Case Details
- Photo URLs:
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- Missing Since:
- Missing Since 07/10/1994
- Missing From:
- Missing From Brooklyn, New York
- Classification:
- Classification Endangered Missing
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- Race White
- Date of Birth:
- Age:
- Age 21 years old
- Height and Weight:
- Height and Weight 6’2, 230 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description:
- Clothing/Jewelry Description A white t-shirt, blue shorts, white sneakers and a silver TAG watch.
- Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Black hair, brown eyes. Gargano’s nickname is The Gorilla.
- Details of Disappearance:
- Joseph Gargano vanished on July 10, 1994, after leaving his Brooklyn home to go jet skiing. He was a Pace University student. The main suspect is John Pappa, a member of the Colombo crime family, who is serving life in prison for other murders.
Informants say Pappa killed Gargano. The motive seems tied to a feud: Pappa’s best friend was murdered, and he believed Gargano’s cousin, Anthony Dellavecchia, was involved. Dellavecchia was connected to a rival mob group, the Luchese family, making him untouchable. Pappa allegedly decided to kill Gargano as revenge.
Things got complicated when Gargano got into a bar fight with a Luchese associate, Michael De Rosa, a few days before his disappearance. De Rosa threatened Gargano’s life. Pappa may have hoped to pin Gargano’s death on De Rosa.
Years later, a Luchese member said Pappa bragged about the murder and said the body would never be found. Police investigated tips placing Gargano’s body at an auto shop and later an industrial park, but found nothing. Another mobster, “Big Dino” Calabro, was even charged but acquitted.
The Gargano family has faced threats for their persistent search for answers but continues to seek justice. Everything points to a mob-related killing, though Pappa has always denied involvement.
- Agency:
- New York Police Department 646-610-6914
- Source Links:
This person was missing Missing Since 07/10/1994