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GRANGER, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has learned the current GOP candidate for Probate Judge, Loris Zappia, violently attacked his brother Len Zappia, a sitting Magistrate Judge, outside of his Granger home on Friday. According to sources, the incident stemmed from a REAL News Michiana investigation into Loris Zappia. Loris Zappa apparently falsely accused Len Zappia of contributing to RNM’s story in one form or another.
Loris and Len Zappia live directly across the street from one another. According to sources, Loris and Len Zappia have not had a speaking relationship for months due to Len Zappia’s refusal to endorse Loris Zappia’s candidacy for Probate Judge. Len Zappia currently works directly underneath the current Democrat Probate Judge, Jason Cichowicz, whom Loris Zappia is hoping to defeat in the general election this fall. It’s important to note, Len Zappia is also the former Chairman of the St. Joseph County GOP
Sources tell RNM, Loris Zappia was blaming his brother for details contained in a REAL News Michiana investigation published on Friday, detailing an incident in which Loris Zappia hit and killed a man with is car in 1983. (NOTE** RNM has never met or spoken to Len Zappia and has never used him as a source for any story.) Sources say Loris Zappia went as far as to harass Len Zappia’s wife. Len Zappia, who lives directly across the street from Loris Zappia, asked his brother to stop harassing his wife when the attack initially occurred. Sources tell RNM, Loris Zappia tackled his brother to the ground, then hit him with a chair that was sitting on his porch. The police were not initially called — however, several hours later, sources say Loris Zappia still fuming, spotted his brother across the street, ripped off his shirt, approached him and slapped the sitting magistrate across the face before leaving the property.
According to sources, there were multiple witnesses to the incidents and police were eventually called to Loris Zappia’s home on Amston Court, however he had already left the property before officers arrived. It turns out, after violently attacking Len Zappia, he immediately drove to the Osceola Music Festival in which he was put in charge of tending to the St. Joseph County GOP’s booth. Call logs from the St. Joseph County Police Department show officers did in fact respond to Loris Zappia’s home for an “assault” call. Photos posted to Facebook show Loris Zappia manning the St. Joseph County GOP booth at the music festival with PHM School Board Member Matt Chaffee, PHM School Board Candidate Doug Chaffee, St. Joseph County Councilman Randy Figg and St. Joseph County Council Candidate Anthony Rutten.
REAL News Michiana was notified of the attack on Friday by county officials who were concerned Loris Zappia could be a potential threat to this reporter or his family. It was requested RNM not report on the story at the time, as information was still being gathered and it also involved a dispute between family members. However, the threat was deemed credible enough, this reporter contacted his ex-wife/mother of his son to warn her of the possible threat as well. A screenshot of that text message can be seen below.
Loris Zappia is currently a deputy prosecuting attorney with the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office in the problem-solving courts, which include the Drug Treatment Court and Veterans’ Court. Sources within the County tell RNM Prosecutor Ken Cotter has been made aware of the attack and could be launching an internal investigation with potential charges pending against Loris Zappia.
RNM has also been tipped off to another county level investigation, since both Loris and Len Zappia are county employees.
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