The Murder of Henry Caneva

Henry Caneva became famous for his panoramic photography of Rome during the mid 19th century using the calotype process. His images captured everyday life for those living there while also featuring its iconic monuments and structures.

Sarasota investigators finally make headway into their case when DNA from one of John Whiteley’s used cigarette butts matches one found at the crime scene.

Early Life and Education

Henry was still alive when, on January 28, 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, purporting to end hostilities in Vietnam. Instead, hostilities continued and it would take another 20 months until Saigon fell and war officially came to an end.

He studied under Maria Gartstein, a WSU psychology professor specializing in infant temperament research. Through Maria’s laboratory and those of other faculty members he gained valuable research experience for both projects that involved him personally as well as ones that required collaboration among faculty. She also serves as a peer mentor with the Office of Undergraduate Research helping undergraduate researchers complete various projects.

His early work demonstrates a strict attention to lighting and proper angles of perspective, using the calotype process allowing for subtle variations of tone gradations. He created numerous landscapes and cityscapes as well as studies of nature.

Personal Life

Henry Caneva led an ordinary life with retail clerk Janet Scott in their modest Sarasota home and shared custody of Kissy the dachshund. However, when Caneva was murdered in 1997, investigators were baffled; various false leads had already been eliminated before an unrelated domestic disturbance call solved his crime.

Caneva was a daguerreotypist who later made the transition to calotype process. His work is distinguished by meticulous illumination and perspective correction techniques; additionally he was well known for his studies of nature and landscapes.

At Caneva’s death at age 73, the first Harry Potter book had just been published and quickly became an instantaneous success, leading to sequels, movies, plays and amusement park attractions. Although Caneva never had children of his own, he is survived by Lela Whiteley who survived him along with their daughter from her previous relationship.