Two Brothers Convicted in Man’s Kidnap-Murder

Ending a 2 1/2-month trial, two brothers from Tennessee have been convicted in the kidnaping and execution-style murder of a North Hills man, who was abducted as he left a Studio City bar.

Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty against Ronald Boscaino, 32, in the Sept. 24, 1989, slaying of Sheldon Oppenheim. Boscaino fatally shot Oppenheim, according to trial testimony.Vincent Boscaino, 27, who also was convicted of the killing, could be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The same jury that convicted Ronald Boscaino on Monday will reconvene June 7 to determine if he should be sentenced to death or to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Ronald Boscaino bragged about the killing to two friends and threatened to kill anyone who went to authorities because “I’m going to hell anyhow,” according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Chasworth.

According to testimony by Troy Simons, an accomplice who testified after striking a deal with prosecutors, Ronald Boscaino put a gun to Oppenheim’s head and pulled the trigger while holding a pillow over the weapon to muffle the sound.

Prosecutors will ask that Vincent Boscaino receive a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole at a July 7 hearing.

“I’m just very happy these people will never see the light of day because they are seriously dangerous people,” Chasworth said.

Both men were also convicted of burglarizing a home the day before Oppenheim was killed, where they stole the gun used in the slaying.

In addition, the jury determined that the Boscaino brothers kidnaped Kenneth Fromberg in Woodland Hills on Oct. 8, 1989, and forced him to drive to Las Vegas, where they pushed him out of the car along Interstate 15.

Chasworth said Fromberg identified the Boscainos as his captors.

On Oct. 4, 1989, Ronald Boscaino kidnaped another man from the same parking lot where Oppenheim was abducted.

Ronald Boscaino was convicted of attempted murder for putting a gun into Tory Christopher’s mouth and pulling the trigger. The gun did not go off, apparently because Boscaino could not figure out how to unlock the safety mechanism.