Cops: Carl Pavano Was Target Of Extortion
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Police say Minnesota Twins Pitcher Carl Pavano is the target of an extortion plot.
According to court documents: A high school friend of Pavano's threatened to go public about an intimate relationship, and investigators say Christian Bedard had a bizarre demand to keep quiet.
Last week, police raided Bedard's home in Southington, Conn., and seized a laptop and handwritten note.
Bedard and Pavano went to the same high school and were childhood friends in the small Connecticut town of Southington. In Facebook messages to Pavano's sister, Bedard claims Pavano was his first love and that they had a three-year relationship.
According to court documents, Bedard began sending threatening messages through Facebook to Pavano's sister, Michelle DeGennaro. The rambling messages said that Bedard was about to go public in a book about his relationship with Pavano.
A police detective said in an affidavit, that "Bedard said he had a book deal in place worth $1.2 million and that it can all go away if Pavano buys him a navy Range Rover with tan leather."
The affidavit says that DeGennaro and her family deny Bedard's claims. In March after police raided his house, Bedard wrote on his Facebook page.
"So the police raided my house this morning and seized my laptop and all material related to my relationship with Carl Pavano. I hope they charge me with something because I will bring it to trial," the post reads.
Bedard has not been arrested or charged. Bedard told the Associated Press Thursday afternoon that the demand for a Range Rover was a joke.
"I did not attempt to extort money from Carl Pavano," Bedard said. Pavano is in Fort Myers for spring training and has not commented on the plot.
The Minnesota Twins are also not commenting. Pavano is marrried and has two small children.
