In a historic triumph for forensic science and cold case investigations, the Queens District Attorney’s Office has announced a significant breakthrough in a brutal murder case that has puzzled authorities for over a decade. Anthony Scalici, a 41-year-old man from Boynton Beach, Florida, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his uncle, Rosario Prestigiacomo, who was viciously murdered in 2009 in his Queens, New York apartment.
The gruesome discovery was made on February 10, 2009, when New York Police Department officers were summoned to Prestigiacomo’s home in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens following reports of a disturbance. The officers entered the residence to find Prestigiacomo dead, lying face down in a pool of blood. The scene was horrific; the 64-year-old landlord had been stabbed 16 times and suffered severe blunt force injuries inflicted with a shovel. The violence of the attack left the victim with multiple puncture wounds across his face, neck, torso, and extremities and the walls of his home spattered with blood.
For years, the investigation into Prestigiacomo’s murder was stymied by dead ends and a lack of leads. Early efforts to identify the perpetrator were fruitless despite the collection of blood evidence from the scene, which included DNA profiles of both the victim and an unidentified male believed to be the attacker. Searches across local, state, and national DNA databases yielded no matches, leaving the case cold and justice for Prestigiacomo unattained.
The breakthrough came with a turn towards advanced forensic technology. In March 2022, detectives turned to forensic genetic genealogy, a cutting-edge method that combines DNA analysis with genealogical research to identify suspects. The Queens District Attorney’s office collaborated with Othram Inc., a private laboratory specializing in Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, which created a detailed genealogical profile from the DNA sample initially recovered at the crime scene.
Using this profile, forensic investigators, including Linda Doyle from the NYPD’s Forensic Investigations Division, constructed a family tree that identified potential suspects or relatives. This meticulous work led to a dramatic turn in the investigation when Anthony Scalici, the son of Prestigiacomo’s ex-wife’s brother, emerged as a prime suspect.
The final piece of the puzzle was placed in early 2024 when detectives, in a carefully orchestrated surveillance operation in Florida, retrieved a fork Scalici had used at a local restaurant. The DNA from this fork conclusively matched the genetic profile from the blood found at the murder scene and under Prestigiacomo’s fingernails. This critical evidence solidified the connection between Scalici and the crime, leading to his arrest on May 14 by a combined force of local police, U.S. Marshals, and the NYPD’s Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Scalici was extradited to New York, where he was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder. During the arraignment, Scalici, dressed in a gray sweatshirt and black nylon shorts, pleaded not guilty. However, he was ordered held without bail and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
This case marks the first instance in New York City where a homicide suspect has been identified and apprehended through the use of public genealogy databases, heralding a new era in law enforcement’s ability to solve cold cases. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “The use of forensic genetic genealogy in this case exemplifies our commitment to innovative approaches in solving crimes and securing justice, no matter how much time has passed.”
As the legal proceedings against Scalici unfold, the broader implications of this case resonate through the corridors of law enforcement and forensic science, showcasing the powerful combination of technology and tenacity in the relentless pursuit of justice.
