Australia Australia - Lucia Amenta, 70, Fawkner, Vic, 19 Jan 2008

[moreinfo]

I'd like to add that, no Italian mamma making batches of schnitzel would ever walk away from the kitchen till they were completed and refrigerated. There is no way she went for a walk half way through, there was no break and enter, nothing missing. Her husband is absent buying bread and returns home and she is missing. As silly as this may sound, IMO something happened to her when he was home and then he left. Don't laugh, but that generation, always buy there bread in the morning, you could call it a ritual, as they are very particular about buying specific breads and want to make sure they don't miss out on there pasta dura, ciabatta rolls etc.
I wonder if we have confirmation from said store about the time he purchased bread. I could be completely off track of course.
There is also gossip in the community, and again that generation are also scared to talk, not sure whether $100,000 reward will entice either .

 

[SouthAussie]

This article has the details a little different to the Herald Sun article. This one says husband left to buy milk, and that Lucia talked with a friend on the phone and was seen by a neighbour in the front yard that morning.

Family did not report her missing until that night.

Mrs Amenta was last seen alive at her Sydney Road, Fawkner, home on the morning of January 19, 2008, by her husband, Paolo, before he left for a nearby shop to buy milk.

She also spoke to a friend on the phone and was seen by a neighbour in her front yard.

Mrs Amenta's family reported her missing that night.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/p...ntas-murder-20131206-2yuls.html#ixzz2mva25RCF


Where did her husband think she'd suddenly gone when he got home with the bread/milk? And why did he take longer than normal to get the shopping? And why did the family wait all day before reporting the mysterious disappearance? I'm thinking a bit like madamehdivision ....


ETA (from old articles)
"Lucy has arthritis and finds it hard to walk long distances. She also has a heart condition and needs medication."
http://www.theage.com.au/news/natio...nto-the-silence/2008/02/09/1202234228034.html

"He said one of his mother's female friends had spoken to her shortly before her disappearance. The last thing she said was 'Dad's taking too long to get the milk, hope nothing's happened to him', then he came home and she's gone," he said."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/police-hunt-for-missing-gran-grows/story-e6frf7jo-1111115392705

 

[Ausgirl]

Seems obvious, doesn't it.

But - I can't help hoping for some other explanation, however slim the chance, though. It just guts me to think that lovely, frail old lady was murdered by those closest to her. It literally hurts, to think about it.

Poor Mrs. Amenta. And her grandbabies, missing out on nanna and her cooking.

 

[SouthAussie]

Looking at old articles from 2009, this one is pretty explicit.

Mrs Amenta's youngest son, John, 40, declined to comment on the case.

The trucking operator said detectives believe he used his mother's money to buy a Ferrari worth $300,000.

And the barrel wasn't in the creek for at least 18 months after Mrs Amenta's disappearance. Then it appeared there. That raises some questions.

Det-Insp Clark said police believed the black plastic barrel containing Mrs Amenta's body was moved recently to the creek bed, near Camp Rd.
"We know for a fact that the barrel wasn't there as of the 31st of July this year," he said.

http://www.news.com.au/national/pol...tim-lucia-amenta/story-e6frfkvr-1225792626362

 

[Ausgirl]

Good find, South Aussie!

So, it appears, it's possible that perhaps Fabio had a hard time keeping up appearances in company with his demi-famous gf? Bumped mum off, collected the payout, bought a flash car..?

Apparently the personalised number plate is really interesting...

There was mention Lucia was cooking lunch for her grandkids. I hope she really wasn't... :|

If he's guilty, Fabio has nudged himself -very- close to the top of my Australian Incredibastards list. The inquest results will be interesting.

 

[moreinfo]

from : http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/la...her-lucia-amenta/story-fni0ffnk-1226776790922
" Detective Sergeant Brent Fisher said the reward was being offered after police had "exhausted all avenues of enquiry."

However, he stressed police were "very close" to charging a person or people over the murder and just needed a small amount of information to do so.

"We are at the stage now where we've exhausted all avenues of enquiry in this investigation.

"We believe there are people out there who have information and we appeal to them to contact crime stoppers and help us solve this case.

"We are very close and that's the reason for this $100,000 reward - we are very close to solving this crime.

"There is evidence pointing to some persons of interest and some suspects. Having seen that material I believe we are very close in terms of charging someone."

Det Sgt Fisher said he thought Ms Amenta would have known her killer or killers.

