The bar was in disarray. Stools were overturned. Coin boxes were ripped from the jukeboxes and cigarette machines.
And in the middle of the chaos was Emile R. Zaniboni, shot to death.
It’s been 46 years since that fateful Saturday, and state police are still looking for his killer.
But in cases like Zaniboni's, and the 52 other cold case Troop K is handling, there is no giving up. And with the power of the internet, state police believe reminding the public of these crimes can spark a memory or provide a clue that can solve a decades old mystery.
"Cold Case Tuesday" was started by the New York State Police in spring of 2016, according to Trooper Melissa McMorris, spokeswoman for Troop K, which covers Dutchess, Putnam, Columbia and Westchester counties.
"The state police recognizes the value of using social media to reach people who may have information about the cases we investigate," McMorris said.
Cattle Car Restaurant, 1971, where Emile R. Zaniboni was found dead. Police continue to investigate his death. (Photo: courtesy photo)
Those 53 cold cases are predominantly made up of unsolved homicides, locations of unidentified human remains, and missing persons cases, according to McMorris. Cases become cold when there is a lack of credible and substantive leads.
"There is no specific manner in the way we pick a case to feature," McMorris said. "We feel that each one is as important as the next."
Zaniboni is the fourth cold case Troop K has featured since the initiative began.
Five decades later
After almost five decades, state police from the Dover Plains barracks continue to investigate the homicide of the 49-year-old Pawling man who lived on River Road.
On Jan. 10, 1971, state police responded to the Cattle Car Restaurant, located on Route 22 between Wingdale and Pawling, to investigate an apparent homicide.
According to state police, Zaniboni was last seen at his family-owned restaurant by an employee at approximately 10:30 the night before. Zaniboni died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, according to the investigation.
When Zaniboni did not return home, police said his wife and daughter went looking for him and discovered his body inside the bar portion of the building.
At the time of the murder, police officials told the Journal that Zaniboni, known to many as Bob and a father of seven, was shot three times in the chest with a .22 caliber weapon. One of the bullets penetrated his heart. Police, however, could not determine whether a pistol or a rifle was used.
In the week following the incident, state police Investigator Gilmore Olson said Zaniboni's car had been started outside the restaurant, and had run out of gas. The car's ignition was still in the on position when the police checked it the following day, he said. Police speculate Zaniboni may have closed the restaurant and was confronted when he got into his car.
Inside the building, the bar stools had been thrown about, and the jukeboxes and cigarette machines had be broken to remove their coin boxes, police said.
Zaniboni was known for carrying large sums of money on him, according to Olson. Following the murder, Zaniboni's pant pockets were turned inside out, and no money was found on his body, Olson said.
But Olson said the restaurant's receipts for the day were found on the premises. The cash in the register was then tallied, and Olson said they found "more than enough money" to cover those receipts.
Investigation continues
The death of Zaniboni continues to be investigated. Numerous leads have been followed-up on throughout this investigation, according to police, but no arrests have been made.
"This case is over 45 years old and most people have either moved away or passed away that have information that could further these unsolved cases," McMorris said.
It is this lapse of time, of witnesses not wishing to rehash the case as time elapses, that often makes cold cases difficult to crack, McMorris said. As time goes by, it also becomes harder to find the evidence that could potentially solve a crime, she said.
"We do not get many tips as a result of Cold Case Tuesday.The state police (statewide) has not been able to solve any cold cases as a result of Cold Case Tuesday. I think as cases age, it is difficult to find witnesses or people who have information on some of our older cases," McMorris said.
But McMorris said state police have had "great success" using social media to further other investigations, and therefore see value in using it toward cold case investigations as well.
"People who may have information on the cases could have moved away or passed away. However, we don’t simply forget about our victims. We hope that Cold Case Tuesday can point us in the direction we need to go and find closure for the victims’ families," she said.
"Cold Case Tuesday"
State police "Cold Case Tuesday" features are released every Tuesday on nyspnews.com and on the New York State Police Facebook page.
Anyone with information regarding the Zaniboni investigation is asked to contact the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Dover by calling 845-677-7300 or 845-877-3660, and refer to SJS #3025018. All calls may be kept confidential.
Abbott Brant: [email protected], 845-437-4809, Twitter: @AbbottBrantPoJo
