Principals in death of woman linked to du Pont family

Monday, Nov. 15, 1999 | 9:42 a.m.

Figures in the murder-for-hire plot involving a du Pont heir:

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CHRISTOPHER MOSELEY, 59, Centerville, Del., husband of du Pont heiress Lisa Dean Moseley. He has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in the death of Patricia Margello. He was described by a defense attorney as "protective of his wife and protective of the du Pont family."

DEAN MACGUIGAN, 42, Wilmington, Del., son of Lisa Dean Moseley and great-great-grandson of a DuPont Company Co. founder. He was, according to a defense attorney, a "drug user who enjoyed the seedier side of life." He angered his stepfather by refusing to break off a relationship with Margello, a former prostitute.

PATRICIA MARGELLO, 45, formerly of Philadelpia. The girlfriend of Dean MacGuigan, she was strangled Aug. 2, 1998, in a Las Vegas motel. According to court testimony she was an ex-prostitute who was "wracked by drugs." Moseley feared that she "was going to be part of" the du Pont family.

DIANA HIRONAGA, 41, Las Vegas, described in court as a "small two-bit ex-porn star and street hustler." She has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in the death of Patricia Margello. After setting up Margello's death, she expressed remorse, saying she asked her attorney if the victim had a headstone on her grave because "I felt I owed her that much."

RICARDO MURILLO, 38, Las Vegas, on trial on federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in the death of Patricia Margello. Court testimony says he was promised $25,000 to kill Margello, but Christopher Moseley reneged on the deal and offered $5,000, finally paying him $10,000. He decided against cutting up the victim's body with a saw when told she had AIDS.

JOSEPH BALIGNASA, 26, Las Vegas, faces state charges in the death of Patricia Margello. He was recruited to help in the murder-for-hire case and faces trial in January. His first trial ended in a mistrial when jurors consulted a dictionary and a telephone book.