Introducing: There and Gone

Summary

Nobody Should Believe Me: Episode "Introducing: There and Gone" Summary

In the premiere episode of "Nobody Should Believe Me," host Andrea Gunning delves into the perplexing and haunting disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone from Philadelphia two decades ago. This detailed exploration uncovers the intricate layers of the case, featuring interviews with family members, law enforcement officials, and experts. The episode not only recounts the events of that fateful night but also highlights the enduring impact on those left behind and the ongoing quest for answers.

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1. Introduction to the Case

Andrea Gunning sets the stage by introducing the disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone on February 19, 2005. The couple vanished from a bustling Philadelphia bar, leaving no trace behind. This section emphasizes the baffling nature of the case and its transformation into a local urban legend over the years.

• Andrea Gunning [02:14]: "There and Gone is the story of Danielle Imbo and her friend Richard Petrone, who disappeared from a busy Philadelphia street 20 years ago today."

2. Family's Desperate Search

The episode transitions to Marge Petrone, Richard's mother, who shares her relentless search for her son. Her emotional recounting underscores the depth of her despair and determination.

• Marge Petrone [02:14]: "Throughout this entire time Danielle's been missing. Trying to find her literally consumed me."

Marge describes her own frantic search, including a nighttime search along train tracks spurred by a psychic's unsettling message.

• Marge Petrone [00:57]: "She was dying in a box corner. So in the middle of the night I went down to Philadelphia and searched the train tracks under the bridge with a flashlight."

3. Law Enforcement Perspectives

Detective Mike Weber and Special Agent Vito Roselli provide insights into the investigation's challenges. They discuss the lack of physical evidence and the complexities of solving a case with minimal leads.

• Detective Mike Weber [04:08]: "We have several working theories. We've done a number of searches in different areas. We have a lot of folks that we've talked to."

• Special Agent Vito Roselli [08:13]: "There are so many times over the past few years that I thought Vito was close in solving this. And then nothing."

4. The Impact on the Community

John Otobre, the brother of Danielle, shares how the disappearance has resonated within the tightly-knit Philadelphia community. The persistent presence of their missing persons poster on South Street serves as a constant reminder of the unresolved case.

• John Otobre [05:16]: "For 15 years, Danielle and Richard were strangers to me... It's the stretch of highway that connects Philadelphia to New York City."

5. Personal Connections and Emotional Toll

The episode highlights personal connections among the families and friends of the missing couple, illustrating the profound emotional toll the case has had over the years.

• Marge Petrone [19:07]: "I have a Susan Lucci doll. You know, it's funny because I love soap operas and all that."

Marge's recollections of family traditions and memories serve to humanize the victims and deepen the listener's understanding of the personal loss involved.

6. Investigation Challenges and Advances

Detective Weber discusses the technological limitations during the initial investigation in 2005, contrasting them with today's advanced tools that could aid in solving such cases.

• Detective Mike Weber [33:10]: "We have a lot more tools available to us now than we did back then."

The lack of security cameras and digital footprints back then significantly hampered the investigation, leaving law enforcement to rely on traditional methods and scant evidence.

7. Renewed Efforts and Community Involvement

As the anniversary of the disappearance approaches, renewed efforts to keep the case in the public eye are discussed. The involvement of a true crime podcast, "There and Gone," aims to generate new leads by engaging the community and encouraging individuals to come forward with any information.

• Detective Mike Weber [35:37]: "I think putting it out there to the public on a true crime podcast is a brilliant step to add to what has been done so far."

8. Emotional Appeals and Call to Action

Both families make heartfelt appeals for closure, urging anyone with information to come forward. The episode concludes with a poignant call to action, emphasizing the ongoing search for truth and justice.

• Marge Petrone [23:08]: "Christine and Marge feared the worst. But Richard's father wasn't about to jump to conclusions."

• John Otobre [36:53]: "It's crazy for me to say this, but I think the FBI needs our help and your help. So do Danielle and Richard."

9. Conclusion and Next Steps

The episode wraps up with a promise of continued investigation and exploration of new leads, setting the stage for future episodes to uncover more about the disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone.

• John Otobre [37:14]: "The two left a crowded bar in a popular area of Philadelphia on a Saturday night two decades ago. And in those 20 years, we still don't know who wanted to harm them and why."

