Deep dive into the 6abc True Crime Episode 'The Disappearance of Imbo and Petrone'

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Wednesday, February 26, 2020
True Philadelphia: Deep dive into Imbo and Pertrone case
True Philadelphia: Deep dive into Imbo and Pertrone case

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Anchor Sarah Bloomquist and producer Jessica Gonzalez spent an entire month researching and reporting on this baffling missing persons case that just passed its 15th anniversary. Watch their report on the 6abc True Crime YouTube page and then listen to this podcast extra.

Watch the latest True Crime episode

Matt O'Donnell discussed the case with Sarah and Jess, going even deeper into what is known about what happened the night of February 19, 2005, the events leading up to it and some of the things the FBI has learned in the 15 years it has been investigating the couple's disappearance.

Listen to the "deep dive" in the True Philadelphia Podcast

Here are the Main Players to help you follow along:

Sarah Bloomquist, Jessica Gonzalez - reporters/producers

Danielle Imbo, Richard Petrone - missing since 2/19/2005

Vito Roselli - FBI investigator

Joe Imbo - Danielle's former husband

John Ottobre - Danielle's brother

Robert Carey - arrested in pill ring investigation in Kensington; hanged himself in prison

Anthony Rodesky - convicted murderer of two people in South Jersey; still in jail

Recorded in the 6abc studios on February 20, 2020

In this podcast:

Sarah and Jess explain why it was so important to do this story (2:10).

They reconstruct the night of the couple's disappearance (3:55).

What the FBI means when they say "people" know things about this case (8:35).

Some background on the couple, their families and what their lives were like before they vanished (10:49).

What it was like for Sarah and Jess to visit the bar where they were last seen and to speak to the building's owner (16:35).

Why the events that took place that night in 2005 would have been so much different in 2020 (19:13).

Some of the events that took place after their disappearance, including the discovery of a truck in the Delaware River (19:49).

Some other rumors, including the Kensington pill ring suspect who hanged himself after his arrest (21:28).

What is known about Joe Imbo, who was Danielle's estranged husband at the time (22:20).

What is known about Anthony Rodesky, a convicted murderer who has not been ruled out in this case (24:50).

How the FBI thinks the truck was disposed of (28:10).

What it was like to speak to John Ottobre, Danielle's brother (29:30).

Why it is so hard for Sarah and Jess to speculate (30:00).

If the FBI ever considered a case of mistaken identity as a theory (31:09).

Reaction to their True Crime piece from the FBI and the families (32:52).

Why authorities may never bring this case to a prosecution (33:50).

How changes in technology might help the FBI solve this once and for all (34:40).