On April 26, 1979, the body of 62-year-old Anthony Russo, a male of White / Caucasian descent, was discovered in a lavish room at the Harbor Island Health Spa in Long Branch, New Jersey. Russo, a reputed figure in the Genovese crime family, had been shot three times in the head in what authorities deemed a typical mob contract killing. At the time of his death, he was on an Easter furlough from prison, where he was serving a sentence for refusing to testify before the State Commission of
Investigation. His body was found lying face up on his bed, surrounded by stuffed pussycats.
The investigation into Russo's murder led federal authorities to identify three suspects: Thomas 'Pee Wee' DePhillips, a capo in the Genovese family; Anthony DeVingo, a soldier and enforcer for the same family; and Joseph 'Joe Z' Zarro, an alleged Genovese associate. Despite these identifications, no charges were ever filed in connection with the murder due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The murder weapon was never recovered, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while suspecting DeVingo, could not build a strong enough case to proceed with a prosecution.
It is widely believed that Russo's murder was ordered by his associates within the Genovese crime syndicate. One theory suggests that the hit was retribution for Russo's 'big mouth,' a sentiment reportedly overheard by Ruggerio Boiardo, a capo in the New Jersey faction of the crime family. At the time of his killing, Russo was also the subject of a grand jury probe, adding another layer of complexity to the circumstances surrounding his death. His unsolved murder remains a notable event in the history of organized crime in Monmouth County.
