THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995              TAG: 9502100486
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS  LENGTH: Short :   38 lines

3RD SUSPECT ACCUSED IN '93 KILLING OF OFFICER IN VIRGIN ISLANDS

A third suspect has been charged in a June 1993 attack on three U.S. servicemen that killed a Navy helicopter pilot assigned to a Norfolk-based ship, authorities say.

Ansel Eli Cielto, 19, of St. Thomas, was charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Lt. Robert Dana Bartlett, 31. Cielto also was charged with attempted murder and assault in attacks on Coast Guard Lt. Patrick Gardella and Navy Petty Officer Michael Robert Nendze.

U.S. Attorney W. Ronald Jennings said that although Cielto helped kill Bartlett, Nefta Petersen has admitted pulling the trigger. Petersen, 20, was arrested Feb. 1. Another suspect, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested Feb. 2 on charges of beating Gardella with a baseball bat.

Investigators said they didn't expect any more arrests in the case.

The Americans were attached to the guided-missile cruiser Yorktown and were visiting St. Thomas on shore leave. Authorities said the suspects, armed with clubs and guns, attacked the three men while Bartlett and Gardella waited to make a phone call and Nendze talked on the phone.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Via said at a hearing Monday that Petersen admitted he shot Bartlett in the head as the officer lay curled on the ground after being beaten with a club studded with nails.

The incident and subsequent attacks on sailors led the Navy to cancel all port visits to St. Thomas for 13 months, a harsh blow to the island's economy. U.S. servicemen spend about $15 million here annually.

KEYWORDS: MURDER SHOOTING ARREST by CNB