Cold Murder of his Father: Do You Have Information?

 

West Palm Beach, Fl - More than a decade later, the killing of Joseph Gatto remains one of Los Angeles' most haunting unsolved crimes. The home invasion that took his life devastated a family and pulled his son, former California lawmaker Mike Gatto, into a dark, unresolved mystery that continues to demand answers.

Joseph Gatto was 78 years old, strong, active, and deeply woven into the fabric of his community. Friends once believed he would live to be 100. Instead, he died 22 years too soon.

You can listen to the interview with Mike for free streaming on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most major podcast platforms.

On November 12, 2013, Joseph Gatto was shot inside his Silver Lake home. The following day, his daughter arrived for their weekly dinner, a routine that suddenly turned tragic. She found her father slumped over his desk, dead from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Silver Lake, known for its art and creativity, is a tight-knit community. Joseph Gatto loved it there. A retired art teacher, he spent decades giving back, teaching high school and college students, selling concessions at Dodger Stadium, and creating art.

"He was prominent throughout the community and liked by everyone," friends recalled.

Investigators determined Joseph Gatto was killed during a home invasion robbery. Despite suspect sketches, media coverage, and a $50,000 reward, the investigation stalled. The case is now cold.

"The murder of Joseph Gatto captivated Los Angeles," said Robert Kovacik, NBC Los Angeles. "Many veteran journalists still wonder how and why it happened."

Mike Gatto, a former four-term member of the California Legislature, believes his father's killer is still out there. That belief, and unanswered questions, pulled him into a world of noir: wild theories, unyielding detectives, and unimaginable violence.

In his book, "Noir by Necessity: How My Father's Unsolved Murder Took Me to Dark Places," Gatto chronicles the investigation and its toll. "This is a modern murder mystery," Gatto said, "and a candid look at how the dark underbelly of Los Angeles collided with the political world."

The book details every lead, theory, and haunting detail Gatto uncovered. It explores the psychological cost of living with an unsolved crime.

Today, the story resonates far beyond Los Angeles. True crime audiences continue to ask: Do you have information?

Authorities maintain someone knows something. Mike Gatto urges anyone with knowledge to come forward.

Joseph Gatto was a teacher, artist, founder, father, and community fixture. His death marked a violent intersection of crime, politics, and personal loss.

More than a decade later, The Cold Murder of His Father remains unresolved. Until the truth comes home, the mystery of Joseph Gatto's death continues to haunt Los Angeles.

Mike Gatto's book is available now. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.

The interview with Mike is available on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, and most major podcast platforms.

Attributions

Amazon

Project Cold Case

Mike Gatto



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