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Notable Quotes:

• Marge Petrone [02:14]: "Trying to find her literally consumed me."
• Detective Mike Weber [09:29]: "The people who did it had to have the means to get rid of two bodies and a truck in a very quick amount of time."
• John Otobre [35:55]: "Having lived here my whole life, I've watched the segment each February with the rest of Philadelphia."
• Detective Mike Weber [32:38]: "I'm a father, I'm a brother, I'm a husband, I'm a son. It's very hard not to see the human side."

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Call to Action:

Listeners are encouraged to contribute information by contacting the Citizens Crime Commission tip line at 215-546-8477 or reaching out via email at thereandgonepodmail.com. Engaging the community is crucial in revitalizing the investigation and bringing Danielle and Richard's families the closure they desperately seek.

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This episode of "Nobody Should Believe Me" masterfully intertwines personal narratives with investigative insights, painting a comprehensive picture of a case that remains shrouded in mystery. Through emotional appeals and methodical exploration, Andrea Gunning invites listeners to become part of the search for truth, highlighting the enduring hope that justice will eventually prevail.

Transcript

[Andrea Gunning]

True Story Media, the Mother Next Door, Medicine, Deception and Munchausen by Proxy is now available from St. Martin's Press wherever books are sold. This is my first foray into nonfiction and I co authored the book with none other than friend of the show Detective Mike Weber. This true crime saga covers three of Mike's most impactful cases and follows along with his game changing tenure at the Tarrant County DA's office. As a listener of this show, I think you will love the book and if you are an audiobook fan, just know that I am the narrator. You can find the Mother Next Door in all formats right now wherever books are sold and we'll include a link in our show notes and thank you for your support.

[Detective Mike Weber]

This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. During tax season, your personal info travels to a lot of places between payroll, your tax consultant and the IRS.

[John Otobre]

If your W2 gets exposed, that's just.

[Detective Mike Weber]

The ticket for identity thieves. That's why LifeLock monitors millions of data points every second. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Don't let identity thieves take you for a ride. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast terms apply.

[Andrea Gunning]

Hey, it's Andrea and today I want to introduce you to a really incredible series called There and Gone from my friend Andrea Gunning, who you may know from the hit shows Betrayal and Betrayal Weekly. There and Gone is the story of Danielle Imbo and her friend Richard Petrone, who disappeared from a busy Philadelphia street 20 years ago today. The case has baffled law enforcement and the families for two decades, and as a Philly native, the story has always haunted Gunning. Now she's out to find the truth. I binge this series in a few days. It's so gripping and the host's connection to the story and the care with which she handles it really makes it something special. So go check it out. You can listen to the whole thing right now. You can find There and Gone at the link in our show notes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Now here's the first episode.

[Marge Petrone]

Throughout this entire time Danielle's been missing. Trying to find her literally consumed me. Some psychic called my mother in law and said Danielle was dying in a box corner. So in the middle of the night I went down to Philadelphia and searched the train tracks under the bridge with a flashlight. Here I am scaling this fence, midnight, with a flashlight, looking in boxcars. I got in trouble for that one. The Mount Laurel police detective called me up screaming, telling me that they had to stop all of commerce in Pennsylvania to get me out of the railroad because I was looking in railroad cars. I just can't stop. It just consumed me.

[John Otobre]

That's John Otobre. His sister Danielle went missing in February of 2005. But she wasn't alone. Danielle and her friend Richard left a bar and simply vanished. 19 years later, they still have yet to be found.

[Marge Petrone]

She was my sister. She was my friend. She was my blood. I would do anything for her. Throughout all these years. Speaking with the FBI, I know my sister died that night. But to this day, I still don't know. I can't stop my mind from wandering to the darker things. She alone? Was she scared? Was she calling out for someone? Was. For all I know, they have all this information. The FBI.

[John Otobre]

So what does the FBI say?

[Detective Mike Weber]

We have several working theories. We've done a number of searches in different areas. We have a lot of folks that we've talked to. We have statements, phone records. I probably have the silver bullet and all of that stuff. I need somebody to tie it together. This needs to get solved.

[John Otobre]

I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is Theron. Gone. South Street Episode one Ghosts all that.

[Marge Petrone]

I know is I see you in my dreams Reach out in the dark but you've been lost to me I'll never give up no matter how long I open my eyes to find that you're gone.

[John Otobre]

A note that the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals participating. This podcast contains subject matter which may not be suitable for everyone. Discretion is advised. For 15 years, Danielle and Richard were strangers to me. Ghosts that loomed over I95 South. It's the stretch of highway that connects Philadelphia to New York City. Each side is lined with billboards. Most are ads for ambulance chasers or beer, but one shows two smiling faces next to the word missing. It's Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, and it's been there for almost 20 years.

