Roy DeMeo was a notorious mobster who headed a group of killers known as the DeMeo crew. He was involved in various criminal activities, such as loansharking, car theft, drug trafficking, and murder. He was also a member of the Gambino crime family, one of the most powerful Mafia organizations in the United States. But how did Roy DeMeo die? Who killed him and why? This article will explore the mysterious and violent circumstances surrounding Roy DeMeo’s cause of death.
Early Life and Criminal Career
Roy DeMeo was born on September 7, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, to a working-class Italian immigrant family. He graduated from James Madison High School in 1959 and began working as a loanshark and an apprentice butcher. He also developed a crew of young men who specialized in stealing cars and selling them to chop shops.
In 1966, he was recruited by Anthony Gaggi, a soldier in the Gambino crime family, who offered him more money and protection for his loansharking business. DeMeo soon became a trusted associate of Gaggi and started expanding his criminal operations. He also became known for his brutality and efficiency in killing his enemies and disposing of their bodies.
DeMeo and his crew developed a method of murder and dismemberment that became known as the Gemini Method, named after the Gemini Lounge, a bar that served as their headquarters. The method involved luring the victim to the lounge, shooting him in the head, stabbing him in the heart, draining his blood in the bathtub, cutting off his limbs and head, wrapping them in plastic bags, and dumping them in various locations. The crew is believed to be responsible for up to 200 murders between 1973 and 1983.
The Fall of Roy DeMeo
By the early 1980s, DeMeo’s violent activities attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the DEA. He was under surveillance and investigation for several crimes, including drug trafficking, racketeering, murder, and car theft. He was also suspected of being involved in the murder of Irish mob boss Mickey Spillane in 1977.
DeMeo’s boss, Paul Castellano, the head of the Gambino crime family, became increasingly worried about DeMeo’s exposure and liability to the family. He feared that DeMeo might become an informant or a target for rival gangs or federal agents. He also resented DeMeo’s independence and ambition within the family.
According to Wikipedia, Castellano decided to eliminate DeMeo and ordered his death in late 1982. However, he had trouble finding someone willing to carry out the hit, as DeMeo was well-known for his ruthlessness and had a loyal crew of killers around him. Some sources claim that John Gotti and Gene Gotti refused to take the contract, as they could not get close to DeMeo.
Eventually, Castellano turned to one of DeMeo’s own crew members, Patrick Testa, who agreed to betray his boss. Testa lured DeMeo to his house on January 10, 1983, under the pretext of a meeting. There, he shot him multiple times with the help of Anthony Senter and Joseph Testa (no relation), two other members of the DeMeo crew.
DeMeo’s body was placed in the trunk of his car and left in a parking lot in East Flatbush. It was discovered ten days later by the police. He had been shot five times in the head and once in the hand. His body was frozen due to low winter temperatures.
The Aftermath of Roy DeMeo’s Death
DeMeo’s death shocked and angered many members of the Gambino crime family and the underworld. His crew members were arrested and convicted for various murders, including DeMeo’s. Patrick Testa became a government witness and testified against his former associates.
Castellano was indicted for ordering DeMeo’s murder but he never faced trial. He was assassinated by John Gotti’s faction on December 16, 1985, outside a steakhouse in Manhattan.
Roy DeMeo’s legacy remains as one of the most feared and prolific killers in Mafia history. His cause of death was a result of his own violent lifestyle and his betrayal by his own men. His story has been depicted in several books, documentaries, movies, and TV shows over the years.
