If Richards truck was parked down the block a distance, however, there were dark places, in front of temporarily vacant storefronts, where a potential attacker could approach the couple out of the dark and stick a gun in their ribs just as they opened the door to Richards truck. [3] [4] [5] He falls silent for a second, whispers, I apologize, reaches for a napkin to wipe away the single tear that escapes down his cheek. If that person has the piece of information that would break the case but never shares it, shame wins, and the case goes cold. The disappearance of Imbo and Petrone: FBI says people know who did it. ABC7, 19 February 2020, https://abc7.com/true-crime-6abc-cold-case-philadelphia-police-department/5948803/. They were even overheard making plans for the next day. We can only speculate. Through her best friend, Christine, she reconnected with her high school crush, Christine's older brother, thirty-five year old, single father Richard Petrone. I have a conscience. Will he blame his father for the breakup, see it as the first step in the causal chain that led to his mothers disappearance? That such a complicated future awaits an innocent 10-year-old boy seems particularly cruel. When Danielle got pregnant, she had put her own music dreams to rest and left her position as the lead singer for a pop rock band called the Schoolboys. Everyone loves their sister, he says, but we went out together on Saturday nights, and she was close with my wife.. Ill admit, that part makes me a little nervous. We dont say anything about her being missing. Were in so much pain, she says, that we could kill ourselves tomorrow. Like Richards father, he still speeds up to get a closer view of any black truck. Two years after that, their son, little Joe, grounded her. Do you have information that could bring resolution to this case? Friends, family search for missing couple. Allentown Morning Call, 09 04 2005, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102491020/friends-family-search-for-missing-coupl/. Imagine its cold. But I felt like I had to do it for my mother.. In 2008, the FBI would issue a press release to this effect, suggesting that Imbo and Petrone were victims of a murder for hire scheme. Originally published in the April 2014 issue of Philadelphia magazine. From the inside out, with guilt and suspicion and shame and resentment. At one point, Ottobre even paid a Camden police officer $1,200 to take him up in a helicopter and try to locate the truck. Janel Miller 3/23/2022 ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER A search and recovery team based in Oregon has joined the search for Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, the Mount Laurel Township woman and. And he seems to understand the predicament he faces: Danielle and Richard came together that night by chance, and a motive could be attributed to him for the disappearance of either. In April, police said publicly they did not believe the couple simply ran away, which eliminated one possibility. "They walked out of Abilene and from the minute they got out the door, no one knows if they turned left or right. Danielle and Richard had been dating, but they were on a break. "I don't have evidence to arrest Joe" is all he says. Less-than-perfect families are sometimes shamed by investigators or regarded with skepticism in a way that causes them to stop communicating helpfully. So, if it is, how did they do it? The disappearance of Danielle and Richard will be a case 20-years cold soon and I think this is a good place to ruminate on unresolved cases like this. There was no sign of Danielle, Richard, or Richards truck. And obviously, firing any kind of weapon would make far too much noise. Neither the couple, nor the truck, were ever seen again spark They have not been seen nor heard from since this last sighting. He lost a wonderful person in his life.. She wasnt all that serious about him, but he treated her well. [6][7], Imbo, Petrone, and their vehicle were not seen again after the night of February 19, 2005. That theyd be all right.. They were last seen walking on South Street toward Petrone's parked vehicle, a 2001 Dodge pick-up truck. She wouldnt have missed that, John says now. The people who love them remain stuck inside that vast circle of snow, looking in every direction for a trace, track or footprint they will never find. It is clear that this is a murder, right? Their case remains unsolved. When a song his son loved floods the vehicle, his loss arrives with every line. "He said "I got, like . She was the daughter of John Ottobre, a Philly lounge singer who went by Johnny October and gained national fame in the 50s doo-wop group The Four Dates. On the night of February 19, 2005, on-again, off-again couple Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone left a South Philadelphia bar and were never seen again. That was the last time I saw them.. Even four months later, at a concert to benefit Danielles son, John told reporters the family still hoped she would turn up alive. Shed met her husband, Joe, when he needed a new car, after his clunker broke down. Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Danielle_Imbo_and_Richard_Petrone_Jr. Danielle Imbo loved Chinese food, her moms meatballs, and a particular Wawa coffee she called Christmas in a cup. She loved one pair of pajamas in her favorite color, baby blue, covered in penguins. He relates to Ottobres feeling of being stuck in the center of that big white circle of trackless snow. Many people have been suspicious of Danielle's soon-to-be ex-husband Joe Imbo but he appeared to have a solid alibi. He appears worn down the dark good looks he bore when he met Danielle beginning to whiten and wrinkle. Police: dredging isn't search for missing couple. Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 08 2005, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102493641/police-dredging-isnt-search-for-missin/. My murder meter swings proportionally with a situations resemblance to an episode of Jerry Springer. Until police arrest someone else, he will likely always face suspicion. I ask him: The affair with the girl he met on the plane to New Orleans? She lived on Dunbarton Road in Mount Laurel in southern New Jersey in 2005; Petrone lived in South Philadelphia. Updated 3 times since October 12, 2004. Danielle was last seen traveling with Richard Petrone in his vehicle, a 2001 black Dodge pickup truck bearing PA registration #YFH2319 on February 19, 2005. Much of the speculation centers around the possibility that a hit was ordered on Danielle. They sat close, smiling and laughing. So if we just take Agent Rosellis word for it (he is the expert after all) and assume it is foul play, my personal reflex, not just in this case but in almost every case, is to suspect the ex-spouse first. Anyone might wonder if, in time, those questions will grow pointed. Richard, a single-dad, worked primarily for his parents at Viking Pastries and had become a masterful wedding cake designer. You know, he says, theres only one person in the world that knows I didnt do it, and its me.. But the truth is, we dont know what happened.. Still, there were whispers that the suicide note he left behind after hanging himself with a shoelace contained a confession. Their relationship was going well when Danielle's ex-husband began attempting to rekindle their romance. They kissed. She has worked as a loan mortgage processor. Investigators stated that very little evidence is available to indicate what happened to Petrone and Imbo, but they have ruled out kidnapping and think a random act of violence is also unlikely. When I ask him about Danielles singing voice, his eyes brim with tears. He slides into the drivers seat of the family car and with a flick of his wrist flips the engine over and the radio on. But the different outlooks between the two families the Ottobres pressing hope, the Petrones, acceptance confused the girl, and tensions arose. Danielle has a tattoo on her lower back of "flowers." There are also more pedestrian reasons, equally as damaging, but grounded in our human emotions and interpersonal complexities mixed with feelings of self-worth. John immediately called Mount Laurel detective Ed Pincus, who was still working on the case. To most anyone watching, they were just another couple, out on a Saturday night at Abilenes on South Street, drinking a few beers and watching a band. The sun set hours ago. They had drinks with friends at the establishment before leaving between 11:30 and 11:45 p.m.; they stated they were going to Imbo's home in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Petrone's friends, Anthony Valentino and his wifeMichelle McLaughlin, joined Imbo and Petrone at the restaurant. After Danielle disappeared, police informed her family that Joe had his wifes cell-phone passcode, and that hed listened to her voicemail. I also have not ruled him out.. The Cherry Hill High School grad wrote her own songs and performed in a rock band in her 20s and 30s, her. Philly Couple Who Disappeared In 2005 Latest Case For Famous Rescue Group. Daily Voice, 24 March 2022, https://dailyvoice.com/pennsylvania/bucks/news/philly-couple-who-disappeared-in-2005-latest-case-for-famous-rescue-group/828538/. Searching for Richard Petrone, Jr. and Danielle Imbo, South Philadelphia Police Department Based on everything Ive read, no. When asked if their son could still be alive somewhere, Marge waved a hand. Their relationship was going well when Danielle's ex-husband began attempting to rekindle their romance . "Not anything.". So, maybe this case is cold because the police have been investigating murder-for-hire since 2008 and overlooking other explanations. Sometimes a family witness might be less-than-forthcoming with information in a criminal case due to a feeling of shame. In the case of Danielle and Richard, their names didnt show