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. Their relationship was going well when Danielle's ex-husband began attempting to rekindle their romance. Do you have information that could bring resolution to this case? Their disappearances are being investigated as a double homicide, possibly a murder-for-hire. Its easy to see why the couple might have been a good match. 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. Danielle has a tattoo on her lower back of "flowers." When asked if their son could still be alive somewhere, Marge waved a hand. A single dad, he moved from Jersey to North and then South Carolina, and also from car to condo sales. On February 26th, 2005, the Camden Courier-Post ran a story with the headline Mt. He looks me straight in the eye. We're looking very closely at a murder-for-hire scenario," said FBI spokeswoman Jerri Williams. 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. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Richard Petrone Sr. considered the admission from the FBI a small victory. Is it either of those things? But behind the scenes, his mother insisted he stay on message: Until some evidence directly indicated that Danielle and Richard were dead, there was no reason to think they werent alive. They were even overheard making plans for the next day. Everyones gut says pretty much the same thing. What happened to Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr.? 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. 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. Friends also swarmed into the picture. Richards camp pointed to Danielles estranged husband, Joe Imbo, and their rough divorce. You may have been wondering earlier, where was Danielles son while she was out Saturday night? 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. 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. Just days before he vanished, Petrone told his father he had angry words with Joe Imbo over the phone. 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? What access did you have? We can go in any direction at all, because there are no tracks or markers. 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). We were sitting by the bar, and when they left we just hugged and said goodbye. 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. About six weeks in, one got hold of John. Their case was episode 11 of season 8 of the TV show Disappeared with the episode named "A Bridge Too Far". Danielles brother, also John Ottobre, named after their father, arrived at her Mt. Pincus, fearing a second tragedy, ordered a search. After Danielle disappeared, police informed her family that Joe had his wifes cell-phone passcode, and that hed listened to her voicemail. But people who knew him say he was more of a bruiser, lumping enemies up rather than killing them. Daniel If theres any hope of finding answers in a case like this, we have to narrow the scope of the investigation. Her brother, John Ottobre, later said, She wouldnt have missed that. This is how murder and disappearances destroy families. 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. But the evidence, or lack of it, suggested a very particular kind of crime. But he told his parents how he felt. That night, John and Richard Petrone Sr. set out on a nightlong drive, John behind the wheel, rolling slowly along darkened city streets, tracing and retracing every major highway route and side road leading from Philly to Mount Laurel. "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]. Not likely. On the night they vanished, Danielle and Richard had met some Friends at a bar named Abilene's on the 400 Block of South Street in Philadelphia. "[11], In March 22, 2022, a private search and recovery dive team, Adventures with Purpose, announced they were actively working on the case. Joe kept pressing, into the winter of 2005, when he came over; they argued. Thirty-four year old Danielle Imbo was going through a divorce and raising her eighteen month old son. You have to act. When I ask him about Danielles singing voice, his eyes brim with tears. Unfortunately, none of them had their heads in that place. Imbo and her boyfriend,Richard Petrone, were last seen at Abilene's (sometime's spelled "Abeline's" or "Abiline's"), a bar and restaurant in the 400 block of South Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 2005. What is known about Joe Imbo, who was Danielle's estranged husband at the time (22:20). Accessed 24 May 2022. But I felt like I had to do it for my mother.. The visits, he says, are both amazing and awful, because the boy sings like his mother, and his face is so much like hers that he seems to project her like a hologram back out into the world. And when she sang Me and Bobby McGee, all that smoke erupted; she could slay any room with her Janis Joplin wail. Listen to "Danielle Imbo & Richard Petrone Jr." on Spreaker. She and Richard Sr. had long-since grieved their son. We have to increase the probability of success by chasing down the most likely solutions first, and as such, we need to know what is the nature of this disappearance? Weve all seen Philadelphia depicted on the screen a thousand times; the steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art so famous from the Rocky movies, Independence Hall where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed, and more commonplace but equally character-defining rowhouses shoulder-to-shoulder in working class (and some would say gentrified) neighborhoods. 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. She fronted a rock band around New Jersey and boasted a singers outgoing personality, and after the trouble shed had with her estranged husband, shed responded to Richards gentler approach. Now. So when Danielle disappeared, I felt like I was the man of the family, the younger Ottobre says. It is possible whomever was driving the vehicle was a little impaired and just made a costly error a wrong turn, a slip of a foot off the brake pedal. Youre just not good at your job. It was a normal kind of night, Valentino said. Cold case. "They vanished," John Ottobre [told the Philadelphia Daily News.] 