Physique present in sealed Mount Moriah Cemetery crypt in Warlocks homicide case

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A tip within the seek for lacking man Keith Palumbo led investigators to a cemetery crypt — and a ugly discovery inside.

The haunting case of the 36-year-old Delaware County, Pennsylvania, musician and tattoo artist, who was murdered by his longtime buddy, is now the main focus of Oxygen’s true-crime sequence, "Philly Murder," the place retired detective Chris McMullin revisits among the metropolis’s most explosive crimes.

"It is a very unhappy case," McMullin advised Fox Information Digital. "By means of a really thorough investigation involving interviews with different events that both had information or some sort of involvement, it led them to Mount Moriah Cemetery. And actually, it was not that stunning to me as a result of I do know that lots of stolen vehicles have been dumped there."

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Keith Palumbo, a heavy metallic guitarist, was murdered in February 2020. The 36-year-old's stays had been present in a crypt at Philadelphia's Mount Moriah Cemetery. (Philadelphia District Lawyer's Workplace)

"I even say within the episode, in case you needed to cover a physique, that’s most likely a great place to do it," mentioned McMullin, describing it as "a cemetery that no one was actually taking good care of."

In April 2020, investigators unearthed not solely Palumbo’s physique, but in addition the stays of David Rossillo Jr., 33, a potential member of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club . Each victims had been discovered within the household vault of Capt. A.H. Cain, who died in 1884. Rossillo’s killing was a separate incident, although his stays had been found in the identical crypt.

Keith Palumbo was described as a beloved tattoo artist and native musician. (GoFundMe)

McMullin mentioned that Mount Moriah Cemetery had fallen into disrepair for years and was largely deserted. Based on studies, it had develop into a recognized dumping floor for stolen vehicles and different criminal activity.

Retired detective Joe Bamberski spoke concerning the case of Keith Palumbo in "Philly Murder." The episode "Steel and Mayhem" airs on Could 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. (Oxygen)

"Mount Moriah Cemetery had gone out of enterprise years in the past," McMullin mentioned, referring to its lengthy interval of neglect.

"I’ve been there. There was a time after I labored part-time within the funeral enterprise and I used to be there. It’s one thing like out of a post-apocalyptic movie if you go there. There are headstones which are knocked over and vines rising throughout mausoleums. It’s very unhappy as a result of this was a cemetery the place individuals had been laid to relaxation. Usually, you count on it to be cared for perpetually."

Retired detective Chris McMullin is the host of Oxygen's "Philly Murder." (Oxygen)

"We’re additionally speaking about an enormous cemetery," McMullin continued. "[The investigators] bought fortunate as a result of, as they had been strolling round, they observed that one of many crypts appeared to have been just lately disturbed."

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"I need to thank now-retired Philadelphia Police Detective Joe Bambersky for his diligent and tireless work on this case," mentioned Assistant District Lawyer Robert Wainwright in a press release. "I’m very happy that we're capable of deliver some measure of justice and peace to the family members of those two victims." (Philadelphia District Lawyer's Workplace)

Palumbo was described as coming from an in depth household and was recognized in his neighborhood for being a heavy metallic guitarist. When he went lacking in February 2020, his household instantly knew one thing was fallacious.

On the time he went lacking, Palumbo was driving his mom’s automotive with two different males when he obtained a cellphone name from his buddy, Warlocks member Michael DeLuca, who glided by the nickname "Kaos," The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Based on the outlet, DeLuca had advised Palumbo to go to his Southwest Philadelphia dwelling.

Buddy Michael Davvocato additionally sat down for "Philly Murder" to discuss Keith Palumbo's homicide. (Unknown)

"After I realized that he had gone lacking, it simply gave me an ominous feeling," mentioned McMullin. "All of the circumstances we discover on this sequence are tragic, however this was such a case of betrayal."

DNA taken from the stays led to the official identification of David Rossillo Jr. and Keith Palumbo in August 2020. (Philadelphia District Lawyer's Workplace)

The outlet reported that after the three males arrived at DeLuca’s condo, he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Palumbo. Whereas Palumbo protested, a witness advised investigators that DeLuca shot him within the face. The outlet famous that the account was cited by one of many males who was mentioned to be within the condo on the time.

McMullin mentioned that whereas the circumstances of the argument had been unclear, authorities and witnesses advised DeLuca could have suspected Palumbo of cooperating with law enforcement , although no proof was offered to help that declare.

