Skeletal Remains [UPDATE: IDENTIFIED AS AMY GIORDANO/SUSPECT CHARGED]

[Faith]

Police investigating the disappearance of a New Jersey woman were led to a Staten Island pond on Sunday where they discovered a suitcase containing the skeletal remains of a human.



The remains have not been identified but authorities believe it they could be that of Amy Giordano, the 27-year-old mother who vanished last summer. Giordano disappeared in June and two days later her 11-month-old son was found abandoned in a hospital parking lot.



Police arrested Rosario DiGirolamo last week and charged the 33-year-old with Giordano in the disappearance. Authorities have said that DiGirolamo and Giordano had been having an affair at the time of her disappearance.



John A. Russo Jr. was also arrested and charged with tampering with evidence but it was his assistance that led police to the Staten Island pond.



Follow the link for more Law News.

http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=41131&cat=14

[Faith]

Human bones found in suitcase at Staten Island pond; could be those of missing mom
by Staten Island Advance
Sunday March 23, 2008, 5:50 PM

http://blog.silive.com/latest_news/2008/03/medium_M1X00107_9.jpeg

The search for a New Jersey woman missing since her son was found abandoned in a parking lot last summer led authorities today to a Charleston pond, where human bones were discovered in a suitcase.

Two men were charged last week in Amy Giordano's disappearance, including the man with whom she was having an affair, according to authorities. Rosario DiGirolamo, of Brooklyn, was charged with murder.

A second man, John A. Russo Jr., of Eltingville, was charged with tampering with evidence in Ms. Giordano's death and helped New Jersey authorities in the case, said his attorney, George Vomvolakis.

"Based on his cooperation and their own investigation, they were led to this area on Staten Island," Vomvolakis said.

The Mercer County prosecutor's office in New Jersey said the skeletal remains found at the pond today hadn't been identified and DNA testing was being performed.

Ms. Giordano, 27, of Hightstown, N.J., a native of Willowbrook, vanished in June. Two days later, her 11-month-old son was found abandoned in a hospital parking lot in Newark, Del.
DiGirolamo pleaded guilty in November to reckless endangerment and child abandonment. The child is now in foster care.

DiGirolamo's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said they were ready to defend against the murder charge.

DiGirolamo, 33, faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted, prosecutors said. Russo, 43, faces a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted, they said.

Vomvolakis said Russo would surrender to police in the next few days.

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/authorities_search_on_staten_i.html

[Roamer]

I'm glad they've made arrests in this sad case. I really think they should also have charged them with kidnapping and abandoning the baby, too.

[TigressPen]

I'm glad they've made arrests in this sad case. I really think they should also have charged them with kidnapping and abandoning the baby, too.



I thought the same when reading this thread!! Child endangerment charges along with abandonment. I hope more charges are fothcoming once they verify the remains discovered is Amy.

[KittyMom]

yep. That baby could've been run over in that parking lot.

[Blonde]

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/arraignment_friday_for_dad_acc.html

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/Blondeonahd/In%20the%20News/medium_03-26-DIGIROLAMO.jpg

Arraignment Friday for dad accused of killing his mistress, a Staten Island native
by Staten Island Advance
Wednesday March 26, 2008, 4:42 PM

Rosario DiGirolamo, the 33-year-old Brooklyn man accused of killing his Staten Island-native mistress, is scheduled to be arraigned on murder charges at a Trenton, N.J. court Friday morning.

DiGirolamo waived extradition in New York, and was transported from Rikers Island to a Mercer County jail last night.

Earlier in the day, police continued their search of a West Shore pond for the remains of his mistress Amy Giordano, a 27-year-old who grew up in Willowbrook and has been missing since last June.

A skeletal torso was pulled from the murky waters in Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Charleston on Easter Sunday, and additional body parts were recovered on Monday. The city Medical Examiner has been conducting DNA and forensic tests to see if they are Ms. Giordano's.

The married DiGirolamo and Ms. Giordano had a four-year affair and a son, Michael DiGirolamo.

In 2006, DiGirolamo began paying for Ms. Giordano and their son to live in a Hightstown, N.J. apartment, while he lived in a Monmouth County home with his wife and other son. On June 9, 2007, Michael was found abandoned in the parking lot of a Delaware Hospital, two days after Ms. Giordano was last seen. DiGirolamo then fled to Italy, but returned two months later to face child endangerment charges.

