In the autumn of 2017, the community of Poughkeepsie, New York, was shaken by the tragic death of Lana Florio. A 56-year-old Caucasian woman, Florio was fatally shot in the head on October 3, 2017. The incident occurred in the seemingly tranquil setting of the Pleasant Valley Trout and Game Club on Salt Point Turnpike. Deputies from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 12:45 p.m. and found Florio critically injured.
Despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Florio's death quickly led to an arrest. Rosario Curcio, a 70-year-old former pizzeria owner from Millbrook, was taken into custody at the game club without incident. Authorities charged him with second-degree murder. It was revealed that Curcio and Florio had been in a long-term relationship for many years, but had broken up a few weeks prior to the shooting. Friends indicated that both were avid sport shooters and frequented local clubs.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Rosario Curcio initially entered a plea of not guilty. However, on January 8, 2018, he changed his plea to guilty of first-degree manslaughter. A month later, on February 5, 2018, Curcio was sentenced to 23 years in state prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. The case concluded, leaving a somber mark on the community and a tragic end to a long-standing relationship.
