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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Mob Used Double-Decker Coffins To Hide Murder Victims
2003-10-07
I just thought this was a cool story
ELIZABETH, N.J. -- An undertaker aligned with the mob came up with a novel way to hide murder victims -- burying them in "double-decker" coffins underneath legitimate clients of his funeral parlor, according to a published report. A senior member of the DeCavalcante crime family, Carlo Corsentino of Elizabeth, who lived to be more than 100 years old, came up with the idea to dispose of those who didn't match his longevity. Testifying in a criminal trial in Manhattan, mob turncoat Anthony Rotondo told jurors the heavy weight of the coffins often surprised pall bearers. "The (crime) family would put the body of the murdered victim below the regular customer, thus disappearing forever," Rotondo explained to prosecutor Michael McGovern. "There would be six grown men carrying someone's 80-pound grandmother, and they looked like they were having a problem." The testimony came during the murder conspiracy trial of Girolamo "Jimmy" Palermo, a reputed acting boss of the DeCavalcante family, whose members claim to be the inspiration behind "The Sopranos" TV show. Rotondo, who has pleaded guilty to two gangland hits, said Corsentino and other old-time mobsters began using the coffins in the 1920s and '30s "when there were a lot of mob murders committed."
Posted by:Yosemite Sam

#7  Yet another case of life imitating art... Eric Von Lustbader had just such a scenario in one of his novels (I forget which one it was), where the denizens of a mob-owned funeral parlor rubbed out two members of a rival gang, embalmed them and stuck the corpses under the false bottoms of caskets. Somebody in the DeCavalcante crime family must have been a fan of the above-named author...
Posted by: Joe   2003-10-7 9:00:29 PM  

#6  Tell the Israelis to send this clip over to Yasshole under "food for thought".
Posted by: tu3031   2003-10-7 7:19:06 PM  

#5  This makes that company that sells "plus size" coffins look a bit sinister, doesn't it?
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2003-10-7 6:43:44 PM  

#4  "There would be six grown men carrying someone’s 80-pound grandmother, and they looked like they were having a problem."

...whose members claim to be the inspiration behind "The Sopranos" TV show.


"She's dead to me."
Posted by: Raj   2003-10-7 6:43:33 PM  

#3  Family thought they were going to blame it on Mcdonalds too.
Posted by: Bill   2003-10-7 5:32:44 PM  

#2  Why would Danny Devito need a favor?

Hey, there would be plenty of extra room in his coffin.

Would the family of the 80 year old grandmother get a reduced rate?
Posted by: Super Hose   2003-10-7 5:26:22 PM  

#1  "Someday, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day accept this justice as gift on my daughter's wedding day."

Looks like Don Vito called in that favor.
Posted by: Steve   2003-10-7 3:32:57 PM  

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