People who got hammered and had a lost weekend at a club. But the evidence, or lack of it, suggested a very particular kind of crime. Today would be [Richard] Petrone's 36th birthday, according to a family website. There are also more pedestrian reasons, equally as damaging, but grounded in our human emotions and interpersonal complexities mixed with feelings of self-worth. 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. Since she was separated, though, and seeking a divorce, he took his shot. THE DEATH OF A SIBLING or child felled short of a natural lifespan is always tragic. Just days before he vanished, Petrone told his father he had angry words with Joe Imbo over the phone. Imbo took a lie-detector test, but Roselli won't discuss the results. Less-than-perfect families are sometimes shamed by investigators or regarded with skepticism in a way that causes them to stop communicating helpfully. He even learned how to do her hair. In August, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story on a police dredging operation that generated some buzz and prompted a denial from the authorities: Police denied reports yesterday that a crew was dredging the Delaware River in search of a vehicle belonging to Richard Petrone Jr., who with his girlfriend disappeared from the vicinity of a Philadelphia bar six months ago. Her boy, Timothy, the grandson Richard never knew, means everything to the Petrones, whose lives have been mostly blown apart. What is known about Anthony Rodesky, a convicted murderer who has not been ruled out in this case (24:50). 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). Through her best friend, Christine, she reconnected with her high school crush, Christine's older brother, thirty-five year old, single father Richard Petrone. He watches the games alone. Listen to "Danielle Imbo & Richard Petrone Jr." on Spreaker. So, if it is, how did they do it? 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. What it was like to speak to John Ottobre, Danielle's brother (29:30). None of these efforts produced any leads. His reminiscences of Danielle are tender, but his affect is flat. The best detectives will tell you, they consider all options. It was a normal kind of night, Valentino said. 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. It was brutally cold that night. 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. That such a complicated future awaits an innocent 10-year-old boy seems particularly cruel. But again, coming back to 2005, how much fencing was up here? When a song his son loved floods the vehicle, his loss arrives with every line. He didnt know why Danielle wasnt there, but he didnt want to give her soon-to-be ex-husband anything he could later use against her. Her brother, John Ottobre, later said, She wouldnt have missed that. Richards camp pointed to Danielles estranged husband, Joe Imbo, and their rough divorce. 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. They sat close, smiling and laughing. Danielle Imbo was 34 years old when . Sitting across from Imbo, I find myself wishing that hed suddenly sprout horns, or a halo, and clear the picture. New Details Emerge In South Jersey Missing Persons Case. Patch, 23 March 2022, https://patch.com/new-jersey/moorestown/new-details-danielle-imbo-richard-petrone-jr-case. There was no sign of Danielle, Richard, or Richards truck. What if Richard slipped up while parking or made a mistake? RICHARD PETRONE SR., 64, wakes each night around 2 a.m., dresses quickly, and steps outside to start his workday at the bakery as the bars close. Laurel, New Jersey home, all in the hope of shedding some light on the situation through a visual representation. 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. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. Through her best friend, Christine, she reconnected with her high school crush, Christine's older brother, thirty-five year old, single father Richard Petrone. 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. Laurel, New Jersey, and was separated from her husband at the time of her disappearance. Not likely. Youve got to stop this, Pincus warned him. When he asks about his mom, we tell him she is an angel in heaven, says John. Danielle, five-foot-five, trim and pretty, looked like the real thing. And this is mine.. A police officer tried to prepare John: No one, he said, is ever going to find anything.. 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/. The easiest way to hide a vehicle with the lowest effort is a body of water. 