NEWS UPDATE: Prosecutor: Digirolamo seems to have fled

Millstone man charged with abandoning child.

By: Vic Monaco and Cara Latham
   TRENTON — Rosario "Roy" Digirolamo, the Millstone man labeled a person of interest in the disappearance of his mistress, Amy Giordano of Hightstown, was scheduled to fly back to the United States from Italy on Thursday, but he did not, according to law enforcement officials.
   "It gives the appearance that he’s fleeing from something," said Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini Jr. at a press conference Friday.
   His comments came one day after Delaware State Police announced that they had issued a warrant charging Mr. Digirolamo with abandoning the couple’s baby, 11-month-old Michael Digirolamo, at a hospital in Newark, Del.
   The warrant is based on the fact that Mr. Digirolamo made several cell phone calls that utilized a signal tower near the hospital the day the baby was found, according to Delaware State Police.
   The filing of those charges, of child abandonment and reckless endangering, have no impact on efforts to apprehend Mr. Digirolamo, according to the special agent in charge of the FBI office in Trenton.
   "Extradition is a complicated matter. It depends on the nature of a crime and it takes place subsequent to an indictment," Bill Evanina said in a phone interview Friday afternoon.
   Mr. Evanina said he could not comment on whether FBI agents in Italy had seen or talked to Mr. Digirolamo, 32.
   A law enforcement official close to the probe said Mr. Digirolamo does have relatives in Italy.
   Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri explained Friday that Mr. Digirolamo had bought a round-trip ticket to Milan, which had him depart Newark Liberty International Airport on June 14 with an expected return of Thursday.
   The prosecutor’s office confirmed Thursday that the investigation includes looking into Mr. Digirolamo’s possible ties to the mafia. Mr. Evanina confirmed Thursday that Mr. Digirolamo and his wife, Maria Dimaggio, have lived since 1999 in a Millstone home previously owned by Stefano Vitabile, the imprisoned former consigliere of the DeCavalcante family, which some believe was the inspiration for "The Sopranos" TV show.
   Mr. Digirolamo has no criminal record.
   Friday’s press conference was held to release video recorded June 7 at the ShopRite store on Route 130 in East Windsor, where the couple can be seen shopping with their baby.
   The video represents the last time Ms. Giordano, 27, was seen. And it was recorded two days before baby Michael was found unharmed outside the Christiana Hospital.
   The boy remained in foster care Friday.
   Mr. Digirolamo was last seen at his workplace, ConAir, in East Windsor, on June 11.
   Law enforcement officials were asked Friday if the investigation now includes a search for Ms. Giordano’s body.
   "It’s premature to jump to that conclusion," said Mr. Bocchini. "We’re not looking for a body at this point."
   Anyone with information was urged again to call Hightstown police at (609) 448-1234 or New Jersey State Police at (609) 584-5000, ext. 5286.
   For updates and more information, continue to log on to windsorhightsherald.com and see the July 6 edition of the Herald.