[Marge Petrone]

Imbo and Petrone were last seen leaving.

[John Otobre]

A South street bar in the late.

[Marge Petrone]

Evening of February 19, 2005.

[John Otobre]

I knew their faces. I knew their names. Investigators have turned up a few promising.

[Marge Petrone]

Leads, but have not found the couple or the car.

[John Otobre]

South street is one of the busiest and most popular places for nightlife in Philadelphia. At least it was in 2005. Think Bourbon street, but without the balconies and beads. It's not exactly the same, but you get the idea. No shortage of places to grab a drink and have a good time. It's not a place where two people just Vanish. And it's certainly a spot where you'd have plenty of eyewitnesses. They had left a bar at 4th.

[Marge Petrone]

And south, headed to his pickup truck, and simply vanished.

[John Otobre]

Not a trace. Two adults in their mid-30s walk out of a bar and into oblivion. How is that even possible? I live within walking distance of South Street. I've been to those bars, and I've walked those same streets. I know how busy they are. So this has often haunted me. The story of Richard Petrone and Daniel Imbo became an anecdote, a Philadelphia urban legend. If my team was ever going to produce a missing persons podcast, this was the one. And as I'll explain in a bit, it turns out we are way more connected to the story than I originally thought. When I begin working on a story, I usually reach out to law enforcement. From the initial research, it was clear the FBI was involved, so I decided to start there.

[Jeri Williams]

This case was different because it was two people. They were adults that were just out having fun, and now they disappear with, you know, no information about where they could be.

[John Otobre]

That's Jeri Williams. She was an FBI agent and the spokesperson for the Philadelphia bureau. When Danielle and Richard went missing.

[Jeri Williams]

I don't think anybody had heard of a case like this ever before. Vito would come into my office and keep me updated.

[John Otobre]

Vito. Special Agent Vito Roselli. He has been working on this case since the very beginning.

[Jeri Williams]

I could tell that it was more than just another investigation for him.

[John Otobre]

Agent Roselli had spent almost two decades tracking down every lead in this case, but came up short.

[Jeri Williams]

There are so many times over the past few years that I thought Vito was close in solving this. And then nothing.

[John Otobre]

I needed to talk to Vito.

[Detective Mike Weber]

Hey, Andrea, I really appreciate your effort on this. Huge help.

[John Otobre]

Special Agent Vito Roselli looks and sounds like someone in a TV show who's playing an FBI agent. He's a stocky guy, muscular with dark skin, and seems like someone you'd want to grab a beer with.

[Detective Mike Weber]

My dad was an old Hoover guy. He was an old FBI agent, so I grew up around that. I got in Philly in February of 97, and I've been in Philly pretty much my whole career.

[John Otobre]

Vito is a warm and welcoming guy, but I could tell that he carries pieces of this investigation around with him, and that clearly rests heavily on his heart. I don't know how else to explain it, but there's a heaviness to that.

[Detective Mike Weber]

It wasn't just an accident. Driving off a bridge. A truck and two people just don't disappear. What I do know is that the people who are involved had to have the means to get rid of two bodies and a truck in a very quick amount of time. That means that they did it before or they had access to those circles. So I don't have the truck, and I don't have the bodies.

[John Otobre]

Just think about that. Not only are Danielle and Richard missing, but so is the Dodge Dakota pickup truck they were driving. And after 19 years of searching, Vito still has no physical evidence to work with. He's been trying to figure out who wanted to kill either Danielle and Richard without a fingerprint, a tire mark, or a single drop of blood. But maybe what's stranger than any of that is the why. Because on paper, neither of these two seem to have a target on their back.

[Detective Mike Weber]

What I did uncover is that both were good people. A lot of people cared for him. Danielle was very close to her mom and her brother, and Rich was very close to both his parents and all his siblings and had a child that he was raising. Both families are still extremely distraught. It's very emotional for him, as emotional today as it was when I first met them.

[John Otobre]

Vito has a lot riding on this investigation. Obviously, he felt for Danielle and Richard's families. It's been on his plate since 2005. And all investigators will tell you they always feel like they're racing against time. But Vito had a different clock. You see, in the FBI, there's a mandatory retirement age of 57, and Vito's 57th birthday was fast approaching.

