The Murdered
Madelyn (or Madeline) DeFilippi
Queens, New York
💔 The Tragic Murder of Madelyn DeFilippi 💔
On February 14, 1973, 26 year old Madelyn (some sources also spell her name “Madeline”) DeFilippi was brutally killed inside her home in Forest Hills Gardens, a private residential complex in Queens, New York. The young mother, wife of a Roosevelt Hospital urologist, was found bound and fatally attacked in what police initially believed to be an apparent robbery attempt. Her body was discovered on the kitchen floor of the two-family house at 810 Burns Street by the property’s owner, Stanley Jeffery, after her parents were unable to reach her by telephone throughout the day.
Concerned by the constant busy signal, Madelyn’s parents, Charles and Stella Rinaldi of Middle Village, asked Mr. Jeffery to check on her. Letting himself in with a passkey, he made the devastating discovery around 5:30 p.m. The couple’s four month old son, Joseph Jr., was found unharmed in a bedroom, the only room that appeared to have been disturbed. The apartment telephone had been left off the hook, explaining why her parents’ calls would not go through.
Police reported that Madelyn’s hands had been tied in front of her and that there were no signs of forced entry. Investigators believed she may have been attacked while attempting to flee through the back door. Detectives canvassed the quiet, upper-middle-class neighborhood, seeking witnesses who may have seen or heard anything unusual. Patrol officers guarded the property while authorities searched the surrounding shrubbery for clues. An autopsy was scheduled at Queens General Hospital.
The shocking crime deeply rattled the community. Neighbors expressed disbelief that such violence could occur.
Madeline’s infant son was taken to stay with relatives, while her husband, delayed at work that day, was notified of the tragedy later that evening. Despite extensive investigation and questioning, authorities stated that no clear motive had been established.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or visit the NYPD Crime Stoppers website at CRIMESTOPPERS.NYPDONLINE.ORG. 💐
Sources:
https://queensda.org/madeline-difilippi-age-27/
https://www.nytimes.com/1973/02/14/archives/26yearold-wife-of-physician-is-slain-in-forest-hills-gardens.html
https://websleuths.com/threads/queens-ny-1973-stabbing-murder-of-madelyn-defilippi.425044/
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/464967315/
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/464968543/
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/464966164/ https://www.nytimes.com/1973/02/18/archives/300-at-rites-for-doctors-slain-wife.html
The Lost & The Taken 
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