N.J. authorities have accused 43-year-old Eltingville resident John A. Russo of helping DiGirolamo, a longtime friend, cover up the murder of the Ms. Giordano. It was Russo, a former auxiliary cop in the 123rd Precinct, who led them to search the Staten Island pond.

Russo is expected to surrender to N.J. authorities tomorrow on charged of evidence tampering.

-- Contributed by Peter N. Spencer

[Blonde]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/Blondeonahd/In%20the%20News/Giordano-Amy-LG1.jpg

[Nut44x4]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/1m_bail_continued_for_missing.html

Prosecutors say 'missing mom' was killed with metal tool and sawed to pieces
March 28, 2008, 5:30 PM
Prosecutors today said that Rosario DiGirolamo killed his Hightstown mistress in June 2007 by striking her over the head with a metal tool, then sawed her body into pieces and tossed them into a Staten Island pond because he no longer wanted to support her and their 11-month-old son.

Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Meidt described the state's timeline of 27-year-old Amy Giordano's murder and the disposal of her body, parts of which were found on Easter Sunday, in state Superior Court this morning in an effort to keep DiGirolamo behind bars on $1 million bail.

DiGirolamo, 33, who was married and living in Millstone at the time of Giordano's disappearance, was charged with murder last week and arrested in the basement of his parents' home in Brooklyn.

After killing Giordano on the night of June 7 or the day of June 8, DiGirolamo dragged her body from the bedroom to the bathroom and used two saws to cut up the woman's body, Meidt said. The first, an electric reciprocating saw was ineffective, so "he had to use a hack saw to get the job done to chop up Amy Giordano," Meidt said.

He then put the remains into heavy-duty garbage bags, placed them in a suitcase and drove to Staten Island to meet a friend, John A. Russo Jr., Meidt said. The two then dumped the suitcase in a pond off Route 440 near the foot of the Outerbridge Crossing, linking Perth Amboy and Staten Island. Russo is accused of tampering with evidence in connection.

In addition to admitting he killed Giordano to Russo, DiGirolamo also told two other friends that he murdered the woman, Meidt said. The prosecutor said the two have provided statements to police, although he declined to identify them in court.

DiGirolamo's attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, denied his client had any involvement in Giordano's disappearance.

"Nothing, not a single word, that has come out of the prosecutor's mouth is evidence," Ballarotto told the judge. "He refuses to identify some of the witnesses that he is allegedly quoting. The state's case is extremely circumstantial."

Following the 20-minute hearing, the judge ordered the bail to remain at $1 million, saying the evidence in the case was "strong" and the likelihood of his conviction was "great."

Giordano was last seen walking with DiGirolamo about 7:30 p.m. in a Hightstown grocery story, Meidt said. Two days later, DiGirolamo left their son in a hospital parking lot in Newark, Del., where the boy was taken in by a nurse.

About the same time, DiGirolamo abandoned his family, quit his job and flew to Italy, where he remained for about six weeks before returning to face child abandonment charges. He later pleaded guilty in November to a misdemeanor charges. The child is now in foster care.

[Roamer]

http://www.nbc10.com/news/15920383/detail.html


WILMINGTON, Del. -- Delaware's adoption manager said a relative of the New Jersey man accused of killing his mistress and abandoning their son at Christiana Hospital last year has been given initial approval to adopt the boy.

Adoption chief Frank Perfinski said Annalisa Guidice of New York could have custody of Michael Sean DiGirolamo within a month, pending a study of the suitability of her household.

Rosario DiGirolamo, Michael's father, has been charged with killing Amy Giordano, the boy's mother.

Guidice filed a petition in February to terminate Giordano's parental rights. Only blood relatives are permitted to file such petitions in Delaware Family Court, but it's not clear how Guidice is related to DiGirolamo.

Perfinski said the state has not received inquiries from blood relatives of Giordano, who was adopted when she was 3 months old.


Previous Stories:
April 4, 2008: Alleged Accomplice In Missing Mom Case Pleads Not Guilty
April 3, 2008: Lawyer: Murder Suspect Previously Tried To Kill Missing Mom

[KittyMom]

I hope this guy goes away for a veryyyyyy long time. And I pray that this woman will love and care for this child like a loving mom.

[Faith]

DNA shows remains are missing N.J. mom's

By ANGELA DELLI SANTI | Associated Press Writer
April 18, 2008

TRENTON, N.J. - Skeletal remains found in a Staten Island pond are those of a young mother missing since last June, DNA analysis shows.