[Detective Mike Weber]

Every investigator, every detective has that white whale that hangs over the head. And in this particular case, where you don't get an answer, that just crushes people's souls, and it's tough. So the case is very much open, and hopefully we make an arrest.

[John Otobre]

I've met with Vito a few times now. After those conversations, it's become clear what Vito is missing testimony. Someone who heard something or saw something or remembers anything, anything about what happened on the night of February 19, 2005. He just needs someone to come forward.

[Detective Mike Weber]

Everybody that's working on this case, everybody that has worked on this case wants this to get out in the public and wants people to call in. And that's why I'm very thankful for you guys.

[John Otobre]

This case was a big deal in Philadelphia, and to be fair, it did get national attention. But that interest lasted for, like, two months, because in May of 2005, an American teenager went missing in Aruba. Natalee Holloway. And the nation turned their attention to her. Slowly, Danielle and Richard faded from public consciousness. But Philadelphia hasn't forgotten. For a big metropolitan city, there is a small town feel here and it's that close knit community that keeps their memory alive. See, everybody knows everybody here, or at least know someone who knows your sister or your cousin or used to work with that guy that you used to work with. All of that is relevant here. The city, its people, it's all important to this story. Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love, and often love extends to loyalty, vows of silence when it comes to nefarious behavior. The FBI undoubtedly believes that there are people who know what happened to Richard and Danielle but have remained silent. So why now? I once heard this theory from law enforcement that when it comes to these types of cases, there are usually three windows of time to solve them. The first few weeks, the first year, and then the next best is the 20th anniversary.

[Detective Mike Weber]

I've gotten confessions from folks because it was chewing them up on the inside. Not all folks that do illegal activity are evil folks. A lot of them have consciences and kids and families of their own, and eventually it wears on them.

[John Otobre]

By the time this podcast launches, we'll approach the opening of that final window. Maybe after two decades, perhaps someone's own mortality will change their view and come forward with information. I approached my team about taking this on and knew my producing partner, Ben would be interested because, like me, he grew up in Philadelphia too. He knew this story as well as I did. But there was something I didn't expect. When discussing it with my colleague Kerry, she went white. She looked at me and said, you know, my brother grew up with Richard Petrone and was good friends with him, right? I had no idea. So she put me in touch with her brother Jimmy.

[Marge Petrone]

He was so likable. He just had such a huge heart.

[John Otobre]

Jimmy Hartman grew up across the street from Richard and the two immediately became fast friends.

[Marge Petrone]

We liked to play hockey. We would get the guys together and we became friends from there. And I knew Danielle also because I graduated high school with her.

[John Otobre]

Like I said, everybody knows everybody.

[Marge Petrone]

She was always nice. I just never got to know her that well. But I knew her and she knew me.

[John Otobre]

So Jimmy not only knew Danielle and Richard, but was even close with Richard's parents, Richard Sr. And Marge Bertrone.

[Marge Petrone]

You couldn't go to the house without eating, just so. Typical Italian family. And there's just pasta and food and bread and wine and everything everywhere.

[John Otobre]

Jimmy said it's been tough to watch the patron suffer all these years.

[Marge Petrone]

You could see the pain, especially in Marge's eyes. You could just see how Much. It hurts her, you know? And when you have somebody taken from you like this, it's just really hard to say goodbye.

[John Otobre]

At first, he said the patrons were dreading that phone call from police, the call that would confirm that Richard was dead. But now any information would be welcomed information.

[Marge Petrone]

I would hate for either one of them to leave the earth without having closure. I mean, they have not let up on trying to get this mystery solved.

[John Otobre]

We had the FBI on our side, but we understood that to move forward, we would need both families to participate. It's a painful process, but also an opportunity. The more you talk about a missing person, the more likely it is that someone who knows something will say something. But approaching these families, I knew I would be asking them to relive so much. It's tough. Since Jimmy knew the patrons from childhood, he made an introduction. So we started there.

[Jeri Williams]

I left it open for you guys.

[John Otobre]

There we go. Marge Petrone greeted me and my colleague Ben at her front door. It was a bright Sunday afternoon, nearly 19 years after her son Richard and his friend Danielle Imbo vanished. We needed to learn who Richard and Danielle were and understand everything they left behind. On February 19, 2005, we had been told that both families were done speaking to the press. Think about it. The closest people to Richard and Danielle had to answer the same questions about their disappearance for over 19 years now. Yet here I was with my partner Ben, standing at the threshold of the patron. Patron's family home to again pick at that scab. It took an introduction from Richard's childhood friend, many conversations, and Vito expressing the importance of participating. Ultimately, the patrons agreed.