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. In February 2005, Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone walked out of a South Street bar and disappeared. 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. But the different outlooks between the two families the Ottobres pressing hope, the Petrones, acceptance confused the girl, and tensions arose. 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. The FBI announced yesterday that investigators believe that Richard Petrone and his girlfriend Danielle Imbo [] might have been killed in a "murder-for-hire" plot. 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.. 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/. 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. If, as the FBI maintained, this was a murder-for-hire, the person who hired the hitman likely furnished him with a description of Richards Dakota. It was also featured on the podcast Women & Crime in December 2021. The two clicked instantly. People who got hammered and had a lost weekend at a club. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. A police officer tried to prepare John: No one, he said, is ever going to find anything.. In the fall of 2021 they took on 36 missing persons cases and actually found 11 missing people. Through her best friend, Christine, she reconnected with her high school crush, Christine's older brother, thirty-five year old, single father Richard Petrone. Danielle and Richard had been dating, but they were on a break. Petrone and Imbo have one child each; Imbo has a toddler son and Petrone has a teenage daughter. Since their disappearance, there has been no activity on Imbo's or Petrone's cell phones or personal finances. There are a million Hollywood reasons like that. I wouldnt be able to live with myself this long after such a heinous thing, or look my son in the eye.. Its awful. Its one of my biggest fears that hes gonna resent me, he told me, drooping forward like a dying flower at the thought that he might one day find his sons judgment placed on him. Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr. "Petrone Family Seeks Closure in 2005 Cold case", "FBI Seeks Information On 2005 Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone", "Adventures With Purpose Confirms They're Working On Richard Petrone, Danielle Imbo Case From 2005", "EPISODE 4: RICHARD PETRONE & DANIELLE IMBO", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disappearance_of_Danielle_Imbo_and_Richard_Petrone_Jr.&oldid=1128688649, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 12:27. "The FBI decided to come out with something that we've felt has been the case from day one, that it was a murder. But since their separation, Danielle Imbo had discovered a new confidence as a single mom. 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. 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. In April, police said publicly they did not believe the couple simply ran away, which eliminated one possibility. A lot of time had passed but the police were finally making a good show of it. Laurel Woman, 34, missing since Feb. 19. Camden Courier-Post, 26 02 2005, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102465632/. Petrone's black Dodge Dakota pickup truck, the vehicle he was driving that night, also has never been found. 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. Imbo was carrying a two-handle black purse at the time of her disappearance. Danielle Imbo, 34, of Mount Laurel, and her friend Richard Petrone, Jr., 35, of Philadelphia, were last seen on Feb. 19, 2005 leaving a bar near 5th and South streets. I want to thank you, he will say. Really naive. With no arrests and no one officially declared a suspect, friends and family on both sides began to speculate. His mom had called and said Danielle missed her hair appointment at 11 am. Laurel woman, 34, missing since Feb. 19th.. 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. 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/. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. That there was foul play. He also believes multiple people know. Shed met her husband, Joe, when he needed a new car, after his clunker broke down. Oct 10, 2014 - On the night of February 19, 2005, Danielle Imbo, 34, and Richard Petrone, 35, vanished. There was no sign of Danielle, Richard, or Richards truck. 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. Is it? It was good to hear them say that on the record, so there really can't be any confusion about what's happened.". Unfortunately, in this case, we cant do that because nobody has any idea where Richard was parked. No way.. But the gulf left by Richards passing sits between them and the rest of the world, enormous and untraversable. She has worked as a loan mortgage processor. The truck must be in a body of water somewhere. When he asks about his mom, we tell him she is an angel in heaven, says John. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. Five years ago, at the relatively young age of 37, he suffered a heart attack. I have a conscience. 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. South Street is a single-lane one-way street with a parking lane on each side, bordered closely with business storefronts. Neither the couple, nor the truck, were ever seen again spark If I was them, I wouldnt want to be around me either.. 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. We' re aggressively pursuing a scenario that's based on leads and tips we've received.". He was with his dad, Joe Imbo. He even learned how to do her hair. Imbo's purse and wallet have not been located. Hangin with cops at the time of the disappearance? The Ottobres and Petrones occupy a rarer hell: Their loved ones vanished without a trace. Neither Imbo nor Petrone have accessed their bank accounts or used their credit cards or EZ-Pass cards since they went missing. The Cherry Hill High School grad wrote her own songs and performed in a rock band in her 20s and 30s, her. The pair crossed and recrossed the Walt Whitman, Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross bridges. 