Cement shoes

Last updated

Cement shoes, concrete shoes, or Chicago overcoat [1] is a method of murder or body disposal, usually associated with criminals such as the Mafia or gangs. It involves weighing down the victim, who may be dead or alive, with concrete and throwing them into water in the hope the body will never be found. In the US, the term has become a tongue-in-cheek euphemism for a threat of death by criminals. While a common trope in fiction, only one real-life case has ever been authenticated.

Contents

Cement shoes

Cement shoes involve first binding, incapacitating or killing the victim and then placing each foot into a bucket or box, which is then filled with wet concrete (a mixture of cement powder, rock, water and sand), or even simply cement powder and water. Typically in films and novels, the victim is still alive as they watch the concrete harden, heightening the torture and drama. [2] [3] After the concrete sets, the victim is thrown into a body of water such as a river, lake or the ocean.

Real-life incidents

Despite being a theme in Hollywood movies like Lady in Cement and books like E. L. Doctorow's Billy Bathgate , whether such a cumbersome and time-consuming method of execution was practical remained in question. [2] Cement takes many hours or even days to fully harden and, until 2016, there was never a documented case—although crime historian Thomas Reppetto said there have probably been real-life examples that have never been found. [4]

In May 2016, the first and only documented case of "cement shoes" was reported. The body of Brooklyn gang member Peter Martinez, aged 28, better known on the streets as Petey Crack, washed up near Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn. His head was wrapped in duct tape, the immediate cause of his death. His feet and shins were encased in concrete set inside a five-gallon bucket. His body floated to the shore due to air in the concrete because it was not given enough time to dry before being thrown into the ocean. [5] [6] [7]

Concrete has been used as a weight to dispose of a body. In 1941, the body of Philadelphia racketeer Johnnie Goodman was found by a crab fisherman in a New Jersey creek, weighed down with an 18-kilogram (40-pound) block of concrete. [2] On August 24, 1964, the body of Ernest Rupolo, aged 52, a trigger man who informed on Vito Genovese in 1944, was found in Jamaica Bay, New York, with concrete blocks tied to his legs. [8] It is also speculated that bootlegger Rocco Perri was murdered by being fitted with cement shoes and thrown into Hamilton Harbour in 1944. [9]

The French Army allegedly used cement shoes on Algerians who were murdered on so-called "death flights" during the Algerian War. The victims were called "crevettes Bigeard  [ fr ]" 'Bigeard shrimp' after General Marcel Bigeard, who allegedly ordered the procedure. Bigeard put his victims' feet in a basin, poured quick-setting cement in and threw the person into the sea from the top of a helicopter, said Paul Teitgen, secretary general of the French police in Algiers in 1957, and notable opponent of torture during the war. [10]

Parodies

A Far Side cartoon parodied the practice, depicting a fish given "Styrofoam shoes" in order to "sleep with the humans", a reference to how drowned people are referred to as "sleeping with the fishes". [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concrete</span> Composite construction material

Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most widely used building material. Its usage worldwide, ton for ton, is twice that of steel, wood, plastics, and aluminium combined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cement</span> Hydraulic binder used in the composition of mortar and concrete

A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel (aggregate) together. Cement mixed with fine aggregate produces mortar for masonry, or with sand and gravel, produces concrete. Concrete is the most widely used material in existence and is behind only water as the planet's most-consumed resource.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mortar (masonry)</span> Workable paste that hardens to bind building blocks

Mortar is a workable paste which hardens to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units, to fill and seal the irregular gaps between them, spread the weight of them evenly, and sometimes to add decorative colours or patterns to masonry walls. In its broadest sense, mortar includes pitch, asphalt, and soft clay, as those used between bricks, as well as cement mortar. The word "mortar" comes from the Old French word mortier, "builder's mortar, plaster; bowl for mixing." (13c.).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthopedic cast</span> Medical aid for the treatment of bone fractures

An orthopedic cast, or simply cast, is a shell, frequently made from plaster or fiberglass, that encases a limb to stabilize and hold anatomical structures—most often a broken bone, in place until healing is confirmed. It is similar in function to a splint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concrete mixer</span> Device that combines cement, aggregate, and water to form concrete

A concrete mixer is a device that homogeneously combines cement, aggregate, and water to form concrete. A typical concrete mixer uses a revolving drum to mix the components. For smaller volume works, portable concrete mixers are often used so that the concrete can be made at the construction site, giving the workers ample time to use the concrete before it hardens. An alternative to a machine is mixing concrete by hand. This is usually done in a wheelbarrow; however, several companies have recently begun to sell modified tarps for this purpose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caisson (engineering)</span> Rigid structure to provide workers with a dry working environment below water level