[Jeri Williams]

Do you want to sit like somewhere comfortable or what do you want to do?

[John Otobre]

And much to my surprise and relief, Marge welcomed us with a warm, friendly smile. And just like I was told, she immediately wanted to feed us.

[Jeri Williams]

Want something to eat? You want a piece of cake or something?

[John Otobre]

Marge is a grandmother as well as a mother of three, so hosting us seemed like old hat for Marge. Like we'd been over for dinner many times before, even though this was a first for all of us. And that day, Marge invited us for Sunday dinner. And no, this isn't just a meal that happens to fall on Sunday. It's actually a long running tradition for the patrons. That's when their family comes together for a big Italian meal. So we felt honored to be invited. It was just before Christmas and every inch of our house was decorated, including the kitchen. That's where we all gathered around a charcuterie board filled with sliced deli meats. And cheeses while a huge pot of red gravy bubbled on the stove behind us. Marge's freezer door was lined with several baby pictures and a ton of magnets. She pointed to the Chicago Bears magnet and said it was Richard's favorite football team. And then there was this.

[Jeri Williams]

I have a Susan Lucci doll.

[John Otobre]

You might remember Susan Lucci from the long running daytime TV show All My Children.

[Jeri Williams]

You know, it's funny because I love soap operas and all that.

[John Otobre]

Marge explained that she always watched All My Children and how one year for Christmas, Richard surprised her with with this Susan Lucci doll.

[Jeri Williams]

For a guy, he was the best gift giver and just very thoughtful and did it all himself. Like he didn't just go to the mall and buy anything. He knew what you were into.

[John Otobre]

I could tell Richard is Marge's firstborn. She lights up at every mention of his name. Like how he played hockey from the time he was seven until the day he went missing. And how she still holds onto Richard's Bobby Clark jersey. That's when her voice trailed off. And as the firstborn, you could say Richard got special treatment.

[Jeri Williams]

When Richard had a sore throat, I would run him to the doctors and Christine always would say if I said I had a sore throat, you'd say, spray your throat. You're all right.

[John Otobre]

So Christine and Elisa are Marta's daughters. Christine was also best friends with Danielle Limbo. She was supposed to join us for dinner, but Christine backed out at the last minute. Her sister Alisa gave us a clue as to why.

[Jeri Williams]

I think this whole thing was really hard for Christine.

[John Otobre]

Cause it's her best friend and her brother.

[Jeri Williams]

Richard and Christine were only a year difference.

[John Otobre]

And she doesn't really say anything too.

[Jeri Williams]

Much about that night.

[John Otobre]

Alisa is well into her 30s now, but was just a teenager when her brother Richard disappeared.

[Jeri Williams]

We have have no idea what happened.

[John Otobre]

To them or how this happened.

[Jeri Williams]

And we just live with that.

[Marge Petrone]

And it's an awful feeling.

[John Otobre]

There was a row of stockings in the living room that hung across their mantle just above the fireplace. I couldn't help but wonder if Richard's stocking was one of them. We all moved to the kitchen table as Marge arrived with a giant bowl of stuffed manicotti and homemade made meatballs. It was enough to feed a small army.

[Jeri Williams]

Everything to me is happy and sad.

[John Otobre]

Yeah. Marge pointed to where Richard sat for 35 years and then to the empty chair where her husband used to sit for 40 years. Marge and her husband Richard Sr. Owned and operated a Swedish bakery called Viking Pastries in the suburbs of Philly. That's where Richard and his father worked side by side. The two were very close. Richard Sr. Suffered multiple strokes and hasn't been home for a while now.

[Jeri Williams]

He's just never been here since Richard disappeared. Let's face it. He's never been the same. No, no, no, never. He's the shell of the person he used to be.

[John Otobre]

He is not at all who he was. You know, I don't want to say that life hasn't gone on for the patron since Richard disappeared, because it has. But I got the feeling that Marge, in particular, has been sort of treading water ever since that day. The void Richard left was on full display that Sunday.

[Jeri Williams]

I had to keep going, which I still am doing, even though it's like yesterday for me.

[John Otobre]

Back on February 20, 2005, Richard didn't make it home for Sunday dinner.

[Jeri Williams]

I remember Christine calling me, and she said, mom, Richard's missing. And I said, missing? What do you mean he's home? There's NASCAR today. Would never leave the house. He's home.

