By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Saturday, June 15, 1991
The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A01
A 55-year-old Fort Lee man kidnapped earlier this week was found shot to death in the trunk of his car at LaGuardia Airport, authorities said.
Ralph DeSimone Jr. of 1516 10th St. was last seen leaving Brushless Car Wash at 1620 Bergen Blvd., where he was a manager, about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Bergen County Prosecutor John J. Fahy said. His family received a call demanding $150,000 ransom later that afternoon.
DeSimone, whose body was found late Thursday afternoon, was shot three times in the head and twice in the back, authorities said. He was hog-tied and had a plastic bag over his head.
The FBI is investigating whether DeSimone was involved with organized crime, Special Agent William Tonkin said. The Associated Press reported that New York police said DeSimone was a Gambino family associate.
“The motivation for the kidnapping is not known yet,” Tonkin said. “There are several avenues of investigation. Certainly, an organized-crime link will be pursued.” DeSimone had served a 10-year sentence, beginning in 1976, on federal drug charges, authorities said.
No witnesses to the kidnapping have come forward, Fort Lee Police Chief John Orso said. The ransom call came into the car wash, owned by DeSimone’s son, Anthony, about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Fahy said.
“We’ve got Ralph, and if you want to see him alive, come up with $150,000,” Fahy said a male voice told a car wash employee.
The family waited in vain for information on where to pay the ransom, Orso said. They called Fort Lee police at about 9:30 p.m. to report the kidnapping and the ransom demand, he added.
An FBI all-points bulletin led Port Authority police to DeSimone’s white-and-red 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass in a long-term parking lot at the airport at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, a New York City police spokesman said.
Keywords: FORT LEE; MAN; KIDNAPPING; VICTIM; SHOOTING; MURDER; RALPH DeSIMONE JR
ID: 17346571 | Copyright © 1991, The Record (New Jersey)
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