In geotechnical engineering, a caisson is a watertight retaining structure used, for example, to work on the foundations of a bridge pier, for the construction of a concrete dam, or for the repair of ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Brudos</span> American serial killer (1939–2006)

Jerome Henry "Jerry" Brudos was an American serial killer and necrophile known as the Lust Killer and the Shoe Fetish Slayer who committed the kidnap, rape, and murder of four young women between 1968 and 1969 in Salem, Oregon. He is also known to have attempted to abduct two other young women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plasterwork</span> Construction or ornamentation done in plaster or a similar material

Plasterwork is construction or ornamentation done with plaster, such as a layer of plaster on an interior or exterior wall structure, or plaster decorative moldings on ceilings or walls. This is also sometimes called pargeting. The process of creating plasterwork, called plastering or rendering, has been used in building construction for centuries. For the art history of three-dimensional plaster, see stucco.

Death flights are a form of extrajudicial killing in which the victims are dropped to their death from airplanes or helicopters into oceans, large rivers or mountains. Death flights have been carried out in a number of internal conflicts, including by France during the 1947 Malagasy Uprising in Madagascar and the 1957 Battle of Algiers, and by the junta dictatorship during the Argentine Dirty War between 1976 and 1983. During the Bougainville conflict, PNGDF helicopters were used to dispose of corpses of detainees that had died under torture, and in some cases, still-living victims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocco Perri</span> Italian-Canadian gangster (born 1887)

Rocco Perri was an Italian-born organized crime figure in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was one of the most prominent Prohibition-era crime figures in Canada, and was sometimes referred to as "King of the Bootleggers" and "Canada's Al Capone."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salish Sea human foot discoveries</span> Detached human feet found on the Canadian coast

Since August 20, 2007, at least 20 detached human feet have been found on the coasts of the Salish Sea in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington, US. The first discovery, on August 20, 2007, was on Jedediah Island in British Columbia. Feet have been discovered on the coasts of islands in British Columbia, and in the US cities of Tacoma and Seattle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concrete degradation</span> Damage to concrete affecting its mechanical strength and its durability

Concrete degradation may have many different causes. Concrete is mostly damaged by the corrosion of reinforcement bars due to the carbonatation of hardened cement paste or chloride attack under wet conditions. Chemical damage is caused by the formation of expansive products produced by chemical reactions, by aggressive chemical species present in groundwater and seawater, or by microorganisms Other damaging processes can also involve calcium leaching by water infiltration, physical phenomena initiating cracks formation and propagation, fire or radiant heat, aggregate expansion, sea water effects, leaching, and erosion by fast-flowing water.

This is a glossary of words related to the Mafia, primarily the Sicilian Mafia and Italian American Mafia.

  1. administration: the top-level "management" of an organized crime family -- the boss, underboss and consigliere.
  2. associate: one who works with mobsters, but has not been asked to take the vow of Omertà; an almost confirmed, or made guy.
  3. bagman: a person or paymaster designated to collect or distribute illicitly gained money.
  4. barone: a baron or landlord.
  5. books, the: a phrase indicating membership in the family. If there is a possibility for membership, then the books are open. If not, the books are closed.
  6. boss: the head of the family who runs the operation. The boss also gets points from all family business; also see don, chairman.
  7. bridge: threat of death; e.g. "our former friend is walking across the bridge".
  8. button or becoming a button man: a mafia hit man; or someone who has become a made man.
  9. capo: the family member who leads a crew; short for caporegime or capodecina.
  10. capo dei capi: "boss of all [the] bosses" is a phrase used mainly by the media, public and the law enforcement community to indicate a supremely powerful crime boss in the Sicilian or American Mafia who holds great influence over the whole organization.
  11. captain: a capo.
  12. cement shoes: a method of murder or body disposal, usually associated with criminals such as the Mafia or gangs. It involves weighting down the victim, who may be dead or alive, with concrete and throwing them into water in the hope the body will never be found.
  13. clip: to murder; also to whack, hit, pop, burn, ice, put a contract out on.
  14. code of silence: not ratting on one's colleagues once one has been pinched -- no longer a strong virtue in organized crime families. Also, see omertà.
  15. comare: literally "godmother" in Southern Italian slang, usually pronounced "goomah" or "goomar" in American English: a Mafia mistress.
  16. confirm: to be made; see made guy.
  17. connected guy: an associate
  18. consigliere: the family adviser, who is always consulted before decisions are made.
  19. Cosa Nostra (Our thing): mob term for the family or Mafia
  20. crank: speed; in particular, crystal meth.
  21. crew: the group of soldiers under the capo's command.
  22. cugine: a young soldier striving to be made.
  23. don: the head of the family; see boss.
  24. earner: a member who brings in much money for the family.
  25. eat alone: to keep for oneself; to be greedy.
  26. family: an organized crime clan.
  27. forget about it (often pronounced "fuggedaboutit"): An exclamation; as the title character explains in Donnie Brasco:

