI national threat operations center received a report that “Dawn’s murder was connected to former assistant United States Attorney” Mark Bennett and Senior “Assistant Attorney General” Dan Kasaris, and that an individual recorded the conversation when it involved “foul play.”

The FreeTonyViola.com investigative team obtained FBI documents in May, 2025, but the information provided thus far does not disclose whether recording itself was in FBI possession.  The complete FBI report has been uploaded to the FreeTonyViola.com Evidence Locker, and additional documents are likely to be released soon.

Mounting Evidence that Dawn was Murdered

Dawn Pasela served as Office Manager of a multi-jurisdictional mortgage fraud task force and was ordered by Prosecutors Mark Bennett and Dan Kasaris to engage in an illegal undercover operation to record confidential defense trial strategy information.   Later, Dawn discovered that Bennett and Kasaris were suppressing exculpatory evidence in mortgage fraud prosecutions, provided it to criminal defendants and planned on testifying in open court about what she knew – including an affair between Prosecutor Kasaris and government witness Kathryn Clover.  Dawn did not appear in court as scheduled and was found dead under suspicious circumstances, her computer containing key evidence was missing and the crime scene contained multiple cell phones, which were not collected by Parma Police.

In 2024, Attorney Kim Corral, who represents Tony Viola and Dawn’s family, retained expert Pathologist Peter Mazari and asked him to review all available documents and police reports and prepare a detailed assessment with recommendations.  Dr. Mazari’s report, which is available on the JusticeForDawn.com website, disputed findings of Medical Examiner, and advocated changing cause of Dawn Pasela’s death from accidental to suspicious.  These findings augment earlier documents Attorney Corral and her colleagues obtained, which include:

  • A Cuyahoga County Sheriff investigation, which concluded that the Parma, Ohio police ignored procedures, failed to interview any witnesses, failed to collect surveillance video or multiple cell phones or any evidence from the death scene, and erred in not investigating Dawn’s missing computer
  • The Cold Case Unit of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office asked to investigate the case, but officials in Parma refused to turn over the case file
  • Fired and disbarred federal prosecutor Mark Bennett now admits that he directed Dawn to make illegal voice recordings, and was aware these recordings existed, but failed to provide them before trial.  Bennett’s recent admissions wholly contradict his earlier sworn statements in federal court

June 25th Rally

In order to call attention to Dawn’s case, solicit investigative leads from the public and lobby government officials to join calls for a new investigation into Dawn’s death, Dawn’s supporters have organized a rally on June 25, 2025 – 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM at the United States District Court 801 W Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113.  The keynote speaker is Attorney Kim Corral and event sponsors include The Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity, Seeking Justice, JusticeForDawn.com, EPIC in Ohio, The Law Office of Kimberly Kendall Corral, FreeTonyViola.com, and others.

To learn more about Dawn’s suspicious death, or to watch a season long investigative series, please visit www.JusticeForDawn.com.  To learn more about the criminal prosecution of Tony Viola, how he established his innocence at a second trial, or to view any of the evidence in Tony’s case, kindly visit www.FreeTonyViola.com

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