Monsters Among Us: Anthony Carcione beat 78-year-old Jean Schwarzkopf to death; Sentenced to LWOP

From Anthony Carcione’s appeal: The facts giving rise to this matter arose out of the home invasion, robbery, and murder of a wealthy 78 year old woman, Jean Schwarzkopf, who resided in New Port Richey, Florida.   In late 1996 or early 1997, Ottavio Volpe made the acquaintance of Mrs. Schwarzkopf, who resided in a subdivision located near a bakery that he owned.   Realizing her wealth, he formulated a plan to rob Mrs. Schwarzkopf of her jewelry.   At first, although Volpe was aided by a local co-conspirator, the plan failed.   Volpe then decided to enlist the assistance of friends and acquaintances in Chicago to complete the robbery.

In August 1997, Volpe contacted Camillo Gigliotti in Chicago, and attempted to persuade him to come to Florida to rob Mrs. Schwarzkopf.   Gigliotti refused to do so personally, but proceeded to contact Faris Rafidi, a Chicago restauranteur, to inquire who might be willing to travel to Florida to accomplish the robbery.   Rafidi suggested to Gigliotti that he contact Appellant.

On September 18, 1997, Appellant flew from Chicago to Tampa.   Volpe picked him up, and they drove to Volpe’s bakery in New Port Richey.   The next morning, after buying flowers, gloves, and duct tape, Appellant approached Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s door posing as a flower delivery man.   After the door was opened, Appellant forced himself into Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s home, and hit her in the face.   Throughout the ordeal, Appellant broke Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s nose, fractured her cheekbone, neck and rib, and caused multiple bruises throughout the rest of her body.   He then bound Mrs. Schwarzkopf with duct tape from head to toe.   Before he taped her mouth shut, he stuffed a silk flower down her throat, causing hemorrhaging at the base of her tongue.   Mrs. Schwarzkopf suffocated from the bleeding caused by the injuries to her nose and mouth.

After the robbery, Volpe picked up Appellant about one block from Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s home.   Appellant had taken Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s purse, her wallet and its contents, and her jewelry, including a seven and one-half carat diamond ring, a strand of pearls, a diamond and platinum tennis bracelet, and a sapphire tennis bracelet.   Later that same day, Appellant admitted to Volpe that he had killed Mrs. Schwarzkopf, and threatened Volpe not to say anything or he would kill Volpe and his girlfriend.   That evening, Volpe contacted Gigliotti and told him to come to Florida to come pick up Appellant.

Gigliotti agreed to pick up Appellant in Florida, but later called Volpe from Valdosta, Georgia, and told him that he would not drive any further south.   On September 20, 1997, Volpe (along with an unwitting employee of Volpe’s) drove Appellant from New Port Richey, Florida, to Valdosta Georgia, where they met Gigliotti.   Gigliotti then drove Appellant back to Chicago along with the items taken from Mrs. Schwarzkopf in the robbery.

When Gigliotti and Appellant arrived in Chicago, they went to Farris Rafidi’s restaurant and met in his office.   Gigliotti then decided to dispose of all of the jewelry except the diamond ring because he believed the rest of the jewelry was worthless.   The diamond ring was eventually purchased by Rafidi for $22,000.   The money was divided among the co-conspirators.   Appellant’s cut was $10,000, Gigliotti’s was $8000, and Volpe’s was $4000.

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Killer escapes death penalty
United States of America v Anthony Carcione 2001
Life sentence upheld in murder-robbery of wealthy widow
Life Sentence Upheld in Murder

Movies/Documentaries
Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen: A Deadly Diamond

Defendants
Anthony Carcione
Ottavio Volpe

INMATE INFORMATION

ANTHONY CARCIONE
Register Number: 38373-018
Age: 46
Race: White
Sex: Male
Located at: Florence ADMAX USP
Release Date: LIFE

INMATE INFORMATION

OTTAVIO VOLPE
Register Number: 38355-018
Age: 57
Race: White
Sex: Male
Located at: Terre Haute USP
Release Date: LIFE