Major League Baseball

Pavano family: Pitcher victim of extortion

Published Mar. 28, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano was the victim of an extortion attempt in which a former classmate tried to get money and an SUV from the right-hander by threatening to reveal information about his personal life, Pavano's family claims.

According to a search warrant affidavit obtained by Connecticut daily, the Record-Journal, Pavano's sister Michelle DeGennaro accused Christian Bedard, 36, of trying "to extort monetary funds for his fabricated, false information" and believed he could hold the Pavano family "hostage" with the information.

DeGennaro filed a complaint to police in Southington, Conn., in December after a series of Facebook messages she received from Bedard.

"The only way your brother is getting out of this ... is with a heartfelt apology and a navy Range Rover with tan leather," Bedard said in one message to DeGennaro, the affidavit said.

According to the Record-Journal report, Bedard claims to have had an "emotional and physical relationship" with Pavano that lasted for three years when they were in high school.

"I'm sure they don't want any of this getting out there," Bedard said.

DeGennaro called Bedard's claim that he had a relationship with Pavano "clearly false."

Bedard, a Southington man, had a laptop and journal seized by police last week but was yet to be charged with any crime.

Police said Wednesday they were not releasing any information as the investigation was ongoing.
 

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