
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 13, 1994                    TAG: 9406130060 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B3    EDITION: VIRGINIA  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: 940613                                 LENGTH: NEWPORT NEWS

REWARD OFFERED FOR CLUES IN RESTAURATEUR'S DEATH \

{LEAD} Relatives of a restaurant owner who was found shot to death disagree with a police finding that it was a suicide, and they have offered a $5,000 reward in hopes of finding his killer.

Gus Garofalis, 55, died April 15 of a gunshot wound to his chest. Based primarily on results of forensic tests, police believe the wound was self-inflicted.

{REST} But Garofalis' family thinks his death was not a suicide. Relatives placed an advertisement in Sunday's Daily Press seeking ``information that would result in the arrest and conviction of persons or persons responsible in the death of Gus Garofalis, owner of The Hot Dog King.''

A flier publicizing the reward lists a phone number to call with tips.

Terry Drivas, a nephew of Garofalis', said Friday he placed the ad at the family's request.

``No one can accept he killed himself,'' said Drivas, a former Newport News police officer. ``There's no reason within the family, business or outside the family and business why he would do it.''

Newport News Police Lt. Carl Burt, head of the Major Crimes Unit that investigated Garofalis' death, did not know about the $5,000 reward until contacted Friday.

``I can't blame the family for trying to do what they need to do, but from our investigation, nothing has changed,'' Burt said. ``We've concluded that the wound was self-inflicted and it is consistent with suicide.''

Investigators found a revolver that relatives say belonged to Garofalis beside the body. They also recovered a bullet they believe killed the man. A forensic test found traces of gunpowder on one of Garofalis' hands, an indication that he fired the gun.

Although detectives are awaiting final autopsy and toxicology test results, Burt says he does not expect them to show anything different.

If the reward turns up any new leads, Burt said, ``We'll certainly investigate, but we've done a pretty exhaustive investigation already and it hasn't changed from what we've said earlier.''

Garofalis lived with his wife and two teenage sons a few hundred yards from the restaurant that he owned. Drivas said that if Garofalis did commit suicide, it does not make sense.

``We've looked at every aspect, including robbery,'' Drivas said. ``Gus was kind and giving. He didn't owe people any money. They owed him. It wasn't uncommon for him to give free meals to the homeless, and lend friends and family large sums of money.

``It's just uncharacteristic.''

by CNB