Salvatore Rotiroti murder: Son’s reveals life of torment on 35th anniversary of Sam’s murder

It was 35 years ago that Salvatore Rotiroti was murdered in cold blood in a Manifold Heights driveway. In this special report, his tortured son says it’s time his killer faced the music.

Vince Rotiroti (top left), a police vehicle at the scene of the 1988 murder of Salvatore Rotiroti (right) and Vince Zangari (bottom left).

By his own admission, Geelong concreter Vince Rotiroti’s life has been touched by unthinkable tragedy from an early age.

He was four-years-old when death first knocked on his family’s door on Hope Street.

“My brother and I were playing footy and the ball went out onto the road,” he said.

“He chased off after it.”

Antonio Ferdinand Rotiroti, 3, was killed instantly right in front of him.

In a macabre coincidence, the same Geelong West street would be the scene of the brutal murder of Annette Steward more than two decades later.

She was strangled to death in her own home.

Murder victim Salvatore Rotiroti with his wife Giuseppina and their five children (L-R) Maria, Tony, Elizabeth, Joe and Vince (seated)

“That was the first bit of trauma I had as a kid,” Vince said of the sudden loss of his brother.

Years later, as a teenager on a windy evening in 1980, he also watched a school friend get crushed by a boat at Cunningham Pier.

“We used to collect little baby pigeons down there and would sell them to people for pocket money,” he said.

“I went up the ladder and my mate tried to climb up between the ship and the pier.”

The ship moved.

“I actually saw it crush his head,” he said.

The teen’s body was found in the bayside suburb of Rippleside two days later.

His skull fractured as a result of the freak accident.

But it was the callous and still unsolved murder of his father, Salvatore Rotiroti, that has undoubtedly plagued the life of this hardworking but tortured soul.

And on the eve of the 35th anniversary of his slaying, his son has called for a fresh look at one of Geelong’s most baffling murder mysteries.

Sam Rotiroti was beaten to death in his driveway. His killer is yet to face justice 35 years on.

Vince, now 57 and speaking from his Winchlesea home, remained frustrated that with the flick of a pen, or the opening of a mouth “justice could easily be served”.

“I do talk to the police but I’ve never really asked them to re-examine it,” he said.

“There is enough evidence to convict someone and it is all in the case files right here.

“If the original statements to police had been accepted there would have been an arrest made by now.”

Salvatore Rotiroti, better known as ‘Sam’, was just 46 when he was found lying in a pool of blood by Vince in the driveway of their Purrumbete Ave home on September 5, 1988.

It appeared he had been bludgeoned to death.

Vince is adamant a plot was hatched to try and frame him for his own father’s murder, and is just as clear about who was involved.

The prime suspect, Vince Zangari, was charged with the murder of his uncle on September 29 1988.

Vince Zangari spits at a camera. Photo credit: A Current Affair.

Those charges were later withdrawn and the case has been cold ever since.

The Geelong Advertiser is not suggesting Zangari murdered his uncle, just that he was a suspect in the unsolved case.

“There is still time to speak up,” he said.

“Someone has to face the music at some stage.”

He says a code of silence is a cover up for what really happened to his dad.

He has not spoken to any of his family members, including his mum, since they buried him.

Homicide detectives suspected several family members had crucial information regarding the circumstances of his death and those responsible.

Speaking ahead of the 35th anniversary, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said investigators had not given up on solving the gruesome killing.

Geelong Advertiser clipping in 1988 in relation to the death of Salvatore Rotiroti.

“While 35 years have passed, we believe this case remains solvable and there are still people out there who have information about those responsible,” she said.

“Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who has any information about Sam’s death, no matter what that information may be.”

They have a million reasons to come forward, with a $1m reward still on the table for new clues that lead to an arrest and conviction.

“This reward remains on offer,” she said.

“We remain hopeful that even after three decades, someone out there will be in a position to finally help us solve this case.”

Murder victim Salvatore Rotiroti with his wife Giuseppina and their five children (L-R) Maria, Tony, Elizabeth, Joe and Vince (seated).

For Vince, who has attempted suicide twice since the passing of his dad, he just wants the splinter in his soul released.

“After all these years it’s still all I think about, every day,” he says, pointing to a trove of press clippings and evidence strewn across his dining room table.

“I’ve been through true trauma, a lot of tragedy.

“They have put me through so much pain, suffering and trauma.

“It’s about time everyone woke up, and spoke up.”

Anyone with information into the murder of Salvatore Rotiroti can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Salvatore Rotiroti murder: Son’s reveals life of torment on 35th anniversary of Sam’s murder