A man is shot through a kitchen window In the cold, early morning hours of New Year's Eve 1977, a senseless act of violence shattered the quiet life of a 74-year-old Caucasian male named Rico Joseph Mascherana in Salt Lake City, Utah. Unaware of the danger lurking outside, he was occupied with a simple household task, making repairs under his kitchen sink at his home located at 3250 W. 3500 S.
It was then that the sharp report of a gunshot pierced the tranquility of the morning, fired from outside his house and through the kitchen window.
Initially, Mascherana only registered loud pops, not immediately comprehending the gravity of what had just occurred. He stood up and made his way to the front porch to investigate the source of the noise. It was only then that the searing pain of a gunshot wound made him realize he had been injured. He retreated back into the perceived safety of his home to call for help.
Despite the life-threatening injuries he sustained, Rico Joseph Mascherana fought for his life for several months. However, the secondary complications from the shooting proved to be too much for his body to overcome. On March 22, 1978, he succumbed to his injuries, his death a delayed consequence of the inexplicable violence that had found him in his own home.
The investigation into the shooting of Rico Joseph Mascherana has left authorities with more questions than answers. Robbery did not appear to be a motive, as nothing was taken from his residence. The case has since gone cold, and decades later, it remains an unsolved homicide. There have been no arrests, and no suspects have ever been publicly identified, leaving a lingering mystery surrounding the tragic and untimely death of an elderly man in his own home.