[John Otobre]

Marge said she was out running errands with her husband that afternoon, and she was certain Richard was home. It was the day of the Daytona 500, and Richard had been looking forward to it all week.

[Jeri Williams]

She's not home, Mom.

[John Otobre]

Christine called Marge from the salon where she worked. She was concerned about Danielle. Yeah, the same Danielle who was with Richard the night before.

[Jeri Williams]

And she said danielle didn't show up for an appointment today, and she never does that. And he's not home. He's missing.

[John Otobre]

Marge and her son Richard were close. They usually talked multiple times a day. But that Sunday, she hadn't heard from him.

[Jeri Williams]

And so I called his phone a million times, and it just went right to voicemail. He would never, not answer his phone to me. Never.

[John Otobre]

One thing to keep in mind, back in early 2005, most of us had flip phones, and texting wasn't common yet. So when our phones rang, we'd actually answer them. The fact that Richard wasn't answering his phone immediately concerned Marge.

[Jeri Williams]

Christine said the same thing with Danielle. It's just going right to voicemail now. I called my sister, and I said to her, you've got to go in his apartment.

[John Otobre]

Marge's sister lived down the street from from Richard. So she had a spare key and headed over to the apartment. She didn't see Richard's truck parked out front, so she unlocked the door and went inside.

[Jeri Williams]

She said, no, nobody came back here. And the dog's barking.

[John Otobre]

Richard's Dog Bismarck was in distress and needed to go out. His food bowl was empty and it was clear Richard had not been home for hours. From everything I've learned today, today Richard was a reliable guy, not one to be out of touch. Leaving his family in the dark like this, it was out of character.

[Jeri Williams]

He would never go anywhere without telling me. I knew immediately, immediately. And I said, oh my God, this could not be happening. But I lost my shot today.

[Marge Petrone]

Oh.

[Jeri Williams]

Oh my God. Christine said, we're never going to see them again, are we, mom? I said, no, we're not. No, we're not.

[John Otobre]

Christine and Marge feared the worst. But Richard's father wasn't about to jump to conclusions. Richard Sr. Was a strong Italian father. He's as much brawn as he is brains. And what his wife was telling him, it wasn't registering.

[Jeri Williams]

He said, what are you saying? I'm saying that something terrible happened to your son.

[John Otobre]

While the fear was hitting the Petrone family, John o, Danielle's brother, was also realizing. Danielle didn't make it home that night.

[Marge Petrone]

I woke up Sunday morning early and I took a ride to her house to fix the curtain. I saw her car out front. I knock on the door, she's not answering. I call her cell phone, it goes right to voicemail. So I called my mother and I said, mom, I'm outside at Danielle's. I see her car here, but she's not answering. I have her key. I don't want to just walk in if she's in the shower or something. I don't want her to get scared. And she said maybe she slept in Richard's.

[John Otobre]

At the time, John had been trying to support Danielle as much as possible. See, in the last 12 months, Danielle's life had gotten complicated. Danielle had recently separated from her husband, Joe Imbo. To make matters more challenging, Danielle and Joe welcomed their son together. Just two years prior, in February of 2005, Danielle was in uncharted waters. She was a single parent navigating custody of their 20 month old child. And deep in the throes of dissolving her marriage with Joe. Anything John could do to help his sister, he would. Whether it be helping out around the condo or looking after the baby.

[Marge Petrone]

It was a typical ugly separation. You know, it was headed towards divorce. So I didn't think anything of it. I hung the curtains up and I left. It was obvious no one was home.

[John Otobre]

So John packed up his tools and went about his day like he would any other. That was until I got a phone.

[Marge Petrone]

Call around 3 o'clock it was my mother and she said Danielle never came home last night. I'm at her condo now, I need you to come here. And my mother is in full blown panic. She said Joe's getting ready to drop the baby off in the next hour and she's not here. And no one can get in touch with either one of them. I knew right there something was wrong. I just knew it.

[John Otobre]

The divorce was nasty. Danielle's mom knew how bad it would look for her daughter if Joe dropped off her son only to find out Danielle never came home that night and was currently mia. You see, over the past few months Danielle had been dating Richard Petrone. And Joe knew that she didn't want to give her soon to be ex son in law any ammunition.

[Marge Petrone]

My mother said, don't tell him what's going on. I don't want him to know because I don't want him to say, well, I'll keep the baby until she comes home. I said, mom, don't worry about was.

