MISSING: Amelia Jo "Molly" Zelko

 

On September 25, 1957 47-year-old Amelia Jo Zelko who also went by Molly left her Newspaper's office on Cass St. in Joliet Illinois just before 11:30. A bartender claimed she stopped in for a drink and used the payphone on her way home. She then parked in front of her second-floored apartment on 413 Buell Ave.

Someone claimed to have seen some men bury a woman near where Zelko lived. Zelko's shoes were found and her friends stated that it meant she was in danger. She would kick off her shoes and run if she felt in danger. Police thought there may have been a ransom, but no note arrived.

Amelia was a newspaperwoman for the weekly paper in Joilet. She would blast mobsters, political corruption on the front page. She was also a big advocator against gambling. It's unknown if her work at the newspaper was the reason for her disappearance, but she did male a few enemies doing so.

She was reported legally dead in 1964.

Amelia was a white female and 47 years old at the time. She was 5'4" and 5'6" and around 120 lbs. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a hat and a diamond ring and a bracelet they were worth $5,000 at the time.

SOURCES:
NamUs
Doe Network

The Kidnapping and Murder of Joseph (Giuseppe) Varotta

On May 24, 1921, 5-year-old Joseph (Giuseppe) Varotta was given a penny from his mother. He was last seen in the Italian community his family lived in Manhattan, New York. He disappeared this day and soon after a ransom letter showed up in the mail.

It was soon found that the boy was kidnapped by the Black Hand gang. The group was known for the extortion. They wanted $2,500 in exchange for the boy. The community could not raise the money though and unfortunately, Joseph was never seen alive again.

On June 11, 1921, the body of the young boy was found by a paper-mill worker. His body had washed ashore the Hudson River at Piermont, New York. It was just south of where the Tappan Zee Bridge is now.  It was found that he was thrown in the river and drowned. His father identified him through his clothes and teeth.

Three members of the Blackhand gang were tried and sentenced to death. Later Governor Alfred E. Smith sentenced them to life in prison instead.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave                              
News Day
The New York Herald
Daily News

Unsolved Murder of Harold "Murph" Murphy Cohen

On November 3, 1949, 38-year-old Harold" Murph" Cohen was reported missing to the Denver, Colorado Police Department. Murph would leave a note for his wife that he wouldn't be seen for several days. He had also told his wife that he was going to a special dinner. He reportedly attended a ceremonial dinner at Gaetano's in Denver prior to his disappearance. At the time he was a known gambler and was a fight referee.

It's believed that Murph was attacked at the dinner or right after. He was hit in the head and had his legs and arms bound. He would then be tied to railroad iron and dumped into Blue Lake alive. His body wasn't discovered until Feb. 11, 1950.  They intended for his body to sink to the bottom of the lake, but it landed on a ledge allowing him to be found.

SOURCES:

Colorado Bureau of Investigations

Jefferson County, Colorado

Fort Collins Coloradoan Feb. 13, 1950 

Greeley Daily Tribune Feb 13, 1950

St. Louis Post-Dispatch April 17, 1950

Murder of Michael Vengalli

On the evening of July 28, 1931, 5-year-old Michael Vengalli was playing on E. 107 St. in Manhattan, New York with some of his friends. At this time the Coll-Shultz gang war was happening and the place, a social club, they were playing in front of belonged to members of the Dutch Schultz mob. At the same time that Michael and his friends were out there a few men from the Dutch Schultz mob were too.

This was when a car with Mad Dog Vincent Coll and his men drove by. As they drove by they shot off a machine gun hoping to take out the men. Instead of taking out the men Michael and four of his friends were shot. Michael instantly died from his wound in his stomach and the other four were in serious condition but survived. 

On October 4th Coll was arrested. In December of 1931 Mad Dog Vincent Coll was taken to trial. People called the killers baby killers. He was acquited of this crime, but his freedom didn't last long as a few months later on Feb. 8, 1932, Schultz's men trapped him in a manhattan drugstore phone booth and machine-gunned him to death.


SOURCES:
Find a Grave
Youtube- Video of Michael's funeral
Daily News
Harlem World