Woman claims neighbor with criminal past is terrorizing her

OXFORD CIRCLE (WTXF) - A Philadelphia woman is scared to be in her own home after she says her neighbor is making life unbearable. She says it's so bad that she has to move.

FOX 29's Jeff Cole went out to Oxford Circle this spring to look into those claims.

The focus of the allegations is a man named Michael Bocchinfuso, of Richmond Street.

Cole spoke with the woman, who says she's "very concerned he'll harm me."

"He may attack me as he did his neighbor," added the neighbor, who asked that we not name her or show her face.

"I'm petrified," she said. "He's turned my world upside-down. I can no longer live in the house I've resided in for 18 years."

Bocchinfuso, 54, who has a history of violence, grew angry when we questioned him.

The neighbor claims Bocchinfuso has terrorized her for well over a year. She says he runs power tools through the night, and she has even recorded those incidents on her cell phone.

She also claims he drilled a hole into her apartment, tossed a brick through her front window, and smashed another window in the back of the home.

"If I had not awakened for the shattered glass he could have come into my home and done anything to me. I live alone," she explained.

Cole asked Bocchinfuso about those allegations: "Michael, have you damaged anybody's property?"

"No, I haven't," Bocchinfuso replied.

Cole then asked if he had ever broken any windows. Bocchinfuso also denied that.

The neighbor says Bocchinfuso believes he owns her apartment, plus others along the block, and has told her she must leave.

When Cole about that claim, Bocchinfuso pointed to four properties on the block and claimed he owned them as a "settlement from the commonwealth."

"I've been told by all he would actually have to commit a crime in order for something to be done about him," the neighbor explained.

Boccinfuso has committed a crime -- a serious crime. In the summer of 2009, Bocchinfuso had an argument with his 71-year-old next door neighbor, who was fatally beaten with a shovel and trash can.

Bocchinfuso was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Court records show he was sent to prison for nine to 23 months, and a mental health evaluation was ordered.

Represented by high-profile attorney Fortunato Perri, Bocchinfuso was paroled after five months to Gaudenzia, a local facility for people with drug, alcohol and mental health problems.

One month later, he was sent home to live with his mother in New Jersey. Now, he's on his own on Richmond Street.

Asked if he served time in prison, Bocchinfuso replied, "No, I did not."

"Yes, on a manslaughter charge, you did," Cole followed up.

"You really want to talk about it?" Bocchinfuso said.

Cole replied, "You tell me about it."

"The judge found me guilty because of the Pagans Motorcycle Club," Bocchinfuso claimed.

Court records show no connection to the Pagans.

Meanwhile, his current neighbor says she has been all over the city seeking help, but can't get any.

The captain of Philadelphia Police Department's 24th District tells FOX 29 he has had two incident reports filed by our source against Bocchinfuso. There have been no arrests.

She filed a private criminal complaint against him with the Philadelphia's District Attorney in January. But the D.A.'s office says she did not have enough evidence of a crime.

Bocchinfuso's mother, who we questioned after watching her leave his apartment, had little to say. She told us she does not believe her son is dangerous.

In the meantime, Bocchinfuso's neighbor says she will be moving.

"I don't want to move, but I have to move because I'm afraid for my life," she said.

After Fox began asking questions, police spoke with Bocchinfuso, and heard the concerns of another neighbor. They say an arrest is not imminent and they'll ask other city agencies to take a look at what they call his bizarre behavior.