Murdered Stripper's Family Sues Homi-/Suicidal Gangster's Estate

The victim discussed in the article below used to dance under the name "Raven" at Diamond Cabaret (now Penthouse Club, Sauget, Illinois). Tom Venezia used to run Main Street, Cheeks, Exposed and Mirage, all in the East St. Louis area, until the feds confiscated them as part of a prosecution for obstruction of justice. From the Belleville (IL) News-Democrat: Venezia murder victim's family files wrongful death suit Claims man negligent for giving Venezia gun BY BETH HUNDSDORFER News-Democrat The day before the second anniversary of their daughter's murder by convicted racketeer Thomas Venezia, Jennifer Anderson's parents filed a wrongful death suit in St. Clair County Court. The suit, filed Wednesday, also names Venezia's friend and business partner Robert Staack as a defendant, alleging negligent entrustment for allowing Venezia to have a .38-caliber revolver registered to Staack. "Defendant Robert Staack entrusted the .38 caliber revolver to (Venezia), who was suffering from cancer, depression and financial instability," the suit stated. "... Robert Staack knew, or should have known, defendant Thomas Venezia was likely to use the .38 caliber revolver in a manner involving unreasonable risk of harm to others." Collinsville lawyer William Berry and St. Louis lawyer James Schottel Jr. filed the suit that asks for more than $75,000 in damages. Neither Staack nor Berry could be reached. Venezia, 61, and Anderson, 21, lived at 311 Mascoutah Ave. in Belleville, next to what was then The Golden Eagle Saloon, which is now Brick Street Bar, formerly Deuces Wild Grill, Lil's Second Time Around and Garfield's East. Staack managed the bar and Venezia and Anderson helped until it was closed for serving alcohol to minors four months before the couple's death. Venezia once boasted he made $16,000 a week, but after his release from prison he was living on a monthly income of $347 while he suffered from throat cancer. Staack, 57, once lived at the horse farm that was once owned by Venezia at Illinois 15 and Freeburg Avenue after Venezia lost it as part of his punishment for racketeering. Staack also worked as chief of security at Venezia's four strip clubs. It also was Staack who found the bodies of Venezia and Anderson on July 18, 2005.