A member of an outlaw motorcycle club accused of killing an associate and leaving his body in a crypt in a Philadelphia cemetery has been convicted of murder and other charges.
Michael DiMauro, 51, who represented himself in court, will be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole later this month, District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement.
According to prosecutors, in December 2017, DiMauro shot 33-year-old David Rossillo Jr. four times in Mount Moriah Cemetery, then tied a rope around his neck, dragged him across the property with a car, and abandoned him in an underground crypt.
Rossillo Jr. was missing for nearly three years before his body was found in April 2020 when authorities were looking for Keith Palumbo, another Warlocks motorcycle employee who went missing.
Two cooperating witnesses implicated DiMauro in the murder.
Michael DiMauro, 51, who is representing himself in court, will be sentenced later this month to life in prison without possibility of parole for the four times he shot David Rossillo Jr. (pictured), 33, at Mount Moriah Cemetery in December 2017 has
Rossillo Jr.’s body was also found in the crypt, authorities said, and it’s still unclear why either man was killed.
“We are committed to bringing justice to unresolved cases like this,” Krasner said in a statement.
The jury announced its verdict just a few hours after the deliberations began.
“I believe these convictions should send a message to anyone who believes they can murder others and hide the evidence of their heinous crimes: we will solve these cases and bring you to justice,” Krasner added.
On April 3, 2020, the remains of Rossillo Jr. were found along with Palumbo, a musician.
DNA extracted from her remains led to her identification by investigators in August of the same year. DiMauro was arrested just a month later.
Michael DeLuca, 38, a suspected member of Warlock’s MC, was arrested in 2021 and pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in Palumbo’s murder.
Three other co-conspirators — Donna Morelli, 51, Buck Evans, 49, and Billy Gibson, 50, — previously pleaded guilty to helping dispose of the bodies.
According to prosecutors, in December 2017, DiMauro shot 33-year-old David Rossillo Jr. four times in Mount Moriah Cemetery, then tied a rope around his neck, dragged him across the property with a car, and abandoned him in an underground crypt
Rossillo Jr.’s body was also found in the crypt, authorities said, and it’s still unclear why either man was killed
Rossillo was missing for nearly three years before his body was found in April 2020 when authorities were searching for Keith Palumbo (pictured).
Michael DeLuca, 38, a suspected member of Warlock’s 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 dead body abuse for allegedly helping dispose of Palumbo’s body.
According to police, Palumbo was fatally shot in the face in February at a Philadelphia building owned by the notorious Warlocks Motorcycle Club, the Philadelphia Inquirer first reported.
His body was discovered two months later with that of an unidentified man in a crypt in the closed Mount Moriah Cemetery.
After his arrest, Evans was questioned by police and reportedly told them that DeLuca shot Palumbo in the face in his presence.
According to an affidavit, Evans said he was so close to Palumbo that he was spattered in blood.
The document does not mention a possible motive for the killing.
DeLuca then allegedly went to Morelli’s house, told her he had killed Palumbo, and asked for her help getting rid of his body.
Three other co-conspirators – Donna Morelli, 51, from Philadelphia, and Buck Evans (pictured), 49, and Billy Gibson, 50, both from Upper Darby – had previously pleaded guilty to their role in disposing of the bodies
“We are committed to bringing justice in unresolved cases like this,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement
On April 3, 2020, the remains of Rossillo were found next to Palumbo, a musician
DNA extracted from their remains led to the identification of Palumbo and Rossillo Jr. by investigators in August of the same year
Morelli allegedly told police she and the other suspects dumped the victim’s body in the crypt and then burned Evans’ blood-stained clothing.
When Palumbo’s body was discovered on April 3, a second body, later revealed to be Rossillo Jr.’s, was found in the same crypt.
According to an obituary, Rossillo Jr. “had dreams and aspirations to be a personal trainer.” He enjoyed eating healthy, taking care of his body, and enjoying time with family and friends.