Probe into disappearance still awaits forensic tests

By: Vic Monaco
   The analysis of forensic evidence from the Hightstown apartment of Amy Giordano, hoped for this week, will take a little longer.
   That word came this week from Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri, whose office had taken the lead from borough police in the investigation of the missing single mother.
   Other than those two pieces of information, not much had changed: the 27-year-old woman remained missing for a fifth week, her married boyfriend apparently remained in Italy and her abandoned baby remained in foster care.
   The prosecutor’s office previously revealed that trace amounts of blood were found in the third-floor apartment at 108 Mercer St. but said that could be the result of normal human behavior. Mr. Onofri said Wednesday that those forensic reports, overseen by the New Jersey State Police, could be complete next week but "it could take longer."
   Law enforcement officials continued to say this week that they have found no evidence of a crime and that they are not looking for Ms. Giordano’s body.
   Ms. Giordano was last seen June 7 at the ShopRite on Route 130 in East Windsor. Two days later, her 11-month-old son, Michael Digirolamo, was found abandoned outside a hospital in Newark, Del. On June 14, the baby’s father, Rosario "Roy" Digirolamo, of Millstone, boarded a plane in Newark headed to Milan, Italy.
   Ms. Giordano is about 5 feet tall, weighing 130 pounds, with long, straight dark hair, usually worn in a ponytail. She wears black, wire-framed glasses and is a chain smoker.
   Delaware State Police previously charged Mr. Digirolamo, 32, with child abandonment and reckless endangerment after discovering he had made cell phone calls from near the hospital on June 14.
   Cpl. Jeffrey Whitmarsh of the Delaware State Police confirmed Wednesday a report that Mr. Digirolamo had called his father in New York before leaving the country and said he was "confused and needed some time."
   He said his agency had not been able to corroborate a report from a friend of Ms. Giordano that she and her boyfriend had had an argument over her desire to leave him in the days leading up to her disappearance.
   "But we’re still considering it as a serious tip," he said.
   The probe in Delaware continued to focus in part on a handwritten note left with the baby, which included a false name for him.
   "Handwriting analysis is very subjective and we rarely use it," said Cpl. Whitmarsh. "DNA is better and more apt to help us in court."
   Cpl. Whitmarsh also said Wednesday that Interpol, which had been asked for assistance, had not yet taken any action.
   "We have two non-extradictable offenses … because of the level of the crimes and the distance of where he is," he explained as a reason.
   Back in New Jersey, in addition to the potential forensics evidence from the apartment, law enforcement officials continued to look this week at three computers — taken from the apartment; Mr. Digirolamo’s place of employment, Conair in East Windsor; and his home on Stephenson Avenue in Millstone.
   Mr. Onofri would not comment on whether law enforcement officials had checked whether Ms. Giordano, who left behind a Mercer County Library card, had used computers at the Hightstown branch.
   The Millstone home was sold to Mr. Digirolamo and his wife, Maria DiMaggio, in 1999 by reputed Mafia member Stefano Vitabile, who last year was sentenced to life in prison for murder and racketeering. While law enforcement officials are looking at a possible connection between the married couple and the mob, they indicated this week that that is not now seen as a strong possibility.
   As for the prosecutor’s office taking the lead in the probe, which initially was handled by borough police, Mr. Onofri said that was a joint decision based on available resources and had nothing to do with local Detective Ben Miller’s handling of the case.
   Some of Mr. Miller’s decisions have raised eyebrows, most notably keeping the apartment unsealed for about week after Ms. Giordano’s disappearance. As a result of that decision, which Detective Miller justified by pointing out there was no evidence of a crime, landlord Mike Vanderbeck allowed many members of the media inside, which may have compromised the site.
   Mr. Onofri said this week that Detective Miller is still actively involved in the probe.
   To this day, the baby’s belongings, including toys and a playpen, remain in the apartment. In addition, Mr. Vanderbeck found photos and a filled purse that contained, among other things, Ms. Giordano’s credit and identification cards.
   She had no active passport or driver’s license.
   Mr. Vanderbeck said this week that he plans to keep anything in the apartment that might have sentimental value.
   "What if Michael shows up 10, 15 years from now?" he said.
   Anyone with information on the case is urged to call New Jersey State Police at (609) 584-5000, extension 5286, or Hightstown police at 609) 448-1234.