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. And neither wanted to hear that their dearest had been the target. Pincus, fearing a second tragedy, ordered a search. Thirty-four year old Danielle Imbo was going through a divorce and raising her eighteen month old son. But two people who read the note told me that rumor is false. Angela now works in the bakery. Marge and Richard Petrone Sr. have, at times, thrown what some would call thinly-veiled shade at Danielle and the Ottobres. After Danielle disappeared, police informed her family that Joe had his wifes cell-phone passcode, and that hed listened to her voicemail. It didnt appear to him that she had been home the previous night. Even four months later, at a concert to benefit Danielles son, John told reporters the family still hoped she would turn up alive. Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Danielle_Imbo_and_Richard_Petrone_Jr. He put on dad weight, clocking in at five-foot-nine and 200 pounds. Imbo, circa 2005; Petrone's truck; Petrone's truck's license plate. The FBI has questioned Imbo's estranged husband, Joe Imbo, many times. She wouldnt have missed that, John says now. At 23, she has moved past the fear, which dogged her as a teenager, that whatever evil took her dad will come back for his family. Cmon, he told me over the phone before I arrived, its been nine years. Worried, he rushed over and looked around her condo. Much of the speculation centers around the possibility that a hit was ordered on Danielle. Imbo had a 2-year-old son and Petrone had a teenage daughter. You could dump the vehicle in the wilderness somewhere, pour gas all over it and set it on fire. 856-225-5470. Likewise, Richards family was worried. 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. Imagine its cold. Police in Philadelphia and New Jersey where the couple were apparently headed have launched an intense investigation, checking financial records, interviewing family, friends and neighbors, even searching the banks of the Delaware River by helicopter. But she put the invitation to Danielle. She has worked as a loan mortgage processor. [2] The couple had been involved in what family and friends describe as an "on again, off again" romantic relationship. Here's everything we know about what happened to Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone. "He said "I got, like . Is it just me or is that alibi almost too perfect? If I was them, I wouldnt want to be around me either.. But the FBI agent never followed through. Richard, a NASCAR fan, planned to watch the Daytona 500. She was wearing a jacket, cream colored sweater, blue jeans and carrying a black purse. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Anthony Valentino and his wife Michelle McLaughlin were the last people to see Danielle and Richard. His mom had called and said Danielle missed her hair appointment at 11 am. Sometimes, his son asks random questions about her. Their disappearances are being investigated as a double homicide, possibly a murder-for-hire. Not a fingerprint or a hair, not a sighting on a. It might not give us the identity of those responsible, but at least the families could finally grieve and rest. But wait, this was a murder-for-hire, right? "Tips throughout time have indicated logically that this is not a kidnapping case. But several days later, he pulled a gray hoodie on against sub-freezing temperatures, walked the two blocks from his apartment to the South Philly Tap Room, and ate dinner alone. Joe Imbo - Danielle's former husband John Ottobre - Danielle's brother Robert Carey - arrested in pill ring investigation in Kensington; hanged himself in prison Anthony Rodesky -. FBI Seeks Information on Disappearance, 15 Years Ago Today, of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, Jr. FBI. FBI, 19 February 2020, https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/philadelphia/news/press-releases/fbi-seeks-information-on-disappearance-15-years-ago-today-of-danielle-imbo-and-richard-petrone-jr. Accessed 24 May 2022. Danielle was estranged from her husband, Joseph Imbo, who has a solid alibi for the night of the couple's disappearance. The Scope of the Problem: Intimate Partner Homicide Statistics. VAWnet.org, https://vawnet.org/sc/scope-problem-intimate-partner-homicide-statistics. They compared notes on what their ensuing Sundays entailed: Danielle had a hair appointment at 11 a.m.; her ex-husband was scheduled to return their son after that. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. They were last seen at Abilene's bar and restaurant on South Street in Philadelphia, and Richard's best friend Rick Bellezzi told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the couple "left the club happy at about 11:45." But that was the last time they were seen. Marge Petrone had actually been on record since 2005, about 6 months after the disappearance, that she believed Richard was dead. 215-686-3013, Mount Laurel Township Police Department They kissed. Investigators monitored the couples bank accounts, credit cards and cell phones, looked for evidence that either had a secret life. Statistics show, for the year 2013, fifteen times as many women were murdered by a male they knew than were killed by male strangers. Absolutely