A Florida man has been indicted in the 15-year-old cold case murder of his uncle in New York City, thanks to a breakthrough in DNA technology and a discarded plastic fork.
Anthony Scalici, 41, of Boynton Beach, Florida, was indicted by a grand jury in Queens on a second-degree murder charge in the death of his uncle, Rosario Prestigiacomo. Prestigiacomo, 64, was found stabbed to death in his Queens home in February 2009.
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The case went cold for over a decade until investigators recently matched DNA found on a plastic fork discarded by Scalici in Florida with DNA found at the crime scene. The match was made possible by advancements in DNA technology and the use of public genealogy databases.
“This indictment serves as a reminder that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to seeking justice for victims,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “We hope that this development brings some measure of closure to the family of Rosario Prestigiacomo.”
According to the district attorney’s office, Scalici was identified as a suspect early in the investigation, but there was not enough evidence to charge him at the time. In February of this year, detectives from the NYPD and the Boynton Beach Police Department surveilled Scalici and were able to retrieve the discarded fork. The DNA on the fork matched the unknown DNA found under Prestigiacomo’s fingernails and at the crime scene.
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Scalici was arrested in May and extradited to New York, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently being held without bail.
The case is a testament to the power of DNA technology and the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing justice for victims of violent crime. It also serves as a warning to criminals that they can never truly escape the consequences of their actions.pen_sparktunesharemore_vert
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