PA PA - Mario Joseph Rossi, 50, of Boca Raton FL, last seen Philadelphia Airport, 29 Dec 1982

[ADKGemini]

Mario Joseph Rossi

• 
• 

Rossi, circa 1982

• Missing Since12/29/1982
• Missing FromPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
• ClassificationMissing
• Age50 years old
• Height and WeightUnknown
• Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionA gold chain necklace with a scorpion medallion.
• Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian male. Black hair, brown eyes. Rossi wears eyeglasses. He may have a mustache.

Details of Disappearance
Rossi was last seen at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 29, 1982. He has never been heard from again. He lived in Boca Raton, Florida at the time of his disappearance. Few details are available in his case.
Investigating Agency

• Pennsylvania State Police 215-452-5251

• The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Piknik]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Piknik]

Mario Joseph Rossi – The Charley Project

 

[Sleuthster]

Mario Joseph Rossi – The Charley Project

I wonder who sold the plane? That should be a lead

 

[Teesside]

Charley Project says he was 50 years old, which seems to be supported by his story of being a stock car racer from the 50s to the early 70s

 

[mlhenn]

Mario Joseph Rossi – The Charley Project

Updated April 14, 2021


Details of Disappearance
Rossi was last seen at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 29, 1982. He lived in Boca Raton, at the time, and had spent the Christmas holiday at his mother's home in New Jersey.

On December 28, his family drove him to the airport at approximately 9:00 a.m. so he could fly to the Bahamas. He waved goodbye from inside the terminal, and this was the last time they saw him. On January 1, 1983, his sister tried to call him in the Bahamas to wish him a Happy New Year, but he didn't answer the phone.

On January 2, Rossi's family got a call from his girlfriend, saying he'd been piloting a plane off the coast of the Bahamas when he crashed it and died. His family only knew the girlfriend by her first name, and never heard from her again. The plane crash story was never confirmed, Rossi's body was never recovered, and the private plane he owned and supposedly crashed had been resold at least three times since the years since Rossi's disappearance. His family was also unable to recover any of Rossie's belongings after his supposed death. They no longer believe he died in a plane crash.

Rossi was involved in NASCAR in the 1950s through the early 1970s, and was noted for his excellent skills as an engine builder and auto mechanic. After a close friend was killed in a crash, he became interested in improving auto safety and developed an improved driver restraint system for stock cars and won an award as a result.

However, by the mid-1970s, Rossi was having financial problems and had become disenchanted with NASCAR, and there were rumors that he was involved with drugs. His family believes his disappearance could be drug-related.

His case remains unsolved.

 

[MadMcGoo]

31 Jan 1971, 15 - The News and Observer at Newspapers.com


15 May 1970, 70 - The Charlotte Observer at Newspapers.com

 

[MadMcGoo]

The following link was approved. It gives more info about Mario. I tried finding his birthday, no luck. But I did find articles about his racing in the 50s and I can tell he was definitely older than 32 at the time of his disappearance. A mod changed the thread title. Thanks!!

 

[Sillybilly]

I wonder who sold the plane? That should be a lead

So many questions.

Had he flown his own plane from FL to PA?
Was there a flight plan filed for PA to Bahamas?
Did he ever actually leave for the Bahamas?
Where was the plane when it was located to be sold?
Was his signature on the transfer papers for the plane?
Obvious question .. who is this gf?
Who told gf the plane crash story?
If gf made it up, why?

 

[MadMcGoo]

I will have to look through newspaper articles again and try to narrow down some results. He was apparently well known on the NASCAR scene. The majority of articles pertained to that.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Mario Joseph Rossi – The Charley Project

 

[Pennysmom2]

March 3, 2017 - interesting article with Mario's son

https://www.motortrend.com/features/found-last-wing-car/

March 23, 2021

Get a sneak peek of our true crime podcast, The Sneak: The Disappearance of Mario Rossi

The Sneak, a serialized podcast which tells true crime stories from inside and around the world of sports, is back for its third season.

ftw.usatoday.com