**Who Hired the Hitman?** centers on a murder-for-hire plot that shook West Hartford, Connecticut. Episode 2, titled *The Murder of Big Joe*, anchors on the Joseph Niwinski case, focusing on a snowplowman found shot in bed with a strange clue left on his forehead. The case drew attention because the suspected payoff sounded shockingly small: police said the killing was arranged in exchange for a used snowmobile and some debt relief. Allegations, conflicting statements, and a calling card turned it into a long-running court fight.
### Background: Joseph Niwinski
Joseph Niwinski, 45, worked as a landscaper and plowed snow during the winter months. Friends described him as a social man who hosted large gatherings and often helped others. He lived in a small garage apartment in West Hartford and was dating Rosemary Cusano. Their relationship later became central to key witness accounts and motives in the case.
Investigators focused on Mark Pascual, a mechanic from Torrington who knew the couple. Pascual reportedly fixated on Cusano’s relationship and, according to police records, claimed she was being mistreated. Court statements later described Pascual’s interest as intense and persistent, although Cusano denied any romantic involvement beyond friendship.
### The Crime
Niwinski was found shot in the head while he slept. Sheets covered his lower body, and his wallet lay open nearby. A business card for a real estate company was placed on his forehead, an odd detail that initially looked like a message. According to *The Register Citizen*, the card and open wallet became crucial focal points for detectives.
Police said two younger men, Eduardo Santiago and Matthew Tyrell, entered the apartment during the night. The weapon used was a Remington .222 rifle with a homemade silencer made from a plastic soda bottle and paper towels. Bullets with “Joe” scratched on them were later recovered, reportedly linking the ammunition directly to the target named in the plot.
Accounts conflicted on who actually pulled the trigger; Santiago and Tyrell each blamed the other. Pascual allegedly waited outside in a Ford Bronco. This split in stories persisted throughout hearings and trials and later influenced parts of the appeal process.
### Arrests and Evidence
Within days of the murder, searches recovered ski masks, gloves, the rifle, ammunition, and Niwinski’s watches. *The Register Citizen* detailed that warrants and interviews uncovered planning steps that included scouting the apartment, purchasing gear, and building the silencer. Police also described how keys taken from a mailbox were used to enter the garage apartment without waking the victim.
Detectives and prosecutors stated that Pascual hired Santiago and Tyrell with the promise of a snowmobile and assistance with credit card bills. Pascual allegedly said he wanted Niwinski “done in.” Tyrell later pleaded guilty to murder. Pascual entered his own pleas to serious charges related to hiring the hitmen. Santiago went to trial, facing capital murder counts.
### Legal Outcomes
A Hartford jury convicted Santiago on capital counts related to the killing and sentenced him to death. Years later, the Connecticut Supreme Court vacated that sentence, paving the way for the state’s broader abolition of capital punishment. According to the Associated Press, Santiago was resentenced to life without the possibility of parole, with prosecutors continuing to reference the snowmobile as the promised reward.
### Watch *Who Hired the Hitman?*
Episode 2 of *Who Hired the Hitman?*, *The Murder of Big Joe*, presents the chilling late-night shooting and the so-called calling card on the victim’s forehead. The season delves into contract killings through phone records, informant accounts, and shifting alibis.
Catch *Who Hired the Hitman?* on Investigation Discovery, airing Tuesdays at 10/9c.
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**Also read:** [Ernest Luttrell Murder Case on Who Hired the Hitman? – A Detailed Case Overview]
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