A New Brunswick man and an East Brunswick woman were fatally shot on the same day in April 1973, just hours apart, after both had visited several of the same locations.
Police have long thought the two homicides, one in Edison and the other in Plainfield, were connected, and now the Plainfield Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office are jointly seeking the public's help in an effort to solve the 51-year-old cold case.
Tips that lead to an indictment and conviction could be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000.
Shortly before 4 a.m. April 19, 1973, John Sabbatino, 27, was found dead near Otis Place and Grove Avenue in Edison. About three hours later, Jeanne Biondo, 37, was found dead in a vehicle parked in the rear of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Station on South Second Street in Plainfield, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.
Both had suffered fatal gunshot wounds in crime scenes located about 6 miles apart.
The Home News and the Courier News reported Sabbatino had rented the car in which Biondo's body was found and that she had been shot once in the face while Sabbatino had been shot several times in the back of the neck.
The newspapers reported one of Biondo's shoes was found several feet away from Sabbatino's body which is believed to have been dragged from a car because road cinders were found in his hair. Sabbatino was found with his wallet which contained $32.
Newspaper reports indicated Sabbatino's body was discovered during a routine vehicle patrol by Edison police, and Biondo's body was found by Plainfield motor vehicle staff reporting to work.
The newspapers also reported Sabbatino's father said his son had been living with him in a New Brunswick apartment and had previously lived in Highland Park. The father said his son was separated from his wife who lived in Plainfield.
Sabbatino was described as an unemployed salesman, while Biondo, a wife and mother of a young son from a previous marriage, was a salesperson at an East Brunswick store.
The newspapers reported Biondo was identified by her husband, Joseph, who worked at the Ford plant in Edison, and Sabbatino was identified by his father.
Police investigations of the two homicides indicated both victims had been at several different locations in Middlesex County before their deaths.
Sabbatino had reportedly been at Mike Kerwin's Tavern, 353 Bound Brook Road, Middlesex; Carousel Lounge, South Washington Avenue and Metlars Lane, Piscataway and Cloud Nine Lounge, 275 Route 18, East Brunswick, while Biondo had been at Cloud Nine Lounge, Midstate Bowling Alley, Mid State Mall, 300 Route 18, East Brunswick and Homestead Motel, the motel at the same location of Cloud Nine Lounge in East Brunswick, as well as Deauville Dine, 245 Route 18, East Brunswick, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.
Investigators believe there may be people who have information and have not come forward. Any detail, even if it seems insignificant, could be the missing piece that bring closure to the victims’ families, the prosecutor's office said.
"John Sabbatino and Jeanne Biondo were tragically taken from their families and loved ones," Plainfield Police Director James Abney said. "Someone out there knows what happened that night, and we implore them to come forward with any information they may have, no matter how small it may seem."
Anyone with information about two homicides is asked to contact Plainfield Police Department Lt. William Tyler at 908-753-3036, Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Sgt. Paul Kelley at 732-745-3330, or Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Patrick Bradley at 908-418-2817.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org; submission of tips made in this fashion that result in an indictment and conviction can be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 via The Union County Crime Stoppers.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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