not., He says hes decided to talk to me for a couple of reasons. It was not a willful disappearance. But it could be. They were even overheard making plans for the next day. Not even the best-funded investigation can run down every thread of every possibility. The couple, who had known each other since High School, had only recently started dating after Danielle's split with her estranged Husband. Danielle's estranged husband has been questionedbut never considered a suspect. What if Richard and Danielle decided to go park down on the piers and make out a bit? On February 19th, 2005, Danielle agreed to go out for a night of music in Philadelphia. Shed begun dating Richard during a long separation from her husband a separation she was intending to punctuate with a divorce. Richard Petrone was described as 59 and about 150 pounds. Their mysterious vanishing has become one of the most intriguing missing person cases in recent history. Petrone was going to drive Imbo to her condo in Mount Laurel, NJ, and then return to his own home. Thirty-four year old Danielle Imbo was going through a divorce and raising her eighteen month old son. At dawn, they returned home, exhausted. At about 11:45 pm, Imboand Petroneleft Abilene's. 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. 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. Also, he didnt need to incur a capital murder charge when drug dealing provided so much of what he dearly wanted: money. In the fall of 2021 they took on 36 missing persons cases and actually found 11 missing people. And when she sang Me and Bobby McGee, all that smoke erupted; she could slay any room with her Janis Joplin wail. In 2008, the FBI announced that the case was being treated as murder-for-hire. Or your sister will be gone forever.. As is often the case in a missing person investigation, police have considered Imbo's estranged husband as a suspect, and the FBI has questioned Joe Imbo many times. But he told his parents how he felt. He was with his dad, Joe Imbo. He detours through parking lots when he spots one from the road. There is a saying in law enforcement circles: Its always the ex-husband. So sitting down with Imbo is portentous a journey to the one man who might possibly hold an answer. Nothing. Joe Imbo has never been declared a suspect in the case. In a disappearance like Danielle and Richards, we have nothing. Friends and volunteers canvassed neighborhoods for 100 miles in every direction, distributing pictures of Petrone's truck. The Kings Speech: What Kids Should Know About MLKs Dream, Your Guide to This Weeks Eagles-Giants Playoff Game. If theres any hope of finding answers in a case like this, we have to narrow the scope of the investigation. Well have to do the best we can with what we have, to answer one question. They were last seen walking on South Street toward Petrone's parked vehicle, a 2001 Dodge pick-up truck. RICHARD PETRONE. FBI.gov, https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/richard-petrone. That was the last time I saw them.. But then I wouldnt know what happened to my son. Want to come have a drink? Richard asked. Never much for dressing up, Richard Petrone wore a gray hoodie, jeans and sneakers. . It could be a case of a willful disappearance on the part of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone. But panic didnt really set in until 3 p.m., when Danielles son, little Joe, was due to be dropped back home by his father. He takes detours, sometimes, on the drive from Cherry Hill to Ardmore, still looking for Richards truck. In fact, investigators have never named a formal suspect in the case. With no answers, you can imagine their families were tortured. I wish I could say someone saw them walk to Richards truck and get in it and drive away, but we cant even say that. smorgon family office. Hed been planning to watch the Daytona 500 at home with friends but nobody had heard from him. I wouldnt be able to live with myself this long after such a heinous thing, or look my son in the eye.. 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. In June, Danielles brother John expressed frustration at a lack of clues. Hangin with cops at the time of the disappearance? 