up in the local media for about a week. Details: Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone were last seen leaving a. Laurel, New Jersey home, all in the hope of shedding some light on the situation through a visual representation. Through her best friend, Christine, she reconnected with her high school crush, Christine's older brother, thirty-five year old, single father Richard Petrone. All of those things considered, the million dollar question then becomes is it foul play? "Each day is the same. It was not a willful disappearance. At last report, Danielles family had a strained relationship with Joe, but they do occasionally get to see little Joe. Will little Joe one day ask him, straight out, as I did, if he was involved? Danielle and Richard both had children from previous relationships. Marge and Richard Petrone Sr. have, at times, thrown what some would call thinly-veiled shade at Danielle and the Ottobres. Then, a couple of weeks later, shortly after Valentines Day, she received that impromptu invitation from Richard: Come out for a drink? She had a son when she vanished, who is now eleven. Imbo, 34, of Mount Laurel, and Petrone, 35, of Philadelphia, disappeared without a trace after leaving the Abilene bar on South Street on Feb. 19, 2005. Dani's ex-husband, Joe Imbo, was due to drop off their son at Dani's house at 5:00 pm, and it looked like she wasn't going to be there to meet him. It didnt appear to him that she had been home the previous night. Imbo's family first noticed something was amiss when Imbo failed to show up for a hair appointment on Sunday morning at 11 am. But he has a different view. I feel 99.867 percent that they are not within this area.. In the spring of 2022, a privately-funded dive research team from Oregon, Adventures with Purpose, announced they were taking an interest in the case and they were riding high with a surprising success rate considering the cold case nature of the disappearances theyd recently investigated. He last spoke to Joe Imbo a few months after his sister vanished. The couple knew each other in high school and began dating ten months before their disappearances after they separated from their respective partners. Accessed 24 May 2022. He orders egg whites. Danielle was estranged from her husband, Joseph Imbo, who has a solid alibi for the night of the couple's disappearance. This case is both interesting and unusual becausepolice have found almost no evidence of what happened to them. Unfortunately, their search did not find Richard Petrones 2001 Dodge Dakota.. Weve covered everything now from Dave & Busters all the way down from Ben Franklin Bridge down to the Whitman Bridge. Or both. I am. The reward is being administered by the Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission. At ages 34 and 35, they both had lives that appeared to be angled up good jobs, loving families, wide circles of friends. He just cant find the trail leading from the crime back to its perpetrators. Some even believe that it was the mob that carried it out. In the early hours and days after Richard Petrone and Danielle Imbo disappeared, their families banded together, frantically phoning each other the next morning when Danielle didnt turn up for her hair appointment and both her cell phone and Richards kicked straight to voicemail. He is married, the father of 11-year-old twin boys, and describes himself as bitter. Before she went missing, during football season he and Danielle would watch the Eagles, and if the team needed a score, hed hide his face until his sister gave my head a squeeze so Id know it was safe to look. Now, Sunday is just Sunday. That is our setting, because thats where Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone disappeared. After she broke things off, that Valentines Day without her was hard. Sitting across from Imbo, I find myself wishing that hed suddenly sprout horns, or a halo, and clear the picture. Danielle and Richards names appeared in the local print media a little less frequently as time went by, but even when it did, you and I both know it didnt amount to much, because Richard and Danielle are still missing. By Tuesday, he, too, was sure his son was dead. The best detectives will tell you, they consider all options. Danielle Imbo, 34, worked from home for a mortgage company andwas the lead singer ofa New Jersey rock band. Accessed 24 May 2022. She smoked a pack of Marlboro Lights a day. It was a normal kind of night, Valentino said. A police officer tried to prepare John: No one, he said, is ever going to find anything.. gold label distribution bud man. That sounds like a perfectly innocent statement to some, a nasty insinuation to others that Danielle was the target, through some unspoken fault of her own, and she got Richard killed, too. Authorities have questioned associates of both people. Once, the footsteps came very fast, almost tumbling down the stairs. Unfortunately, none of them