Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr.

Last updated
Danielle Imbo
Born
Danielle Ottobre

August 7, 1970
DisappearedFebruary 19, 2005
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Status Missing for 19 years, 3 months and 24 days
SpouseJoe Imbo
Parents
  • John Anthony Ottobre (father)
  • Felice Corsaro (mother)
RelativesJohn Ottobre (brother)
Richard Petrone Jr.
BornAugust 29, 1969
DisappearedFebruary 19, 2005
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Status Missing for 19 years, 3 months and 24 days
Parents
  • Richard A. Petrone Sr. (father)
  • Margaret Sonsini (mother)
RelativesChristine Petrone (sister)
Alisa Petrone (sister)

Danielle (Ottobre) Imbo and Richard A. Petrone Jr. are an American couple who disappeared together on February 19, 2005, after visiting a bar on Philadelphia's South Street. Their case remains unsolved.

Contents

Background

Imbo, age 34, was a resident of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, and was separated from her husband at the time of her disappearance. [1] Petrone, age 35, resided in Philadelphia and worked at his family's bakery. [2] The couple had been involved in what family and friends describe as an "on again, off again" romantic relationship. [3] [4] [5]

On the evening of Saturday, February 19, 2005, Imbo and Petrone joined another couple for drinks at Abeline's bar and restaurant located at 429 South Street in Philadelphia. Witnesses stated that the couple left the bar at about 11:45 p.m. en route to Imbo's New Jersey home. They were last seen walking on South Street toward Petrone's parked vehicle, a 2001 Dodge pick-up truck. [6] [7]

Investigation

Imbo, Petrone, and their vehicle were not seen again after the night of February 19, 2005. Since their disappearance, there has been no activity on Imbo's or Petrone's cell phones or personal finances. Imbo had a 2-year-old son and Petrone had a teenage daughter. [8] Media accounts state that both had close relationships with their children and families and were unlikely to have voluntarily disappeared. [4] [8]

Since 2008, the FBI has been investigating the disappearance as a possible murder for hire, but has not named any suspects. [9] [10] [7]

In 2021, the disappearance continued to be investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Mount Laurel Police Department, and the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, with the FBI reporting that "an extensive investigation to date has generated some promising leads; however, neither they nor the vehicle have ever been located." [11]

On March 22, 2022, a private search and recovery dive team, Adventures with Purpose, announced they were actively working on the case. [12]

Media depictions

In 2016, their case was profiled on the podcast The Vanished . [13]

Their case was episode 11 of season 8 of the TV show Disappeared with the episode named "A Bridge Too Far".

Their case was also recapped on the podcast "Obsessed With Disappeared" in August 2022 in an episode titled "A Bridge Too Far: The Disappearance of Danielle Imbo & Richard Petrone".

Their case has been featured on several podcasts, including Crime Junkie on May 11, 2020, Women & Crime in December 2021, and The Trail Went Cold on June 5, 2024. [14]

See also

Notes

  1. Malloy, Dennis (20 February 2018). "It's Been 13 Years Since Mount Laurel Woman Went Missing". Ewing, NJ: New Jersey 101.5 Radio. Townsquare Media.
  2. "Petrone Family Seeks Closure in 2005 Cold case". Courier Post Online. Courier Post. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. Burdo, Allison (19 February 2015). "FBI on Petrone-Imbo Case". NBC 10. NBC Philadelphia. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 Flander, Scott (6 June 2005). "A Desperate Search". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia PA.
  5. Pompilio, Natalie (16 February 2006). "Mystery for Police, Agony for Families". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia PA.
  6. Fiorello, Victor (10 February 2016). "It's Been 11 Years Since Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Vanished". Philadelphia Magazine. Philadelphia PA.
  7. 1 2 Adamowski, Carrie (20 February 2018). "FBI Seeks Information On 2005 Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone". FBI, Philadelphia Field Office. FBI. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  8. 1 2 Nark, Jason (20 February 2010). "5 Years Later, Couple's Disappearance Still a Mystery". Morning Call. Allentown PA.
  9. Nark, Jason (10 February 2015). "Missing Memories: With Son, Girlfriend Gone 10 Years, Families Wonder What Might Have Been". Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 3.
  10. "Were they Murdered for Money?". ABC 10. ABC 10 Chicago. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  11. Zimmaro, Mark (2021-02-19). "FBI still looking for missing couple". South Philly Review. Newspaper Media Group. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  12. "Adventures With Purpose Confirms They're Working On Richard Petrone, Danielle Imbo Case From 2005". Philadelphia CBS Local. CBS Philadelphia. March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  13. "EPISODE 4: RICHARD PETRONE & DANIELLE IMBO". The Vanished Podcast. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  14. "Episode 382 – Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone". The Trail Went Cold. Retrieved 2024-06-12.

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