Salvatore Testa
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Salvatore Testa | |
---|---|
mobster | |
Parent | Philip Testa |
Allegiance | Philadelphia crime family |
Salvatore A. "Salvie" Testa (March 31, 1956 – September 14, 1984), nicknamed "The Crowned Prince of the Philadelphia Mob", was an Italian-American mobster who served as a
Biography
Born on March 31, 1956, in
In March 1980, longtime family
Scarfo took over the crime family following Philip Testa's death, and he promoted
In 1984, Testa broke off his engagement to Merlino's daughter. Enraged, Merlino got permission from Scarfo to murder Testa, despite him being a loyal member of the crime family. However, Merlino developed a drinking problem, which caused Scarfo to demote Merlino and cut off ties with him.
Death and aftermath
In 1984, Scarfo ordered the death of Testa, one of his capos and his top hitman, as Testa's ambition and growing popularity made Scarfo feel threatened.[5] On September 14, 1984, Testa was shot by Salvatore [Wayne] Grande. He was found shot to death at the side of a road in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.[6] About 300 people attended Testa's funeral procession on September 20, 1984, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Philadelphia's Italian Market section.[7] He was interred alongside his father, Philip, and mother, Alfia, at the family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.
As a result of Salvatore Testa's murder, Scarfo gained a reputation for disloyalty, and several criminal organizations across the United States began to distrust him.[8]
References
- ^ Organized Crime in Pennsylvania: A Decade of Change p. 175, Pennsylvania Crime Commission (1990) Archived November 10, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Capuzzo, Michael "The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases" p. 189. New York: Gotham Books. 2010
- ^ a b Organized Crime in America p. 159 U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary (1983) Archived September 21, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Salvatore Testa, son of slain reputed mob boss Philip..." UPI.
- ^ "The Story Of Sal Testa, Former Scarfo Protege". Philly.com. Michael B. Coakley. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ "Crime Figure's Son Slain in Jersey". September 16, 1984 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Salvatore Testa, Buried; Reputed to Be Crime Leader". September 21, 1984 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "What happened to the Scarfo crime family?". Press of Atlantic City. Donna Weaver & Brian Ianieri. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- Anastasia, George, Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob - The Mafia's Most Violent Family (2004) ISBN 0-940159-86-4
- Caba, Susan The Slaying of Testa, from a Sister's View May 3, 1988 Philadelphia Inquirer