had their heads in that place. He reached his sister, Christine, and found her enjoying a ladies night out with their mother, Marge, and two longtime friends, Felice Ottobre and her daughter. That means everybody, even people who saw something or heard something unusual but didn't understand how important it was. "The caveat is that anything's possible in this, but pretty much from off the bat, you could rule out a crime of convenience," Roselli [said]. But the bereaved confronted by a more conventional death, even a homicide, can mourn beside a grave, a crypt, an urn. What if Richard slipped up while parking or made a mistake? On the 15th anniversary, in 2020, the FBI again pleaded for information from the public: The FBI, Philadelphia Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Mount Laurel Police Department, and Burlington County Prosecutors Office are seeking the publics assistance as we continue to investigate the disappearance, 15 years ago today, of Danielle (Ottobre) Imbo and Richard Petrone, Jr. Danielle Imbo was 34 years old when . Danielle's ex-husband, Joe Imbo, had a rock-solid alibi for February 19th, one that placed him 50 miles away at a kids' party with his stepfather, an ex-NYPD officer, and multiple active police. In the days after their disappearance, Richards then 14-year-old daughter Angela gave an absolutely heart wrenching public plea for the return of her dad that is very hard to watch. In fact, investigators have never named a formal suspect in the case. This would be the last time anyone saw them. Leisek has vowed to continue searching, and well just have to eagerly await developments. [3][4][5], On the evening of Saturday, February 19, 2005, Imbo and Petrone joined another couple for drinks at Abeline's bar and restaurant located at 429 South Street in Philadelphia. Making two people and a truck disappear, with no witnesses and no evidence of any kind for nine years, suggests methodical planning, says FBI special agent Vito Roselli, the investigator in charge of the case. What is known about Anthony Rodesky, a convicted murderer who has not been ruled out in this case (24:50). The message was that he needed to be civil, says Ottobre. "Tips throughout time have indicated logically that this is not a kidnapping case. No bloodstains. Not to mention, a killer who dumps and burns a truck in the wilderness has to get back to town somehow. Imbo took a lie-detector test, but Roselli won't discuss the results. Thirty-four year old Danielle Imbo was going through a divorce and raising her eighteen month old son. Laurel, New Jersey, and was separated from her husband at the time of her disappearance. Then he drives on to the bakery and registers the silence. You come out here, Lovers Lane, you know late at night and then you accidentally put it into drive instead of reverse you know, theres a lot of possibilities as to what could happen out here. Something was wrong. They were rivals. 215-686-3013, Mount Laurel Township Police Department Ottobre stopped paying attention to the psychics. But there is no magic here. FBI Agent Vito Roselli has worked the case since day one, and he told ABC 7 in an interview Im confident that it was a murder. He doesnt cry like the Petrones passionately and unstoppably. When Richard Sr., the writer, tries to talk about his son, he breaks down, sobbing, hiding his face behind his hands until he can regain his composure. Youve got to stop this, Pincus warned him. His hair was once coal-black, but hes 42 now, and big patches of gray sprout at the sides of his head. We don't even know if they made it to New Jersey.". The FBI had last released information on the case in 2008 and there had been no movement. If the person driving the truck was consumed with homicidal and suicidal intent, he or she could have easily driven the truck into the icy February waters of the Delaware River in a spot where we havent found it yet. Joe called Richard at his parents bakery, where he worked, warning him to stay away from his wife. The place was called Abilene at 429 South Street a skinny little single-lane one-way street; historic, pedestrian-friendly, and lined with souvenir shops and places to grab a bite and a brew. Is it either of those things? In the fall of 2021 they took on 36 missing persons cases and actually found 11 missing people. It was, perhaps, a lost opportunity for the family to, at the very least, get a gauge for Joe Imbos body language. Accessed 24 May 2022. That night, Ottobre and Petrone's father, Richard Petrone Sr., begansearching for the missing couple and combed the streets of Philadelphia until the next morning. dr patel plastic surgeon oak brook. Daniel She was wearing a jacket, cream colored sweater, blue jeans and carrying a black purse. This investigation into Danielle and Richs disappearance remains open and active, and there is still a $50,000 reward for information on the couples whereabouts or