    "Forget about it" is, like, if you agree with someone, you know, like "Raquel Welch is one great piece of ass. Forget about it!" But then, if you disagree, like "A Lincoln is better than a Cadillac? Forget about it!" You know? But then, it's also like if something's the greatest thing in the world, like, "Minchia! Those peppers! Forget about it!" But it's also like saying "Go to hell!" too. Like, you know, like "Hey Paulie, you got a one-inch pecker?" and Paulie says "Forget about it!" Sometimes it just means "Forget about it."

  28. friend: "a friend of mine" is an associate, "a friend of ours" is a made man.
  29. G: a grand; a thousand dollars; also see large.
  30. garbage business: euphemism for organized crime.
  31. Golden Age: The days before RICO.
  32. Goodfella: A member of the Mafia.
  33. goomar or goomah: Americanized form of comare, a Mafia mistress.
  34. goombah: an associate, especially a senior member of a criminal gang.
  35. heavy: packed, carrying a weapon.
  36. hit: to murder; also see whack.
  37. initiation or induction: becoming a made man.
  38. juice: the interest paid to a loan shark for the loan; also see vig.
  39. kick up: give a part of the income to the next up in the command chain.
  40. lam: To lay down, go into hiding.
  41. large: a thousand, a grand, a G.
  42. LCN: abbreviation for La Cosa Nostra.
  43. lupara bianca: a journalistic term to indicate a Mafia slaying done in such a way that the victim's body is never found.
  44. made man: an inducted member of the family.
  45. make one's bones: gain credibility by killing someone.
  46. mock execution: to whip someone into shape by frightening them.
  47. mattresses, going to, taking it to, or hitting the: going to war with a rival clan or family.
  48. message job: placing the bullet in someone's body such that a specific message is sent to that person's crew or family; see through the eye and through the mouth.
  49. mob, the: a single organized crime family; or all organized crime families together.
  50. mobbed up: connected to the mob.
  51. mobster: one who is in the mob.
  52. oath: becoming inducted as a made man.
  53. Omertà: to take a vow of silence in the Mafia, punishable by death if not upheld.
  54. one-way ride or taking someone for a ride: underworld for an execution method
  55. outfit: a clan, or family within the Mafia.
  56. old country: refers to Italy when used by members of the American Mafia
  57. painting houses: murdering someone
  58. pass: A reprieve from being whacked.
  59. paying tribute: giving the boss a cut of the deal.
  60. pinched: to get caught by the cops or federal agents.
  61. points: percent of income; cut.
  62. program, the: The Witness Protection Program.
  63. rat: someone who turns informant, snitches or squeals after having been pinched.
  64. RICO: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Passed in 1970 to aid the American government in clamping down on organized crime activities, its scope has since been broadened to prosecute insider traders.
  65. sent for: to be ordered to a meeting with other mob members and being whacked.
  66. shakedown: to blackmail or try to get money from someone; also to give someone a scare.
  67. shy: the interest charged on loans by loan sharks.
  68. shylock business: the business of loansharking.
  69. sitdown: a meeting, esp. with another family.
  70. soldier: the bottom-level member of an organized crime family who is made.
  71. spring cleaning: cleaning up, hiding or getting rid of evidence.
  72. straighten out, getting straightened out: becoming a made guy.
  73. tax: to take a percentage of someone's earnings.
  74. The Commission and the Sicilian Mafia Commission: two bodies, Italian-American and the Sicilian respectively, of leading Mafia members to decide on important questions concerning the actions of, and settling disputes within the Mafia.
  75. This Thing of Ours (Cosa Nostra): a mob family, or the entire mob.
  76. through the eye: a message job through the eye to say "We're watching you!"
  77. through the mouth: a message job through the mouth to indicate that someone WAS a rat.
  78. underboss: the second in command to the boss.
  79. vig: Vigorish abbr. the house's or bookie's take in gambling or the interest paid to a loan shark for the loan; also see juice.
  80. waste management business: euphemism for organized crime.
  81. whack: to murder; also clip, hit, pop, burn, put a contract out.
  82. wiseguy: a made man.
  83. zips: is a slang term often used as a derogatory slur by Italian American and Sicilian American mobsters in reference to newer immigrant Sicilian and Italian mafiosi.
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrison Graham</span> American serial killer