"We have no motive but we believe the person or persons of interest are known to Lucia Armenta. The crime scene, nothing was disturbed, nothing taken, and there was no sign of forced entry."

He added: "This is one case the Homicide Squad would be very keen on solving."

"There is someone out there who knows what happened to Mrs Amenta and we need that person to share that information with us," Det Sgt Fisher said.

So according to the above line highlighted, they have their suspect, just need the final bit of evidence.
I wonder if Paolo Amentas alibi was confirmed by the shopkeeper (im assuming his bread purchase is from a regular baker that knows him enough to recognise him).
Strange that the family didnt attend the inquest the other day and when the reporters went over to his new premises, PA was not emotional and just had his hands up saying i dont understand what you're saying. All a bit suss to me.
this is a shorter version of what was shown on tv, about 1.00 minute into video.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/20184120/reward-for-vic-body-in-a-barrel-murder/

 

[Ausgirl]

Juicy - and slightly weird - details, via Derryn Hinch's second hand heart... Hoboy, the headline..

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/blog-wi...tammylee-sure-gets-around/20120517-1yt34.html

 

[SouthAussie]

Yesterday, her son, John, 40, remained holed up inside his Taylors Lakes house as police continued the investigation into the horror homicide.

Bizarrely, one personalised number plate on a vehicle at the property reads "GOT-OFF", while "BAIL" is the registered plate fixed to a $300,000 yellow 2001 Ferrari parked in the garage.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/glittering-tribute-to-murdered-mum/story-e6frf7jo-1225792986473#


I see what you mean about the license plate, Ausgirl.

And where the heck was Mrs Amenta for the first 18 months of her disappearance? It would take a cold, callous killer to 'store' Mrs Amenta, then later dump her in a creek. I wonder if there is a reason why she was dumped at that time .... like a business where she was kept was moving to a different premises or closing down, or someone was moving house ... or some other high risk situation where the barrel could be discovered and easily linked to the killer.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Inquest set for body-in-barrel victim Lucia Amenta

August 7, 2013

The state coroner has set aside four days in December to determine who stuffed the body of a grandmother in a barrel and later dumped it at a Melbourne creek.

The body of Lucia Amenta, 70, was discovered in a 44-gallon barrel found near Merlynston Creek in Broadmeadows in October 2009, 21 months after she was reported missing by her family.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/i...ucia-amenta-20130807-2res9.html#ixzz2bZCFw9LT

A 70 year old grandmother killed and placed in a barrel...

How heartbreaking!

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

after just a cursory read through this thread...

I have a question...

could two family members be the perps?

Just a thought... :waitasec:

 

[enzeder]

AUGUST 07, 2013
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/la...red-in-a-similar/story-fni0fee2-1226692692218

 

[Ausgirl]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/glittering-tribute-to-murdered-mum/story-e6frf7jo-1225792986473#


I see what you mean about the license plate, Ausgirl.

And where the heck was Mrs Amenta for the first 18 months of her disappearance? It would take a cold, callous killer to 'store' Mrs Amenta, then later dump her in a creek. I wonder if there is a reason why she was dumped at that time .... like a business where she was kept was moving to a different premises or closing down, or someone was moving house ... or some other high risk situation where the barrel could be discovered and easily linked to the killer.

Since John is a suspect, I feel okay in saying he was at one point president of a local car and bike club, so clearly having a classy car is a big deal for him.. He's not president any more. But yeah, there's a tidbit.

He also had a registered business name for some clothing items, as well - did he have a storage space for stock..?

I'm really curious as to how far his links to biker gangs might go, too. There's one Amenta who's a known gang member, I wonder if he's a relation. It would make sense in light of the Hinch article, eh.

And yeah, the whole 'where was she all that time' question makes me feel a bit ill. It would be interesting to see what was going on for the Amenta men and pals around the time the barrel turned up in the creek..

 

[Ausgirl]

Sorry -- just to add this thought...

IF the Amenta men are guilty of Lucia's murder (and we still don't know her actual cause of death, mind you) at worst, or just her disappearance at least...

WHY would they leave the other barrel lying around the yard of the family home? ropeller: If they're smart enough to hide a body for all that time, surely they're able to realise that this MIGHT be incriminating evidence...?

It's hard though to think of how else Lucia might have vanished like she did, and ended up in the creek.

