On a spring day in April of 1951, the body of Philip Mangano, a 53-year-old Italian-American male, was discovered in a marshland area of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn, New York. A woman on a fishing boat happened upon the grisly scene while walking through the tall grass. Mangano had been shot three times, with wounds to his neck and face. His body was found partially dressed, wearing a shirt, shorts, undershirt, and a tie with a gold clip, but notably missing his pants and shoes.
Investigators noted the cleanliness of his socks, leading them to believe he had been killed elsewhere and transported to the marsh. A rope found near the body suggested it had been used to carry him to the location where he was ultimately found.
The discovery of Philip's body coincided with the disappearance of his brother, Vincent Mangano, who was the boss of the Mangano crime family. Philip himself was a high-ranking member, serving as a caporegime and consigliere within the organization. The brothers were last seen on April 19, 1951, the very day Philip’s body was found. Vincent Mangano was never seen again and was eventually declared legally dead.
While no one was ever officially arrested or charged in the murders of Philip and Vincent Mangano, it was widely believed within underworld and law enforcement circles that Albert Anastasia, the family's underboss, was responsible for their deaths. The motive was thought to be a power grab by Anastasia, who had long-standing tensions with the Mangano brothers. Anastasia subsequently took control of the crime family.
During the investigation, police interviewed numerous high-profile mob figures, including Frank Costello and Joe Adonis, but gleaned no actionable information. Adonis reportedly suggested that Philip Mangano may have been killed over an affair, but no evidence was found to support this claim. Philip's son offered another theory, suggesting his father was killed because he was attempting to leave the Mafia and had been looking into legitimate business ventures in Virginia. Despite the various theories and strong suspicions surrounding Anastasia, the murders of Philip and Vincent Mangano officially remain unsolved.