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. [9][10][7], In 2021, the disappearance continued to be investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Mount Laurel Police Department, and the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, with the FBI reporting that "an extensive investigation to date has generated some promising leads; however, neither they nor the vehicle have ever been located. gold label distribution bud man. Their cellular phones have stayed turned off. Founder Jared Leisek explains a search of one an area in the Delaware River, where a witness reported a broken gate at a launch ramp two days after the couple went missing: So, these are like the old piers that are down here. The two were family friends who had dated as teenagers before they began an on-again, off-again relationship as adults. Place of suicides. It could be a murder/suicide. Imbo's purse and wallet have not been located. [4][8], Since 2008, the FBI has been investigating the disappearance as a possible murder for hire, but has not named any suspects. We used to be fun, and now were always sad. Their case remains unsolved. Joseph O'Brien of the Philadelphia Police South Detective Division. It could also be a car accident that ended in the same way, at the bottom of the river, with Richard and Danielle trapped inside. In Philly, they give it a while, to see how it shakes out. I dont blame people for not wanting to be around us, says Marge. As John Ottobre tells it, Joe left Danielle with a sick infant and a cold of her own to attend the 2004 Super Bowl, only to return and announce that hed met someone else on the plane to New Orleans. Marge, the talker, keeps going, her eyes always wet with tears that roll slowly down her cheeks, like blood pumping from a wound. And I catch myself not only trying to observe Imbo, but to look through him. At 23, he had a daughter out of wedlock, raising her in an apartment above his parents pastry shop. 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. John answered Joe Imbo with a spontaneous white lie and said Danielle had just run to get something at the store and would be back soon. But the gulf left by Richards passing sits between them and the rest of the world, enormous and untraversable. But John Ottobre continues to hope, even if his hopes are the smallest. Accessed 24 May 2022. In 2015, the Philadelphia Daily News recognized the 10 year anniversary of the disappearance of Danielle and Richard with an interview of the Petrones, who still felt the weight of the mystery. He says Roselli once told him, I dont think you did this. I ask him: The affair with the girl he met on the plane to New Orleans? All of those things considered, the million dollar question then becomes is it foul play? 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. Their friends stated that both of them behaved normally and seemed happy that evening. As reported by the Philadelphia Daily News: Danielle's estranged husband, Joe Imbo, says he believes he'll see her again. Accessed 24 May 2022. Both were single parents - Richard's daughter was 14 at the time, and Danielle's son was oneyear old. Two years after that, their son, little Joe, grounded her. At last report, Danielles family had a strained relationship with Joe, but they do occasionally get to see little Joe. The evening went fine, and friends watched the couple walk towards Richard's truck. If you call in the tip and it leads to a resolution, youre gonna get paid. He learned how to dress a little girl. Their case was also recapped on the podcast "Obsessed With Disappeared" in August 2022 in an episode titled "A Bridge Too Far: The Disappearance of Danielle Imbo & Richard Petrone". Petrone's friends, Anthony Valentino and his wifeMichelle McLaughlin, joined Imbo and Petrone at the restaurant. The community was engaged but there were no leads to be found. Joe Imbo moved to the Carolinas with the son he had with Danielle, Joe III, and to this day, he maintains his innocence and he has never been named an official suspect by the police. No way.. Leisek has vowed to continue searching, and well just have to eagerly await developments. 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. Anyone might wonder if, in time, those questions will grow pointed. But Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone didnt fit the profile. Did someone follow him in another vehicle? Shes my sister, he says. On the one hand, Danielle and Richard had a few drinks that night. They saw each other sporadically. 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. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) And so, on a night when the temperature was about 27 degrees and the crowd at 4th and South was probably a little thinner than usual, Danielle and Richard walked out of Abilenes toward Richards truck. Nine vehicles were pulled out of the river yesterday, police said. Now I know what real love is, she told friends. Since their disappearance, there has been no activity on Imbo's or Petrone's cell phones or personal finances. When asked if their son could still be alive somewhere, Marge waved a hand. 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/. Danielle and Richard both had children from previous relationships. Neither Imbo nor Petrone have accessed their bank accounts or used their credit cards or EZ-Pass cards since they went missing. Other family members showed up, and then, just as expected, Joe Imbo showed up to return their son to Danielle. Friends also swarmed into the picture. 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. 