The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office released the test results Friday, nearly a month after a neck to torso skeleton was found there by police divers. Prosecutors say the remains are those of Amy Giordano, a single mom from Hightstown whose married lover has been charged with her murder.

Authorities were led to the pond on Easter Sunday by a friend of murder suspect Rosario DiGirolamo. DiGirolamo, 33, is in a Mercer County jail on $1 million bail. The friend, John Russo Jr., has been charged with evidence tampering.

Authorities say DiGirolamo hit Giordano over the head and chopped up her body with a hacksaw after killing her. He then drove their 11-month-old to a Delaware hospital, where he abandoned the boy in a parking lot because he could no longer afford to support two households.

He was living with his wife and toddler while carrying on an extended affair with Giordano, 27.

DiGirolamo's lawyer said his client denies any involvement in the disappearance f Giordano.

Giordano disappeared June 7 after shopping for groceries with DiGirolamo and the baby. Her cigarettes, purse and ID were later found inside her apartment, but there was no trace of the woman until authorities were led to the pond.

A suitcase found near the remains contained photographs of the child, authorities have said.

The DNA results come the day a relative of the suspect was given initial approval to adopt the child.

Delaware Adoption chief Frank Perfinski said Annalisa Guidice of New York could have custody of Michael Sean DiGirolamo within a month, pending a study of the suitability of her household.

Guidice filed a petition in February to terminate Giordano's parental rights. Only blood relatives are permitted to file such petitions in Delaware Family Court, but it's not clear how Guidice is related to DiGirolamo.

Perfinski says the state has not received inquiries from blood relatives of Giordano, who was adopted when she was three months old.
http://www.newsday.com (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--missingmom0418apr18,0,4239430.story)

[Faith]

Authorities say DiGirolamo hit Giordano over the head and chopped up her body with a hacksaw after killing her.

OMG this man is sick.. I hope he stays locked up and away from people the rest of his life.

[LiveLaughLuv]

He wanted to play but not pay anymore! :mad:


This was so sad to learn, even sadder when I saw this on NG and the woman's family will not try and adopt that baby. NG was so offended by this and couldn't believe that none of her family would take this child and leave him in foster care.

That child is so beautiful and there must be some really bad blood between her and her family. Why not opt to put that aside and take your sisters child. Raise him like your own. I just don't get family sometimes.

I'm glad he was caught. I do hope they seek the maximum sentence for this DiGirolomo and his cohort who helped him. His accomplice did turn states evidence and provide officials with the location of Amy's body so he will get a lighter sentence.

Rest in Peace :1222423:

For her son :1222423:

[Nut44x4]

'Missing mom' murder suspect freed on $1M bail

Nov 28th, 2008 | TRENTON, N.J. -- A married man accused of killing his mistress is out of a New Jersey jail after posting $1 million bail.

A spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office says Rosario DiGirolamo left jail on Wednesday.

The spokeswoman says DiGirolamo must stay in his parents' home and wear an electronic tracking device. Authorities confiscated his passport.

The 33-year-old DiGirolamo is charged with murdering 27-year-old Amy Giordano. She vanished in June after grocery shopping with DiGirolamo and their baby. Authorities found her dismembered body in a pond.

DiGirolamo pleaded guilty to abandoning their 11-month-old son in a Delaware hospital parking lot. He has denied involvement in Giordano's death. DiGirolamo faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted.

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/11/28/D94OBQO80_missing_mom/index.html

[grammybears]

I cannot believe he got out on bail. Talk about heartless. He hits the woman over the head and cuts up her body and then abandons his son in the hospital parking lot. That baby could have been hit by a car or worse crawled out to the street or picked up by someone who commits crimes against children. I hope that they go forward with the trial and he is locked away for a very long time.
I have a hard time with anybody who does not have a heart especially to your daughters child. I surely would not want my child in state custody any longer then they had to be.

[Faith]

I question our justice system when they release a person like this back into society. Even tho he is on house arrest he is a very dangerous person.

http://blog.silive.com/latest_news/2008/11/large_11-28-STATEN-ISLAND-DIGIRO.jpg

[Claycat]

OMG! This is really hard to believe. It reminds me of the Florida judge who let a rapist out on bail. Of course, he escaped again.

This man is such a miscreant!

[TigressPen]

I can't believe this slime is out on the streets! And so saddened by noone wanting to love and care for Amy's baby. How could they turn their backs on their own blood this way. An innocent child.