[John Otobre]

3 o'clock that afternoon when Joe arrived to drop off their son. That was the agreed upon time for Joe to end his weekend with the baby.

[Marge Petrone]

And he kind of walked in, he looked confused and he said, where's Danielle? And my mother said, oh, she went to dinner with Christine. And then he said something like he mumbled under his breath, I guess telling a lie is better than telling the truth. Then he left Blake saying what we were saying was bullshit.

[John Otobre]

It was always our intention to start our own investigation. But we had to ask ourselves, where do you start on a case when two people go missing? We started by retracing their last steps. We wanted to understand exactly where Richard Petrone and Danielle Imbo were the night of February 19, 2005.

[Jeri Williams]

We were all out together that night. Went to Chickie and Pete's.

[John Otobre]

Marge and her two daughters, Christine and Elisa had died with Danielle Imbo and Danielle's mother at Chicky and Pete's, which is a popular Philadelphia restaurant. Think chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks, crab fries and beer. It's a sports bar with games on, TV's everywhere. A good place to blow off steam after a long week. Here's Alisa, Richard's sister. It was just a girls night out.

[Marge Petrone]

I wanted to tag along anywhere my.

[John Otobre]

Sister and my mom were going, so I was there. Toward the end of dinner, Richard called Danielle to see if she wanted to join him for the evening. Initially Danielle wasn't sure, but eventually agreed she was open to making the most of her child free Saturday night.

[Jeri Williams]

And then my sister drove Danielle to.

[John Otobre]

Meet Richard, Christine agreed to drop her off since Danielle's car was back at her condo in Jersey.

[Jeri Williams]

That was really like a spur of the moment thing. I don't think he even knew that she was going to actually go with him.

[John Otobre]

And that's an important detail from Marge and something to remember. This was a spontaneous meetup between Danielle and Richard.

[Jeri Williams]

Richard was at another Tap Room having dinner and told Christine to drop her off. She would go with Richard that night.

[John Otobre]

As for Danielle, her brother John got the story of what happened from his mother.

[Marge Petrone]

She said, well, last night Danielle and I and Marge and Christine went to Chicky and Pete's. And Richard called and said, hey, I'm at this bar, Abilene's on Sale Street. Why don't you come? Danielle said, she'll meet you as long as you can get her home at a reasonable time.

[John Otobre]

Danielle had an appointment at a salon the next day. It was the same salon that Christine Petrone worked at. So it's our understanding that from Chickie and Pete's, Christine drives Danielle to meet up with Richard, and Richard and Danielle drive to Abilene's on South street together. South street had this huge strip of bars, Abilene's one of them. Journalist Steve Vogt covered the story for Philadelphia Magazine and explains what happened next. I remember that they were having a good time, that they were enjoying themselves. They sat close together, they shared a kiss. At some point, they were laughing a lot. You know, they had a nice evening together. We heard Danielle and Richard spent a couple hours at the bar that Saturday night listening to a band. They leave before midnight. He was going to drive her back to her home in Mount Laurel. And that's where the trail ends. No one has seen Danielle or Richard since, not just them, but a truck disappeared into the ether from one of the most frequented spots in the whole city. It was stunning. I just wish that the families could have an answer and whatever the answer was, to sort through it and deal with it.

[Detective Mike Weber]

I'm a father, I'm a brother, I'm a husband, I'm a son. It's very hard not to see the human side, the human impact on the two families. It keeps me motivated.

[John Otobre]

For Vito, for Roselli, he lives with the impact of that reality every day. And one of the major factors that has stopped him from solving this case is the evidence, or lack thereof. This happened in 2005, when even basic equipment like security cameras were using outdated technology.

[Detective Mike Weber]

Back then, everybody was still on VCRs that they were taping over after two weeks or 30 days. Street light cameras, none of that existed. You know, the iPhones weren't a thing. So it was a little different animal.

[John Otobre]

Today we can track our friends. Everyone essentially has a gps in their pocket. Plus, there's no shortage of documenting with people recording their life for the whole world to see. But in 2005, people had flip phones and MySpace. Even YouTube didn't come out until February of 2005.

[Detective Mike Weber]

We have a lot more tools available to us now than we did back then.

[Jeri Williams]

Today, when something happens, you know, there's cell phone video and there's video on buildings, and people are going on social media and talking about it. We didn't have any of that back then.

[John Otobre]

That's former FBI agent Jerry williams.