"I don’t know if we ever bought a selected reply from DeLuca," McMullin admitted. "It was speculated that he could have completed it to set an instance to not cross him. This sufferer was his lifelong finest buddy. Was he making an attempt to make an instance for the opposite members? It definitely appeared like they had been afraid of him."

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When searching for Keith Palumbo, police found a crypt that was just lately disturbed. (Philadelphia District Lawyer's Workplace)

"I do suppose there’s most likely a problem with impulse management there," mentioned McMullin. "I do suppose that this was calculated and deliberate. They greater than seemingly took [Palumbo] to the clubhouse with the intention of doing that to him."

Whereas the Warlocks could not carry the identical title recognition as teams just like the Hells Angels, authorities have lengthy recognized the Pennsylvania-based membership as a critical outlaw bike gang.

Many family members, together with Lierin Buckley, got here ahead and spoke out concerning the case of Keith Palumbo in "Philly Murder." (Oxygen)

Federal and native investigators have tied members to a variety of violent crimes, together with homicide, assault and drug trafficking , a reminder {that a} decrease profile doesn't imply a lesser menace.

Mount Moriah Cemetery in Southwest Philadelphia had develop into a dumping floor for stolen vehicles and different criminal activity. (Oxygen)

"The opposite organizations are a lot bigger they usually present up in locations that get extra public consideration and media consideration, versus a smaller group just like the Warlocks, the place they’re not totally nationwide in scope," retired ATF Particular Agent in Cost Bernard Zapor defined to Fox Information Digital.

"Some gangs are purposely extra low-key," he mentioned. "They’re not enthusiastic about all of the publicity and notoriety. "[But] all of them have a similarity in that betrayal of the group is a loss of life sentence. You will have allegiance to the membership first, after which your loved ones comes after that. It’s membership earlier than household, membership earlier than self. And the suspicion of being an informant is harmful and unlucky."

Family members, like Matthew Sondermann, spoke about how Keith Palumbo's homicide impacted him through the years. (Oxygen)

"These two individuals knew one another, had a longtime relationship," Zapor continued. "However in case you’re suspected of being a police informant, the one end result is loss of life. It’s a loss of life sentence if they'll get to you."

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A relative of Palumbo’s has mentioned that he was not a Warlocks member.

According to the episode, cooperating witnesses in the end helped police piece collectively what occurred to Palumbo and Rossillo Jr. The knowledge, mixed with bodily proof recovered on the scene and cellphone information, allowed investigators to construct a case in opposition to DeLuca and others.

A witness advised police that DeLuca mentioned he killed Palumbo and wanted assist disposing of the physique, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

On April 3, 2020, investigators situated a crypt and found the physique of 36-year-old Keith Palumbo, a musician from Delaware County. (Philadelphia District Lawyer's Workplace)

"They had been all afraid of [DeLuca]," mentioned McMullin. "However I additionally suppose that when push got here to shove, they didn’t need to lie and probably threat taking a prosecution to guard him. I simply suppose there’s no honor amongst thieves. Loyalty is one thing made very clear that’s anticipated. However I additionally suppose that individuals are additionally out for themselves, particularly people who find themselves committing lots of crimes, heinous crimes at that."

In September 2020, DeLuca and Michael DiMauro, one other member of the Warlocks, had been arrested.

In 2023, DiMauro was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide and abuse of a corpse in connection to Rossillo Jr.’s loss of life. Prosecutors mentioned he shot the 33-year-old, tied a rope round his neck and dragged his physique to the crypt, which had been pried open, earlier than dumping the stays. He was sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole.

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In "Philly Murder," retired detective John Taggart from Philadelphia PD described how the chilly case of Keith Palumbo was solved. (Oxygen)

That very same 12 months, DeLuca pleaded responsible to third-degree homicide in Palumbo’s loss of life, FOX 29 Philadelphia reported. Three others additionally pleaded responsible to serving to to get rid of the victims’ our bodies, the outlet shared. DeLuca was later sentenced to fifteen to 35 years in jail.

"This case stayed with me," mentioned McMullin. "There’s the connection between the killer and the sufferer. Though sadly, extra individuals are killed by individuals they know than individuals they don’t know. And outlaw biker gangs are notoriously violent. Michael DeLuca, for my part, did an evil act."