for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for their disappearance. But people who knew him say he was more of a bruiser, lumping enemies up rather than killing them. There are only a couple of ways to get rid of that truck. But Richard suddenly found himself with vast amounts of free time. What if Richard and Danielle decided to go park down on the piers and make out a bit? Is that how it went down? Richard said hed drive Danielle home to Mount Laurel before returning to his place in South Philly. Petrone and Imbo's estranged husband had allegedly exchanged threats with one another over the telephone and Imbo had made multiple failed attempts to reconcile with her husband, who was involved with another woman. She and Richard Sr. had long-since grieved their son. Richard and Danielles relationship always bore this extra wrinkle: Danielle was his sisters best friend, dating back to high school. Its possible a perpetrator could just get lucky, Roselli says today, but its more likely just what it looks like: Someone behind this knew what they were doing., JOHN OTTOBRES FATHER, John Sr., a former boxer and doo-wop singer, died in 1999, at age 62. Danielle has a tattoo on her lower back of "flowers." At dawn, they returned home, exhausted. 856-225-5470. Listen to the FBI: Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to call the Citizens Crime Commission tip line at 215-546-TIPS (215-546-8477). Like maybe it was even up to me to find my sister., The family received lots of calls from psychics. Not a fingerprint or a hair, not a sighting on a. After host Andy Cohen mentioned a Deux Moi report that claimed a . Sure, there are other ways to dispose of a vehicle. Through her best friend, Christine, she reconnected w. Danielles brother, John Ottobre, had a key to Danielles house. He detours through parking lots when he spots one from the road. Their loved ones believe foul play was involved in their cases, and both families have accused members of the other family of causing their disappearances. Still no leads in couple's mysterious disappearance 5 yrs ago. Philadelphia Daily News, 19 02 2010, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102534940/still-no-leads-in-couples-mysterious-di/. Richards camp pointed to Danielles estranged husband, Joe Imbo, and their rough divorce. Danielle Imbo And Richard Petrone Both Disappeared Without A Trace - Heres What We Know. We exchanged words, he says implying that when he called Richard at the bakery, the heat definitely went both ways. They later told investigators that Imbo and Petrone appeared to be having a good time - they weresitting close together, smiling, and kissing throughout the evening. If you call in the tip and it leads to a resolution, youre gonna get paid. Now. Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania authorities are investigating their disappearances, which remain unsolved. A grand jury convened at least 6 years ago, interviewing people close to Joe, but took no action. "You have to know how to get rid of two bodies and a truck quickly, and it would be hard for one person to do that.. Shouldnt this be solved by now? But whats also brought him to the table is the chance, he says, to reminisce to contribute to a story that will recall Danielle as a person., The good times cause a torrent of happy memories: their first meeting at the car dealership, a first date that went on all night and meandered all over Philly and New Jersey. Their relationship was going well when Danielle's ex-husband began attempting to rekindle their romance. Volunteers fanned out a hundred miles in every direction. 215-686-3013, Camden County Sheriff's Office The details offered by the Philadelphia Daily News, however, were not good. But twice a year, his mom or his wife calls Joe, and they arrange to pick up little Joe, now 10, in South Carolina, taking him for one week around Christmas and again in summer for a trip down the Shore. As reported by the Philadelphia Daily News: Danielle's estranged husband, Joe Imbo, says he believes he'll see her again. [4][8], Since 2008, the FBI has been investigating the disappearance as a possible murder for hire, but has not named any suspects. Cold case. Of course, Agent Roselli wont reveal more than that, but its beginning to sound a little bit familiar; a little bit like the Careaga murders in Washington State which I covered in a recent episode A case where it seems like the authorities might have a strong suspect, but cant prove it. To find out what happened, and to see justice done.. She wanted time to focus on the transition from married woman to single mother. From every perspective. Unfortunately, in this case, we cant do that because nobody has any idea where Richard was parked. The former covergirl, 39, detailed her troubled past and battle with mental health . She spent a lot of time in bars, performing or listening to bands, but wasnt a big drinker. It was also featured on the podcast Women & Crime