On December 18, 1928, Marco Pasco was shot while walking to work in Scranton, resulting in his death shortly after arrival at the hospital. Known for his violent past, Pasco left behind a large family. Despite police investigations and multiple suspects, his murder remains unsolved to this day.
In 1928, Italian immigrants in Scranton were particularly violent. Dynamite was the weapon of choice used to intimidate and exact revenge of their targets and ideological enemies. The Black Hand, present for decades, was now joined by fascists and anti-fascists during Mussolini's reign in Italy. Read about how the city was rocked by attacks leading up to the Great Depression.
Vittorio "Victor" Giacometti, an Italian immigrant from Gubbio, made a new life in the US, opening a restaurant and becoming a US citizen. His mysterious death led to speculations of suicide or murder, with rumors of gang involvement and love affairs. While it's considered a closed case, so many questions remain unanswered.
In the early morning hours of May 20, 1926, an explosion tore through a building located at 1032 West Lackawanna Ave. Miraculously, none of the nine occupants at the time were injured during the blast. Scranton TimesMay 20, 1926 The Property The building was owned by Frank Palutis. He, along with his wife, three children,... Continue Reading →
The Black Hand Mafia wasn't just involved in shakedowns. They were also involved in a counterfeiting operation that was broken up by some pretty nifty detective work.
Exploring historic crimes in NEPA 