Less than a week after Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota announced he would drop all charges against Martin Tankleff, a member of the Tankleff defense team is now accusing the lead detective in the killings. It's a story you'll see only on News 12 Long Island.

Private investigator Jay Salpeter has been working on behalf of Tankleff for seven years. Salpeter is also credited with coming up with new witnesses whose testimony led to Tankleff?s conviction being overturned.

Salpeter believes the lead detective on the case, James McCready, may have been paid off to frame Tankleff. Salpeter says he believes McCready knew in advance the killings were going to take place and quickly arrested Tankleff without considering other suspects.

McCready, who is now retired and living in South Carolina, denies the allegations. He says he is convinced that Tankleff is guilty.

?He?ll always be guilty. There?s no ifs, ands or buts about it. He knows it, his sister knows it, his brother-in-law knows it,? McCready says. ?I wish the rest of the family would know it.?

McCready was the detective who told Tankleff that his father, Seymour Tankleff, briefly came out of a coma and implicated his son. Tankleff confessed to the murders, but later recanted.

Meanwhile, Tankleff is due back in a Riverhead courtroom on Jan. 18. At that time, Spota will ask a judge to formally drop all charges. A state commission is reportedly looking at how the Tankleff case was handled.

For extended interviews with both McCready and Salpeter, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.

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