Elena Semander

popular name: José Menéndez

date_of_death: August 20, 1989

age: 45

cause_of_death: Homicide - gunshot wounds

claim_to_fame: Crime and their Victims

best_know_for: José Menéndez was an entertainment executive and was married to Kitty Menendez, a former beauty queen, school teacher and mid-level Beverly Hills socialite. Sadly Kitty and Jose will always be remembered as the murder victims of their two sons - Erik and Lyle. In August of 1989 the couple’s two sons, Lyle and Erik, drove a small white hatchback up to the house, got their weapons from the trunk and entered the house via the French doors. The first shot from a .12 gauge shotgun hit José in the back of the head and killed him instantly. They continued with two more shots, tearing open both arms. Kitty was not so lucky as they pumped 10 shots as she tried to crawl away with the final shotgun blast to the face. Lyle dialed the fake 911 call and told police they had arrived home after a movie to the grisly discovery as smoke from the gunshots still loomed in the air. But as the months passed after the execution-style deaths, police were struck by the sons’ lavish spending sprees: buying Rolex watches, private tennis lessons, expensive clothing, jewelry, a Porsche, and even a chicken wings restaurant. After two hung juries, a third trial found them guilty of murder and sentenced the two sons to life without parole.

popular name: Rocco Marinucci

date_of_death: March 15, 1982

age: 30

cause_of_death: Murdered - mob hit

claim_to_fame: Crime and their Victims

best_know_for: Rocco Marinucci was a pizza restaurant owner (Pop’s Pizza in South Philly) and a Philadelphia crime family associate. He was responsible for planting a bomb under mob boss Philip Testa's porch, killing him instantly. Rocco Marinucci worked as Peter Casella's chauffeur and bodyguard within the Philadelphia crime family, and he was recruited into the conspiracy to whack Philip Testa. On March 15, 1981, he planted a bomb on Testa's porch, killing him. Testa's son, Salvatore Testa, was given permission by Nicky Scarfo to kill those responsible for his father's death. Marinucci was killed by Testa on March 15, 1982 - exactly one year to the day since his father's murder. Marinucci's body was found on Federal Street in Southwark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with bullet wounds to the neck, chest, and head. His mouth was stuffed with three firecrackers. But don't feel too sad for Rocco - one of his associates flipped and confessed to helping Marinucci murdering his neighbors for playing their music too loud.

popular name: Vincenzo Rao

date_of_death: September 25, 1988

age: 90

cause_of_death: Natural Causes

claim_to_fame: Crime and their Victims

best_know_for: Vincenzo Rao was a Consigliere for the Lucchese crime family in New York City. In 1957, Rao was arrested with 60 other mobsters at the notorious Apalachin Meeting. During the 1963 Valachi hearings, Rao was listed as the Lucchese family's consigliere, and was convicted on perjury charges and was sentenced to five years in prison. At the same time the longtime boss Thomas Lucchese had become ill and Rao was thought as suitable successor. His chance to become the new boss never came to fruition due to his trials. When he retired in the 1970s, Rao was considered one of the wealthiest mob members due to his real estate business he used to launder money.