in December 2021. Rodesky was convicted of murdering two men in the course of separate robberies, and Roselli marshaled federal resources to search his house, dig up his basement, even pore through his septic tank. Kimberly Riley & Jeremy Britt-Bayinthavong, Paul Skiba, Sarah Skiba, and Lorenzo Chivers, June & Jennifer Gibbons (The Silent Twins). The sudden and mysterious disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr. on February 19, 2005, has left investigators and the public with more questions than answers. Thats what the FBI said, and it was a bombshell. Imbo took a lie-detector test, but Roselli wont discuss the results. The two clicked instantly. Three to five remained in the murky water after the search was stalled by bad weather, but police said none was known to be a Dodge Dakota. If we can find the truck, well find Richard and Danielle. Paraphrasing Occams Razor, all things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be true. That said, Roselli hasnt closed the book on Careys involvement, positing a scenario of some sort of beat-down that escalated into a double homicide, or a robbery gone haywire. Their disappearances are being investigated as a double homicide, possibly a murder-for-hire. A lot of time had passed but the police were finally making a good show of it. Accessed 24 May 2022. And thats what keeps me going now. "We're not going to be able to go into great detail, but we thought it would be significant for the public to understand that this hasn't gone away. And its because of this., At this, he gestures toward the audio recorder sitting on the table between us the whole mystery surrounding the vanishing of his estranged wife. RICHARD PETRONE. FBI.gov, https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/richard-petrone. Petrone's vehicle, a 2001 black over silver Dodge Dakota pickup truck with Pennsylvania license plates YFH 2319, is also missing. Its not hard to imagine South Street in February of 2005. Oct 10, 2014 - On the night of February 19, 2005, Danielle Imbo, 34, and Richard Petrone, 35, vanished. On The Night They Vanished, Imbo Met Up With Petrone To Watch Live Music At A Bar Chimneys all over the city belch hot gasses into the frigid indigo sky. He learned how to dress a little girl. A desperate search for answers. Philadelphia Daily News, 06 06 2005, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102529560/a-desperate-search-for-answers/. Adventures With Purpose - COLD CASE: 2005 Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr. (Part 3). Facebook, 2 March 2022, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=972861123603259. Imbo was employed as a loan processor for a mortgage company at the time of her disappearance, working out of her home. Petrone and Imbo have one child each; Imbo has a toddler son and Petrone has a teenage daughter. Danielle's estranged husband has been questionedbut never considered a suspect. She was wearing a jacket, cream colored sweater, blue jeans and carrying a black purse. In fact, some 20 minutes after we part, he will call me. Were missing couple victims of a hit? Philadelphia Daily News, 07 02 2008, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102527418/were-missing-couple-victims-of-a-hit/. On the night of Saturday,February 19, 2005, Imbo and Petrone met with friends at Abilene's, a South Philadelphia Tex-Mex restaurant that has since closed. Police seek help finding couple last seen at bar. Philadelphia Inquirer, 03 03 2022, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102466236/police-seek-help-finding-couple-last-see/. Accessed 24 May 2022. Afterward, John Ottobre changed Danielles locks and held a sit-down with Joe. I learn this from John Ottobre, who finds talking about his sisters disappearance so painful that he often neglects to return my calls. Like, maybe an accidental trip to the bottom of the Delaware River. Hes dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt and a black baseball cap. 856-234-1414, Philadelphia Police Department Thirty-four year old Danielle Imbo was going through a divorce and raising her eighteen month old son. A detective embarks on a missing-persons case with every possible end in sight. The case remains unsolved. until John Ottobre intervened. At that point I didnt think there had been any type of foul play I was just trying to cover up for her, he said. Believe me, we looked, says Roselli, and we continue to look, but nothing has emerged that there was anything in his background that would suggest him as a target for murder.. A murder-for-hire scenario also remains in play. Shed begun dating Richard during a long separation from her husband a separation she was intending to punctuate with a divorce. My experience in a cold climate tells me Richard and Danielle were likely hand-in-hand, or perhaps arm-in-arm on a slippery sidewalk, as they hurried toward the truck.
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