MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Episode: Concrete Evidence (Podcast Exclusive)

Release Date: April 20, 2026
Host: MrBallen (John Allen)

Episode Overview

In this true crime episode, MrBallen unravels the brutal double homicide of Michael Zimiti Jr. and Chester Roberts, who were gunned down at their family-run concrete business in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Through rich storytelling and detail, MrBallen guides listeners through tangled relationships, Mafia rumors, a relentless police investigation, and a chilling conclusion rooted in jealousy and betrayal. At its heart, the story is a murder mystery that challenges initial assumptions and demonstrates how the quest for love can devolve into violence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Victims and Setting (01:43 – 07:00)

• Michael Zimiti Jr. (Mike Jr.):
  • Successful operator of Allstate Concrete Pumping, a family business.
  • Recently purchased a second home in Freedom, New Hampshire as proof of his hard work.
  • Struggling marriage due to his demanding work leading to long absences.
• Family Dynamics:
  • Mike Jr. and his father, Mike Sr., are best friends and coworkers.
  • The Zimitis are a close-knit Italian-American family.
  • Affair Revealed: Mike learns his wife, Michelle, had an affair with family friend and neighbor, Sean Fitzpatrick. The couple attempts therapy and reconciliation.
• Foreshadowing the Crime:
  • Mike Jr. encounters Sean on the lake; Sean apologizes for the affair.
  • Mike finds his wife packed and ready to leave after their weekend at the lake.

2. The Murders at Allstate Concrete (07:00 – 15:00)

• Discovery:

  • Mike Jr. arrives at work early to prepare for the week.
  • Mike Sr. later discovers Chester Roberts' body at the entry, lying face down in a pool of blood (12:00).
  • Mike Jr. found dead in the upstairs office, shot in the face and chest. Scene described as an execution (14:45).
  • Detective Baker’s Analysis:

    “Whoever did this, it’s like they went in here to execute Mike really intentionally. They marched in here, they didn’t touch anything else, and they shot Mike right in the face with a shotgun.” (15:15)

• Crime Scene Observations:

  • No signs of forced entry or robbery.
  • No defensive wounds on Chester. He was shot from behind.
  • Mafia rumors begin circulating because of their Italian heritage and involvement in the "Big Dig" construction project.

3. Investigation Trails (15:00 – 26:00)

• Initial Suspects Explored:
  • Hank Jennings: Family member with history of legal disputes over unpaid overtime. Becomes a primary suspect due to known grudge.
  • Michelle Zimiti: Mike Jr’s wife, suspected due to her affair and conventional motive.
  • Sean Fitzpatrick: The neighbor and Michelle’s lover.
• Alibis and Evidence:
  • Michelle claims to be home with the kids during murders.
  • Hank is hard to locate and refuses to speak without a lawyer at the funeral.
  • Surveillance footage shows a mysterious green pickup truck arriving and leaving the parking lot at the presumed time of the murders (22:30).
• Quote

  “Mafia stereotype. An Italian-American family involved in construction. But Cas said he knew the Zimittis pretty well, and… found it hard to believe they were involved in any kind of shady, you know, mafia business deals.” – MrBallen (15:30)

4. The Affair and Its Fallout (26:06 – 31:00)

• Michelle’s Confession:
  • She initially withholds, then reveals, her affair with Sean Fitzpatrick.
  • Explains they were working through it; Sean reportedly upset by the breakup.
• Sean’s Response:
  • Denies any affair when questioned, claiming he was only a “family friend.”
  • Solid initial alibi: Neighbor claims to see him at 9AM, but Wakefield is a two-hour drive from Freedom, NH, appearing to clear him.

5. Mounting Pressure and Dead Ends (31:00 – 36:00)

• Hank Jennings: Avoids police, invokes right to counsel; eventually proven to have an alibi and is not the killer.
• Michelle and Sean: Both are scrutinized, but evidence appears lacking.
• A Threatening Letter:
  • Zimiti family receives a ransom-style note:

    “Close business now or more family will die.” (36:13)

  • Investigators focus on the letter, seeking forensic evidence.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• The Threatening Ransom Note:

  “Close business now or more family will die.” (36:13)

• Describing the Execution:

  “Whoever did this, it’s like they went in here to execute Mike really intentionally. They marched in here… and shot Mike right in the face with a shotgun before Mike could even get up.” (15:15)

• Skepticism about Mafia Involvement:

  “It just felt kind of silly and performative, like maybe somebody was trying to make it seem like the mob to lead the investigation in the wrong direction.” – MrBallen (36:45)

6. Breakthrough & Resolution (36:00 – 40:25)

• Forensics from the Note:

  • DNA and a palm print are found on the threatening letter.
  • Investigators scrutinize items in Michelle’s house, collecting condolence cards to match DNA.

• Timeline Correction:

  • Neighbor who “alibied” Sean Fitzpatrick amends her statement—she had actually seen him after 9AM, leaving a window for him to commit the murders.

• Definitive Evidence:

  • DNA from the condolence card envelope, licked by Sean, matches the threatening letter and evidence from the scene, implicating him beyond doubt.

• The Killer’s Motive & Actions:

  • Sean, obsessed with Michelle and desperate to be with her, interpreted her words as an opening to murder Mike Jr.
  • Stole a green pickup from a neighbor, drove to Wakefield, killed Mike Jr., and shot Chester to eliminate a witness.

• Conclusion:

  • Sean Fitzpatrick is convicted and receives two consecutive life sentences.
  • Initial theories about the Mafia, marital revenge, and business rivalry are all disproved.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Introduction, Zimiti family background | 01:43 – 07:00 | | Discovery of the bodies / crime scene analysis | 07:00 – 15:00 | | Police investigation & possible suspects | 15:00 – 26:00 | | Michelle’s confession, Sean’s denial | 26:06 – 31:00 | | Surveillance footage, green truck lead | 22:30 – 24:00 | | Ransom note threat arrives | 36:13 | | Forensic breakthrough & conclusion | 36:45 – 40:25 |

Notable Quotes (Speaker Attribution & Timestamp)

• MrBallen on the crime scene:

  “Whoever did this… they marched in here, they didn’t touch anything else, and they shot Mike right in the face with a shotgun.” (15:15)

• MrBallen on the ransom note:

  “It just felt kind of silly and performative, like maybe somebody was trying to make it seem like the mob to lead the investigation in the wrong direction.” (36:45)

• The Threatening Letter (Read aloud):

  “Close business now or more family will die.” (36:13)

Summary & Takeaways

• The episode meticulously walks listeners through each investigative step, showing how initial assumptions (about the Mafia, business rivalries, or marital revenge) can distract from the true motive.
• The emotional heart lies in family dynamics—the pain of betrayal, the lengths people will go for love, and the cascading impact of a single rash act.
• The case is ultimately solved through a blend of old-school detective work, forensics, and keen attention to seemingly minor evidence—especially the condolence card that delivered the breakthrough.
• In a twist worth of a true MrBallen story, the trusted “Uncle Sean” and family friend was the killer all along—a final reminder: appearances can be deceiving.

This episode is a gripping example of MrBallen’s talent for storytelling, blending the suspense of a true whodunit with empathy for its real-life victims.