OH -- and I meant "Derryn Hinch's second hand LIVER" not 'heart'. Derp!

 

[enzeder]

DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO LUCIA AMENTA?

FRIDAY, 06 DECEMBER 2013

Victorian Police News
http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/news/2074-do-you-know-what-happened-to-lucia-amenta

 

[enzeder]

October 29, 2009

Video: Body in barrel is grandmother Lucia Amenta
http://www.watoday.com.au/national/body-in-barrel-is-grandmother-lucia-amenta-20091029-hmub.html

 

[Marg from Oz]

Did Mrs Amenta have a lot of money ? There was mention that John alias Fabio to Ausgirl purchased a $300,000 car. Thats a he'll of a lot of money. And what's with the personalized number plates? Talk about drawing attention to yourself. Not too bright in my opinion. You would want to be inconspicuous .but then he could be big noting himself with his peers.
I must say his photos make him look the part of living a different life style to the norm. If someone is found guilty they should get double time for moving the drum around. It's bad enough to kill her but to move her around like a garbage bin is atrocious.

 

[moreinfo]

Why did the police believe that $300,000 came from Mrs Amenta. Im assuming that since it wasnt a clear transaction ie, a direct payment out of JA bank account to pay for car, this money was stashed away somewhere ie Mrs Amentas house. Hence why police originally said it was her money. Im assuming there was a substantial amount of money possibly from illegal dealings left at Mrs Amentas house. Could Mrs Amenta have been uneasy with having to be in possession of this money, did an argument erupt and get out of hand.

 

[SouthAussie]

I was wondering about the car transaction too .. if police had determined it was a cash transaction and that John couldn't show where he got the cash from.

Then I started wondering what time John (and the grandchildren?) arrived for lunch .. but I can't find that detail anywhere.

Mrs Amenta apparently went missing between 9:30am and 11am, presumably the time period her husband was gone for his longer-than-usual shopping trip.


"Mr Amenta told police he had gone to buy bread and returned to find his wife gone, leaving a lunch she was preparing for their son John on the kitchen table."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/la...her-lucia-amenta/story-fni0ffnk-1226776790922

"Mrs Amenta, who needed daily medication for arthritis and high blood pressure, left her home on January 20, 2008, in the midst of making lunch for her son and grandchildren."
http://www.smh.com.au/national/body...lucia-amenta-20091029-hnbl.html#ixzz2nAxS4mh6

"Mrs Amenta left the house between 9.30am and 11am without her coat, mobile phone or house keys."
http://www.australianmissingpersonsregister.com/Armenta.htm



ETA: Well, now I'm confused - this article said Mrs Amenta was last seen at 10:45am - and others say she disappeared between 9:30am & 11am ??

"Mrs Amenta had been missing for 21 months and was last seen alive by her husband Paola Amenta outside their Fawkner home on Sydney Road on January 19, 2008, about 10.45am."
http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-...her-lucia-amenta/story-fni0ffnk-1226776790922

 

[SouthAussie]

I also noticed this suggestion that Mrs Amenta was going to walk to visit a friend that morning (with her arthritis, and without keys, phone, medication, and with family coming for lunch - friend must have lived very close by, if that was her intention).
It's from Jan 2008, first time I've noticed this comment anywhere.


"John Amenta fought back tears last week as he explained that his mother, who has lived in Sydney Rd with his father Paul for 29 years, said she was going to walk to visit a friend that morning."

http://www.australianmissingpersonsregister.com/Armenta.htm

 

[moreinfo]

Did John Amenta actually go to his parents house that morning/around lunchtime WITH his kid as organised?
So if he was told that his mum was going to take a walk to her friends house, was this friend contacted that morning to see if she was there?
I would assume that the friend would be over the Amentas house quickly once she learnt that Mrs Lucia didn't make it there. That is of course if the Amenta men contacted this person.
I am really amazed that she was reported missing in the evening. surely the panick mode would have kicked in straight away. She's expecting her son to arrive shorty hence why lunch is almost ready (some articles say the schnitzel were still warm when John arrived ), . I would imagine that both son and husband would have contacted friends and relos that lived close by to see if she had gone there . Given her nationality/age there would have been a stream of concerned family arriving immediately, knowing this was completely out if character. Do we know if anyone was at the house when the call to police was made ?
It's all too calculated and family members way to calm for such a scenario IMO. I think the Amentas are just waiting day by day for that knock at the door now.