# Danny Casolaro Joseph Daniel "Danny" Casolaro (1947–1991) was an American freelance writer whose unfinished investigation gave [[The Octopus]] its name. He was found dead in a hotel in Martinsburg, West Virginia in August 1991, his wrists slashed, the night before he was reportedly to meet a source — a death ruled suicide but disputed by his family ever since. ## The investigation Casolaro came to the story through the [[Inslaw]] / [[PROMIS]] software affair around 1990 and concluded it was one arm of something far larger. He used the word "Octopus" for an interconnected web he believed linked intelligence operatives, organized crime, and government insiders across the [[Inslaw]] case, the [[October Surprise]] theory, the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], and the collapse of [[BCCI Scandal]]. His informants included [[Michael Riconosciuto]], who swore he had installed a back door in PROMIS, and the arms dealer [[Robert Booth Nichols]]. His working manuscript was titled *Behold a Pale Horse* (not to be confused with Milton William Cooper's same-titled 1991 book) and was never completed. ## The death On August 10, 1991 Casolaro was found dead in the bathtub of his room at the Sheraton in Martinsburg, his wrists slashed ten to twelve times. The medical examiner ruled it suicide. Several irregularities fed suspicion: his notes were reportedly missing from the scene, his body was embalmed before his family was notified, and he had told relatives shortly before his death that if he were found dead they should not believe it was suicide. A later review found the FBI had misled Congress about how thoroughly it examined the death. ## Epistemic status The official cause of death is suicide; Casolaro also had documented health and financial troubles consistent with that ruling. The murder theory rests on circumstantial irregularities, not proven foul play — and the broader "Octopus" he chased mixes a documented court finding (the Inslaw theft ruling) with claims that were later rejected by official inquiries (see [[PROMIS]]). His story re-entered popular culture through the 2024 Netflix series [[American Conspiracy - The Octopus Murders]] and Cheri Seymour's book [[The Last Circle]]. > [!note] Sensitive topic > This page touches on suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available; I can help find resources if useful. ## See also - [[The Octopus]] · [[Inslaw]] · [[PROMIS]] · [[Michael Riconosciuto]] · [[Robert Booth Nichols]]