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. The message was that he needed to be civil, says Ottobre. We' re aggressively pursuing a scenario that's based on leads and tips we've received.". Their case was episode 11 of season 8 of the TV show Disappeared with the episode named "A Bridge Too Far". Shed met her husband, Joe, when he needed a new car, after his clunker broke down. Danielles family believed the bad blood between the Petrones and Joe Imbo was counterproductive. "Not a lipstick, not a bag, not a shoe, not a car, not an eyewitness, not a tip," said Imbo's brother, John Ottobre. The two clicked instantly. It never goes away, Marge Petrone said. At the time of their 2005 disappearance, Richard Petrone, 35, was living in Pennsylvania and working at his parents' bakery. Or the person who committed the crime died shortly thereafter and left nobody behind who knew the truth. Their case was featured on the podcast Crime Junkie on May 11, 2020. Although several theories have been proposed,the case remains cold, and thefamilies are still searching for closure. It could be, but most agree its unlikely. Imbo was carrying a two-handle black purse at the time of her disappearance. The murder-for-hire scenario, he admits, was only one possibility among many. That theyd be all right.. "Not anything.". She could tear through three books in a week, especially murder mysteries. "We haven't found anything to indicate foul play, but all of our options remain open," said Capt. Then, as she put her marriage to Joe Imbo in her rearview mirror and sparked a new beginning, she rekindled an on-again-off-again romance with Richard Petrone, a childhood friend from the neighborhood. Shed started dating another man, Richard Petrone. They get on the phone with old friends from time to time. Youre just not good at your job. The sun set hours ago. 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. Richard Sr., in the passenger seat, peered out into the dark, searching for his sons truck. Will he blame his father for the breakup, see it as the first step in the causal chain that led to his mothers disappearance? 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. There may be a NASCAR sticker in the rear window. When asked for comment, the authorities said they dont comment on lie detector tests but that nobody had been cleared in the investigation. I know I must have looked really stupid, he says now. She was wearing a jacket, cream colored sweater, blue jeans and carrying a black purse. 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/. 215-686-3013, Camden County Sheriff's Office Petrone's black Dodge Dakota pickup truck, the vehicle he was driving that night, also has never been found. "[11], In March 22, 2022, a private search and recovery dive team, Adventures with Purpose, announced they were actively working on the case. Witnesses stated that the couple left the bar at about 11:45p.m. en route to Imbo's New Jersey home. She wasnt all that serious about him, but he treated her well. He walked into a dealership and saw a pretty girl sleek, sporting a bob haircut that accented her high cheekbones and deep dimples from the financial department. A detective embarks on a missing-persons case with every possible end in sight. Summer House's Danielle Olivera Confirms Mya's Ex-Boyfriend Oliver Cheated as Mya Talks "Red Flags" and Accuses Him of "Faking It". She had a son when she vanished, who is now eleven. Danielles 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. "He said "I got, like . "They walked out of Abilene and from the minute they got out the door, no one knows if they turned left or right. [8] Media accounts state that both had close relationships with their children and families and were unlikely to have voluntarily disappeared. We dont say anything about her being missing. You always feel it. Their moms enjoyed a friendship of their own. Danielle later told family members that Joe had bounced the babys high chair off the wall, though Joe has said he doesnt think that ever happened. In the absence of any discovery by Adventures with Purpose, would you consider it more likely the disappearance of Danielle and Richard was foul play? It also doesnt escape my attention that if this is a murder-for-hire plot, Joe Imbos alibi does not exclude him from suspicion. Five years ago, at the relatively young age of 37, he suffered a heart attack. But that is the legacy of this case: We have yet to learn why Richard Petrone will never see his grandson, or why Danielle Imbo isnt alive to care for her son. The FBI has questioned Imbo's estranged husband, Joe Imbo, many times. Hes dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt and a black baseball cap. Police usually wait 48 hours to begin amissing person search, but the families started immediately. He went in and found the place dark, still and undisturbed.
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