[Jeri Williams]

In my years of doing media relations for the FBI, I've never heard of a case like this ever before. I mean, people are concerned. If this happened to this couple, what could happen to me and my kids if I let them go on south street?

[John Otobre]

The community was concerned, and law enforcement didn't have much to work with. After those initial days of the investigation, the FBI got tapped in. And the lack of evidence, I actually started to tell a story to Vito.

[Detective Mike Weber]

Nobody checks into a hospital. Neither one of them would have left their children. They wouldn't just have run away.

[John Otobre]

The idea of Richard and Danielle getting hurt or skipping town got ruled out pretty quickly.

[Detective Mike Weber]

There was no activity on their credit cards, on their phones. The people who did it made two people in a truck disappear. That's a clean crime. And it could have been cleaned by accident. It could have been clean by luck, or it could have been clean by design. So it was clear that something bad happened pretty much off the start.

[John Otobre]

Vito and Jerry were adamant about one thing. After 19 years of dead ends, they were out of options.

[Jeri Williams]

When you have a case like this, you have to figure out how to keep it in the news.

[Detective Mike Weber]

Each year at the anniversary, we put something out, and without fail, we always get tips, call ins and more. Over the past few years, I've been pretty consistent. So it's good. It keeps it out in the public's eye.

[Marge Petrone]

Today marks 10 years since a local.

[Detective Mike Weber]

Couple vanished without a trace. And despite a decade since their disappearance.

[Marge Petrone]

Today their relatives made an emotional plea for new information.

[John Otobre]

Every February 20, without fail, the city of Philadelphia is reminded of Danielle and Richard.

[Marge Petrone]

It has been 11 years to the day since Daniel.

[John Otobre]

Believe it or not, today marks 12 years since Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Jr. First went missing.

[Jeri Williams]

They have not been seen in 13 years.

[John Otobre]

Despite an ongoing and for 19 years now. These segments go out. Tips come in, rinse and repeat.

[Detective Mike Weber]

But the FBI says they have not.

[Marge Petrone]

Given up on this case.

[John Otobre]

Having lived here my whole life, I've watched the segment each February with the rest of Philadelphia. Now I have more of a context as to why. Just like that billboard I mentioned in the beginning, it's a lifeline thrown out for Richard and Danielle and their families. Anything to keep hope for justice alive.

[Jeri Williams]

I think putting it out there to the public on a true crime podcast is a brilliant step to add to what has been done so far.

[John Otobre]

It's crazy for me to say this, but I think the FBI needs our help and your help. So do Danielle and Richard. The two left a crowded bar in a popular area of Philadelphia on a Saturday night two decades ago. And in those 20 years, we still don't know who wanted to harm them and why.

[Detective Mike Weber]

One of the important directions that law enforcement had to take was to determine the history between Danielle and Richard. When you look deep into anybody backgrounds, you got to be digging up stuff and we found some angles that were of interest to us.

[Jeri Williams]

That's when started to look like this may have been a very personal crime.

[John Otobre]

That's next time on There and Gone.

[Detective Mike Weber]

As I see you in my dreams.

[Marge Petrone]

Reach out in the dark.

[John Otobre]

But you've.

[Marge Petrone]

Been lost to me I'll never give up no matter how long.

[Detective Mike Weber]

I open my eyes.

[Marge Petrone]

To find have you gone each corner I turn there's another puzzle piece we follow the clues looking for the key I'll never give up no matter I open my eyes to find that you're gone.

[John Otobre]

If you have any information about the disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, please call the Citizens Crime Commission tip line at 215-546-8477 or you can reach out to the show and our team by [e-mail] that's thereandgonepodmail.com thank you so much for listening. One way for you to show support is by subscribing to our show on Apple Podcasts. Don't forget to rate and review because five star reviews go a long way. A big thank you to all of our listeners. There and Gone is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced by Nancy Glass, Ben Fetterman and me, Andrea Gunning. It's hosted and written by me, Andrea Gunning, with additional reporting and writing by Ben Fetterman. The series is also written and produced by Todd Ganz. Our associate producer is Kristin Melchuri. Research by Mason Klender, Anna Hamilton, and Bella Rickey. Our iHeart team is Ally Perry and Jessica Krynchek. Audio editing and mixing by Matt D'Alvecchio. Additional editing support by Nico Aruka. Theron Gan's theme and original compositions were composed by Oliver Baines and Dari McCauley of Nouser Music Library, provided by My Music. Special thanks to both the Bertrone and Etobre families. For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.