Ottavio Volpe, the facts
Renee Fecarotta’s ex-husband, and Giana’s father, Ottavio Volpe, is someone who has many of our readers curious. Ottavio, 53, is an alleged illegal Italian immigrant who is serving a life sentence at Terre Haute, Federal Correction Complex in southern Indiana, approximately 185 miles from Chicago. He was convicted of a 1997 murder with another man, Anthony Carcione, in New Port Richey, Florida.
We have heard on the show that the murder was brutal and involved a robbery. The details of the case come from a US Court of Appeals document and reads as follows.
The case involved the home invasion, robbery and murder of an elderly woman, Jean Schwarzkopt, age 78. In late 1996 or early 1997, Ms. Schwarzkopt met Mr. Volpe in his business establishment, La Cosa Nostra Bakery, in New Port Richey. When Mr. Volpe saw the lady’s eight carat ring and realized she was wealthy, he worked out several plans to rob her. His plans failed. He then allegedly contacted associates in Chicago for help.
After a few contacts he was referred to Anthony Carcione, who allegedly had a history of violent crime. Carcione flew down to Tampa, Florida and was picked up by Volpe. The next day, Carcione showed up at the victim's door with flowers, pretending to be a flower delivery man. Once she opened the door, he hit her in the face and continued to beat up the elderly woman, breaking her nose and fracturing her cheek, neck and rib among other things. He then duct taped her from head to toe and shoved a silk flower down her throat. He taped her mouth shut. The woman suffocated from the bleeding caused by her injuries. Volpe picked up his accomplice after the robbery. Carcione had her purse and several items of jewelry.
The diamond ring was allegedly purchased by another mobster for $22,000 which was divided as follows: Carcione got $10,000, another go between man got $8,000 and Volpe got $4,000. (Different accounts give different figures).
Volpe agreed to testify against Carcione and avoided the death sentence in exchange for life in prison. He was sentenced in 2002. To learn more about the case, check the link below.