[gabby]

How awful! I hope the little boy is doing ok. Poor child. He's in my prayers.

[Amusedtdth]

Thats New Jersey for ya folks...this state is the ultimate pits! Yet they will keep the petty thief locked up until doomsday but can't keep a murderer behind bars. We have the worst judicial system in the US
moo-but probably right!

[grammybears]

I don"t understand either the family not wanting to take this little boy. It sounds really cold hearted to me. I was very upset when I found out this guy was out of jail. I pray that the trial starts soon and he is put right where he belongs.

jmoo

[Nut44x4]

'Missing mom' murder suspect indictedJanuary 9, 2009
TRENTON, N.J. - A married man accused of killing his mistress and dumping her dismembered body in a Staten Island pond was indicted Friday on a first-degree murder charge.

Rosario DiGirolamo also was charged with fourth-degree tampering with evidence in the indictment handed up by a Mercer County grand jury. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
An arraignment date has not been scheduled.

The indictment alleges the 34-year-old former Millstone resident killed 27-year-old Amy Giordano in June 2007. She was last seen shopping for groceries with DiGirolamo and their infant son.

DiGirolamo was released from the Mercer County Jail in late November after posting a $1 million bond.

Also named in the indictment was John A. Russo Jr., 44, of Staten Island, a friend of DiGirolamo who led authorities to the body. He was charged with one count of fourth-degree tampering with evidence and could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors allege that DiGirolamo hit Giordano over the head and then chopped up her body with a hacksaw after she was dead. They say he then stuffed some of the remains in a suitcase and dropped it in the pond on June 9.

DiGirolamo then drove the couple's 11-month-old son to a Delaware hospital, where he abandoned the boy in a parking lot because he could no longer afford to support two households. When discovered at the hospital by a nurse, the child had a handwritten note pinned to his diaper that called him "John Vincent" and said his caregiver had no job or health insurance.

The boy was soon identified after a tipster recognized him as Giordano's child. However, there was no trace of her until authorities were led to the pond in March 2008 by Russo.

Giordano was living with the couple's son in an apartment in Hightstown when she vanished. Authorities said DiGirolamo was paying the $850 a month rent and was frequently seen at the apartment.

Shortly after Giordano disappeared, DiGirolamo abandoned his family, quit his job and flew to Italy, where he remained for about six weeks before returning to face child abandonment charges. He later pleaded guilty and was fined.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--missingmom0109jan09,0,766009.story

[Nut44x4]

New Jersey man enters not-guilty plea in killing of Staten Island woman
Monday March 09, 2009, 7:54 PM

The New Jersey man accused of killing and dismembering his lover, then dumping her remains in a West Shore pond, pleaded not guilty today to charges of first-degree murder and evidence tampering.

Rosario DiGirolamo, 34, faces life in prison if convicted of the brutal slaying of 27-year-old Willowbrook native Amy Giordano, with whom he had an extramarital affair that produced a son.

At the three-minute arraignment in New Jersey Superior Court in Trenton, N.J., DiGirolamo was silent as attorney Jerome Ballarotto entered the plea.

DiGirolamo -- who was married to another woman at the time of the alleged crime but is now divorced -- is confined to his parents' home in Brooklyn on a $1 million bond.

He must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and was forced to surrender his passport.

He faces life in prison if convicted.

Authorities contend that DiGirolamo killed Ms. Giordano in June 2007 and disposed of Ms. Giordano's remains in Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Charleston.

He also ditched their son in the parking lot of a Delaware hospital before fleeing to Italy from Newark Liberty International Airport.

Giordano's 1998 Lexus sedan was eventually found ditched on a Baden Place in Midland Beach.

Giordano's close friend, 44-year-old John Russo of Eltingville, led investigators to the woman's body in March 2008. Her skeletal remains were found stuffed in a ragged suitcase and plastic bags at the bottom of murky waters.

Russo was indicted on one count of fourth-degree tampering with evidence and faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/new_jersey_man_enters_notguilt.html

[sarahhod]

DiGirolamo, accuser enter not guilty pleas

Story at Link:- http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090310/NEWS01/903100337

[Amusedtdth]

I really hope the jury sees this man (and I use this term only because I can't call him what I'd like.) for what I believe he is; a spineless murdering coward. There was no reason on Gods green earth to do what he did to Amy and then tops it off by abandoning his son in a parking lot to boot! Put him away LWOP!
moo