Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories

Episode: The Cold Murder of His Father

Date: February 1, 2026
Host: John "Jay" Wiley
Guest: Mike Gatto (former California legislator, attorney, author)

Episode Overview

This episode features a deeply personal conversation between retired police sergeant and radio host John J. Wiley and guest Mike Gatto, a former four-term California legislator, attorney, and author. They discuss the unsolved murder of Mike’s father, Joseph Gatto, during a 2013 home invasion. Mike reflects on the trauma, the frustrating search for answers, the investigation's dead-ends, and how this tragedy shaped his life. He also shares the purpose behind his book, Noir by Necessity: How My Father's Unsolved Murder Took Me to Dark Places, and appeals for tips that may help solve the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime and Immediate Aftermath

• Discovery of Joseph Gatto's death:

  • Mike’s sister found their father dead at his desk, shot in the abdomen, after not hearing from him for a while ([03:04-04:23]).
  • Joseph Gatto was healthy, active, and not involved in high-risk activities ([03:04], [06:26]).
  • There was little blood, making cause of death initially unclear ([03:04]).

• Emotional impact:

  • Mike describes surreal disbelief and the need to keep a newspaper as proof that the tragedy actually happened ([06:26]).
  • "I would wake up in the middle of the night, be like, oh, yeah, come on, this isn't real... then I'd see that LA Times front page story..." – Mike Gatto ([06:26]).

2. Crime Scene Details & Theories

• No forced entry:

  • The lack of forced entry made the case especially perplexing ([04:45-05:20]).

• Safe neighborhood context:

  • Silver Lake, Los Angeles, had only one murder in 2013 ([05:20]).

• Initial police theories:

  • Various theories considered: Russian mafia (discounted; the rare Russian paintings weren’t valuable or even taken), political motive (dismissed by police), and a neighborhood car burglar who escalated to murder ([13:13-18:49]).
  • "Whoever had killed my dad had walked past several of these [paintings] on his wall." – Mike Gatto ([13:13]).
  • The car burglar theory was heavily discussed by police but never sat well with Mike due to timeline inconsistencies, lack of theft, and the improbability of such a criminal taking that risk ([14:41-19:04]).

• Items taken & crime scene staging:

  • Very little was taken; some homemade jewelry, unclear attempts to break into his safe, and strangely untouched valuables ([19:08]).
  • "There were some other things like some valuable gold rings... that whoever was there just walked right past and didn't take." – Mike Gatto ([19:08]).

3. The Reality of Unsolved Cases

• Challenges for investigators:

  • Wiley explains that most murders are committed by someone known to the victim; when not, solving the case is extremely difficult ([21:44], [24:01]).
  • Police theories have holes; Mike believes someone his father knew is likely responsible ([24:35]).
  • "When a senior citizen is killed inside their own home... they know their perpetrator, they know their murderer. Like, 99% of the time, it is somebody they know." – Mike Gatto ([24:35]).

• The burden of cold cases:

  • Mike and Wiley discuss the diminishing odds of solving cold cases, as well as limited police resources and attention ([37:10]-[38:22]).
  • "Once a case goes cold... the odds diminish over time, but I still hope that something will happen that'll break my dad's case." – Mike Gatto ([39:10]).

4. The Personal Toll of Trauma

• Enduring emotional aftermath:

  • Mike describes the deep, lasting effects on his psyche, relationships, and sense of self ([32:48]-[34:25]).
  • "I felt like for the longest time, I was obsessed with the case. Not in a healthy way. I felt like I was a bad friend, a bad husband... because I was so obsessed..." – Mike Gatto ([32:48]).

• Struggle with public perception:

  • Sharing the truth about his father's death often leads to social discomfort and feelings of being seen as "damaged goods" by others ([32:48]).
  • "And you tell them the truth... and they kind of shy away from you, like, oh, damaged goods..." – Mike Gatto ([32:48]).

5. Reflections on Justice and Closure

• No easy closure or justice:
  • Wiley and Mike discuss the absence of “closure” and “justice” in most cases, especially when unsolved ([36:20]).
  • "One of the easiest crimes to get away with is murder because, well, it's all evidence driven." – John J. Wiley ([36:20]).

6. Outreach and Hope for Tips

• Mike appeals for anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward—via himself, the LAPD, or anonymous tip lines ([24:01], [26:49]).
• He shares experiences with both promising and frivolous tips, emphasizing the emotional toll even wild leads can take ([27:32]).
• "We value all tips... In my book, I talk about some of the crazier tips we've gotten." – Mike Gatto ([26:49]).

7. The Book: Noir by Necessity

• Purpose and process:
  • Writing the book was both cathartic and painful for Mike ([40:30]).
  • He wrote it to share what families of murder victims experience and to document the investigative process.
  • "I didn't hold much back... it felt really good to lay out in an organized fashion every single clue that I know..." – Mike Gatto ([40:30]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike Gatto on disbelief and grief:

  • "I would wake up in the middle of the night, be like, oh, yeah, come on, this isn't real... then I'd see that LA Times front page story that my dad had been killed and I would know that it was in fact reality." ([06:26])

• On the case's complexity:

  • "The police were able to piece together... that somebody had gotten into my father's house... there were no signs of forced entry, however, and that's what has made the case so difficult to comprehend." – Mike Gatto ([04:45])

• Mike Gatto on guilt and 'what-ifs':

  • "If I know now, you know what I know then or know now what I should have known then, those things will definitely make you second guess things." ([09:41])

• Host John J. Wiley’s perspective:

  • "Most murders are crimes of passion and it's usually a family member or loved one or someone the victim knows. That's 90% of it." ([21:44])
  • "One of the easiest crimes to get away with is murder because... it's all evidence driven." ([36:20])

• Mike Gatto’s call to action:

  • "If anybody knows anything, and we'd love for them to step forward, here's what..." ([26:49])

• Mike Gatto on writing the book:

  • "I wrote this book because of all the families of murder victims out there who feel like nobody knows what they're going through..." ([34:25])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:04] - Mike recounts the night he learned of his father's murder
• [05:20] - Description of Silver Lake neighborhood
• [06:26] - Mike's emotional process in the month after the murder
• [13:13] - Overview of theories: Russian mafia, politics, car burglar
• [19:08] - Details on what was stolen/left untouched
• [24:35] - Discussion of likelihood the killer was known to Joseph Gatto
• [32:48] - Mike discusses trauma and being perceived as “damaged goods”
• [34:25] - Purpose behind writing the book
• [36:20] - John J. Wiley on the lack of closure and challenges in homicide cases
• [39:10] - The reality of cold case resolution
• [40:30] - Catharsis and pain of writing the book

Action & Resources

• Book: Noir by Necessity: How My Father's Unsolved Murder Took Me to Dark Places, available at mikegatto.com
• Tip Lines: Anyone with information is urged to contact Mike Gatto, the LAPD, or submit to Anonymous We Tip.
• Guest contact: mikegatto.com (G-A-T-T-O dot com)

Tone & Style

The conversation is empathetic, direct, and emotionally candid. Both host and guest speak frankly about crime investigation realities, personal trauma, and living with unanswered questions. The tone is supportive and occasionally darkly humorous, reflecting their backgrounds in law enforcement and lived experience with tragedy.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking deep insight into the ongoing impact of unresolved violent crime—on both the personal and investigative levels.