Salvatore ‘Sam’ Rotiroti murder: Wife of slain concreter buried in same Geelong grave as husband

The harrowing unsolved murder of a former Geelong concreter has taken another tragic twist, with allegations his former wife went to her grave “knowing what happened.”

Vince Rotiroti (top left), Sam Rotiroti (right) and Vince Zangari (bottom). The unsolved cold case of Sam’s bloody murder in Manifold Heights has entered its 36th year.

The harrowing unsolved murder of a former Geelong concreter has taken another tragic twist, with allegations his former wife went to her grave “knowing what happened”.

Vince Rotiroti, who found Salvatore “Sam” Rotiroti beaten to death in his Manifold Heights driveway in 1988 in a likely extortion killing, has revealed his estranged mother, Giuseppina, recently passed away without his knowledge.

Sam Rotiroti’s grave.

He discovered her name on a small silver plaque glued to his father’s tombstone while laying flowers at his grave last month, at the Geelong West cemetery.

It had no date of birth or death, although a deceased search of the woman indicated she passed on August 12.
Her own son believes she died with a secret.

“I hadn’t spoken to mum for 36 years,” he said.

“She has probably gone to her grave knowing what happened to dad.

“It was a total shock to see her buried with him.”

Vince Rotiroti cut all ties with his mum, two sisters and two brothers following the slaying of his father, believing they knew who bludgeoned him to death.

Sam Rotiroti, who was a successful concrete company boss, had handed over a $100,000 ransom to have his kidnapped son, Tony, released leading up to his murder.

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

Police believe the extortionist was attempting to demand more cash out of the then 46-year-old at the time.

Vince Rotiroti found him in a pool of blood in the driveway under the carport on the evening of September 5, 1988.

His mum and siblings were inside the house when he made the grim discovery.

“No one had even called the police,” Vince Rotiroti said.

“They were all awake.”

Friends and family mourn Salvatore Rotiroti at his Geelong funeral at Holy Spirit Church.

Sam’s then 21-year-old nephew, Vince Zangari, was charged with his murder less than a month later.

The Calabrian migrant gave five statements to police, each with differing details.

Yet a year later the case against him disintegrated, after witnesses who had first implicated him suddenly pulled their statements and refused to testify.

That included Vince Rotiroti’s mum and siblings, who withdrew their version of events while Zangari was released on bail.

To this day, homicide detectives believe the family holds the key to solving the 36 year mystery.

Vince Rotiroti out the front of the house he found his father, Sam, murdered 36 years ago. Picture: Alison Wynd

“It never gets any easier, in fact it is probably harder now,” Vince Rotiroti said.

The Geelong Advertiser is not suggesting Vince Zangari murdered his uncle, just that he remains a person of interest in the unsolved cold case.

A $1m reward remains on the table from Victoria Police for information about Sam’s death.
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Originally published as Salvatore ‘Sam’ Rotiroti murder: Wife of slain concreter buried in same Geelong grave as husband