Harrison Frank "Marty" Graham is an American serial killer who murdered seven women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between mid-1986 to mid-1987, keeping their remains in his apartment. In 1988, he was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to death, but his sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment. Graham lived less than a mile and a half away from the home of another murderer, Gary M. Heidnik, who was also arrested during the same time period for similar crimes.

Rajee Narinesingh is an American actress, LGBT activist, author, singer, and reality television personality, most widely known for her appearances on the E! Entertainment docu-series, Botched, which documented her struggles to remove cement from her face, breasts and hips after previous mismanaged fillers by a fake doctor. Most of the concrete-like substance was removed from her face after her second appearance on the show.

The Papalia crime family also known as Papalia 'ndrina, is a 'Ndrangheta organized crime family based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as well as Platì in Southern Italy and Buccinasco in Northern Italy. Another branch of the family is based in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DNA Doe Project</span> American nonprofit volunteer organization

DNA Doe Project is an American nonprofit volunteer organization formed to identify unidentified deceased persons using forensic genealogy. Volunteers identify victims of automobile accidents, homicide, and unusual circumstances and persons who committed suicide under an alias. The group was founded in 2017 by Colleen M. Fitzpatrick and Margaret Press.

<i>Tales from the Hood 3</i> 2020 American film

Tales from the Hood 3 is a 2020 American horror-comedy anthology film written and directed by Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott, executive-produced by Spike Lee, and starring Tony Todd, London Brown, Cooper Huckabee, Patrick Emmanuel Abellard, Sage Arrindell, and Lynn Whitfield. The film is the sequel to Cundieff and Scott's 2018 horror anthology Tales from the Hood 2 and tells the story of a lumbering man and a young girl on the run from "bad things" as the young girl tells him different stories to distract him from the impending danger.

The Gentleman of Heligoland is the nickname of an unidentified decedent whose body was found in the waters off Heligoland in 1994. His body showed signs of having been beaten and his death is a suspected case of murder. Another name for the unidentified decedent is North Sea Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing of Kenyatta Odom</span> Child murder in 1988

Kenyatta "KeKe" Odom, formerly known as Christmas Doe and Ware County Jane Doe, was a formerly unidentified murder victim whose decomposed remains were found in Millwood, Georgia on December 21, 1988. Her body was discovered inside a suitcase filled with cement that was placed inside of a television console and discarded on the side of a road. She was unidentified for 34 years until she was identified in November 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Ed Cray, "Ethnic and Place Names as Derisive Adjectives", Western Folklore21:1:27–34 (January 1962), p. 27-34 JSTOR   1520639
  2. 1 2 3 Colleen Long (May 5, 2016). "Cops seek killer of man who washed ashore in 'cement shoes'". CBS 3 Philadelphia. AP. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  3. ↑ Adams, Cecil (November 14, 2008). "Were 'concrete shoes' a favored technique of mob hitmen?". Washington City Paper . The Straight Dope. Archived from the original on January 21, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  4. ↑ Colleen Long (May 5, 2016). "Cops seek killer of man who washed ashore in 'cement shoes'". CBS 3 Philadelphia. AP. Retrieved August 11, 2018. "There's a lot of urban legend to this — cement shoes, concrete shoes, concrete gloves, whatever you want to call it — but it all has some sort of truth to it," said Reppetto, [...] "It started somewhere real and took off."
  5. ↑ Southall, Ashley (3 May 2016). "Man's Body, Feet Encased in Concrete, Washes Ashore in Brooklyn". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Ly, Laura. "Body in 'cement shoes' washes up in Brooklyn". CNN. Archived from the original on 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  7. ↑ "'Cement shoes' found on NYC corpse". BBC News. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Body of Informer, Tied to Concrete, Pulled From Bay". The New York Times . August 25, 1964. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  9. ↑ "April 23, 1944: Hamilton mobster Rocco Perri disappears". The Hamilton Spectator. thespec.com. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  10. ↑ Boitiaux, Charlotte (November 20, 2012). "Après deux ans de polémique, l'État "enterre" le général Bigeard". France 24 (in French). Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Far Side cartoon".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.