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. Thats what the FBI said, and it was a bombshell. He had been socializing at a gathering with family and friends who also happened to be law enforcement. He takes detours, sometimes, on the drive from Cherry Hill to Ardmore, still looking for Richards truck. There are only a couple of ways to get rid of that truck. [1] Petrone, age 35, resided in Philadelphia and worked at his family's bakery. I feel 99.867 percent that they are not within this area.. Shortly before she disappeared, Imbo told her husband and Petrone that she wanted "space" from both of them; she was reportedly considering ending her relationship with Petrone altogether. But hes getting older, and I dont know how long that can last., VITO ROSELLI, THE FBI AGENT charged with ending all of this, doesnt try to hide his feelings. The two were family friends who had dated as teenagers before they began an on-again, off-again relationship as adults. Mt. 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. [2] The couple had been involved in what family and friends describe as an "on again, off again" romantic relationship. Their moms enjoyed a friendship of their own. "We haven't found anything to indicate foul play, but all of our options remain open," said Capt. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. The Kings Speech: What Kids Should Know About MLKs Dream, Your Guide to This Weeks Eagles-Giants Playoff Game. Not even the best-funded investigation can run down every thread of every possibility. Danielle Imbos loved ones wondered about Richard Petrone, claiming he was rough around the edges and suggesting he perhaps bore some gambling debt or Mob tie that could have gotten him and Danielle killed. She lived on Dunbarton Road in Mount Laurel in southern New Jersey in 2005; Petrone lived in South Philadelphia. Here's everything we know about what happened to Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone. Also, he didnt need to incur a capital murder charge when drug dealing provided so much of what he dearly wanted: money. Anyone might wonder if, in time, those questions will grow pointed. The Petrones, [Danielles] family and one dogged FBI special agent continue to hope for a break, something that can lift the fog and let them ultimately know where the road took the two. He orders egg whites. They hadnt spoken since she broke things off, blowing right through Valentines Day without even a text message. Danielle and Richard were not the type to abandon their kids, and nobody had any reason to suspect either of them were depressed or considering suicide in any way. [4][8], Since 2008, the FBI has been investigating the disappearance as a possible murder for hire, but has not named any suspects. "I don't have evidence to arrest Joe" is all he says. Authorities have questioned associates of both people. And he worked alongside his father at Viking Pastries in Ardmore, attending culinary school to learn how to build towering wedding cakes. 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. Their loved ones stated they would never have voluntarily abandoned their families, whom they were close to. 215-686-3013, Mount Laurel Township Police Department Cmon, he told me over the phone before I arrived, its been nine years. What if Richard and Danielle decided to go park down on the piers and make out a bit? He preferred his Crown Royal straight, his beer Yuengling, and his clothes casual sweatpants and t-shirts. At the time, Danielle was married to her husband JoeImbo, but they were estranged, and Danielle was in the process of separating from him. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He has told little Joe that his mother disappeared. They dont make the papers every day. His hair was once coal-black, but hes 42 now, and big patches of gray sprout at the sides of his head. 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. It was not a willful disappearance. Witnesses stated that the couple left the bar at about 11:45p.m. en route to Imbo's New Jersey home. 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/. John paid $1,200 to get a Camden police officer to take him up in a helicopter to search. Now I know what real love is, she told friends. Richard, a NASCAR fan, planned to watch the Daytona 500. A detective embarks on a missing-persons case with every possible end in sight. It could be, but most agree its unlikely. We used to be fun, and now were always sad. He just cant find the trail leading from the crime back to its perpetrators. 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. But Ottobre was already driving toward the city. THE LOST DOG CAFE sits on a side road amidst a grove of palm trees on Folly Beach, a little resort town (population 2,600) near Charleston, South Carolina. Thecomplete lack of evidence has even led the FBI to speculate that they may have been targets of a professional hit. RICHARD PETRONE. FBI.gov, https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/richard-petrone. Entering this subject, the story of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, is like entering a field of misery, a pall so unrelenting that the only thing that might counterbalance all this pain is something unworldly, some kind of magic. By early-March, a reward fund had already grown to $12,000 for information on the whereabouts of Danielle and Richard. I dont think Ill stop till shes found., The police have warned him: Danielle and Richard may have been incinerated, or left inside Petrones truck and run through a compactor.

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