Member of the notorious biker gang Warlocks convicted of shooting a would-be member in a cemetery before dragging his body to a crypt where it was hidden for three years
A member of an outlaw motorcycle club accused of killing an affiliate member and leaving his body in a crypt in a Philadelphia cemetery is convicted of murder and other charges.
Michael DiMauro, 51, who represented himself at the trial, will be sentenced later this month to life without the possibility of parole, District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement.
DiMauro shot David Rossillo Jr., 33, four times at Mount Moriah Cemetery in December 2017, prosecutors said, then tied a rope around his neck, dragged him across the grounds in a car and left him in an underground crypt.
Rossillo Jr. went missing for nearly three years before his body was found in April 2020, when authorities searched for Keith Palumbo, another Warlocks biker who had disappeared.
Two cooperating witnesses implicated DiMauro in the murder.
Michael DiMauro, 51, who represented himself at trial, will be sentenced later this month to life without parole for the shooting of David Rossillo Jr. (pictured), 33, four times in December 2017 at Mount Moriah Cemetery
The body of Rossillo Jr. was also found in the crypt, authorities said, and it’s still not clear why either man was killed.
“We are committed to bringing justice to cold cases like this,” Krasner said in a statement.
The jury reached its verdict within hours of deliberating.
“I believe these convictions should send a message to all individuals who believe they can kill others and hide the evidence of their heinous crimes: We will solve these cases and we will bring you to justice,” Krasner added.
On April 3, 2020, the remains of Rossillo Jr. found next to Palumbo, a musician.
DNA extracted from their remains led to their identification by investigators in August of that same year. DiMauro was arrested just a month later.
Michael DeLuca, 38, an alleged member of Warlocks MC, was arrested in 2021 and pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the Palumbo murder.
Three other co-conspirators — Donna Morelli, 51, Buck Evans, 49, and Billy Gibson, 50, — previously pleaded guilty to their roles in helping to dispose of the bodies.
DiMauro shot David Rossillo Jr., 33, four times at Mount Moriah Cemetery in December 2017, prosecutors said, then tied a rope around his neck, dragged him across the grounds in a car and left him in an underground crypt
The body of Rossillo Jr. was also found in the crypt, authorities said, and it’s still not clear why either man was killed
Rossillo was missing for nearly three years before his body was found in April 2020, when authorities searched for Keith Palumbo (pictured)
Michael DeLuca, 38, an alleged member of Warlocks MC, was arrested in 2021 and pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in Palumbo’s murder
Evans, who has a long criminal history, was suspected of helping to cover up Palumbo’s murder.
Gibson and Morelli were convicted of abusing the corpse for allegedly assisting in the disposal of Palumbo’s body.
Palumbo was fatally shot in the face in February at a Philadelphia building owned by the infamous Warlocks Motorcycle Club, according to police. Philadelphia investigator reported first.
His body was discovered two months later in a crypt in the closed Mount Moriah Cemetery, along with that of an unidentified man.
After his arrest, Evans was questioned by police and allegedly told them that DeLuca had shot Palumbo in the face in front of him.
According to one probable explanation, Evans said he was so close to Palumbo that his blood splattered on him.
The document makes no mention of a possible motive behind the murder.
DeLuca then reportedly went to Morelli’s house, told her he killed Palumbo, and asked her for help in disposing of his body.
Three other co-conspirators — Donna Morelli, 51, of Philadelphia, and Buck Evans (pictured), 49, and Billy Gibson, 50, both of Upper Darby — previously pleaded guilty to their roles in disposing of the bodies
“We are committed to bringing justice to cold cases like this,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement.
On April 3, 2020, Rossillo’s remains were found next to Palumbo, a musician
DNA extracted from their remains led to the identification of Palumbo and Rossillo Jr. in August of that same year. by researchers
Morelli allegedly told police she and the other suspects threw the victim’s body into the crypt, then burned Evans’ blood-stained clothes.
When Palumbo’s body was discovered on April 3, a second corpse was found in the same crypt, later revealed to belong to Rossillo Jr. used to be.
According to an obituary, Rossillo Jr. dreams and ambitions to become a personal trainer. He enjoyed eating healthy and taking care of his body’, as well as spending time with family and friends.