Margaret Pizio Unsolved Murder 1979
On August 21 1979 the body of Margaret Pizio (35) was discovered beaten and stabbed to death behind the front desk of the Susse Chalet Motor Lodge and Inn (now Quality Inn) located at 341 Highland Ave (Route 6). It was determined she was murdered between 6am-8am.
Initially robbery was the possible motive, since $900 was missing. However the front door was locked, so the assailant(s) would've been buzzed into the lobby. The brutality of the murder caused investigators to look at other motives.
Pizio had already testified against two (2) men arrested in two (2) robberies that occurred over two years prior. Pizio was set to testify against two (2) others in a third robbery. The suspects involved in the third robbery were in jail on unrelated charges at the time of her murder. Investigators at the time ruled this out as a motive to her murder.
Margaret was recently divorced, her ex-husband, was ruled out as a suspect. He believed her killing had something to do with her religious activities rather than a robbery because her killing was so brutal.
Investigators say there have been persons of interest in the crime over the years, but no one has ever been charged.
UPDATE: DNA Testing
In 2000 DNA samples were collected from Margaret's oldest son, in an effort to follow-up on a lead, which later failed to produce a suspect.
In late 2020, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office reported they were reopening Margaret’s case. Investigators now claimed an individual was identified as being responsible for Margaret's murder, however there was insufficient evidence to file charges.
On August 21 1979 the body of Margaret Pizio (35) was discovered beaten and stabbed to death behind the front desk of the Susse Chalet Motor Lodge and Inn (now Quality Inn) located at 341 Highland Ave (Route 6). It was determined she was murdered between 6am-8am.
Initially robbery was the possible motive, since $900 was missing. However the front door was locked, so the assailant(s) would've been buzzed into the lobby. The brutality of the murder caused investigators to look at other motives.
Pizio had already testified against two (2) men arrested in two (2) robberies that occurred over two years prior. Pizio was set to testify against two (2) others in a third robbery. The suspects involved in the third robbery were in jail on unrelated charges at the time of her murder. Investigators at the time ruled this out as a motive to her murder.
Margaret was recently divorced, her ex-husband, was ruled out as a suspect. He believed her killing had something to do with her religious activities rather than a robbery because her killing was so brutal.
Investigators say there have been persons of interest in the crime over the years, but no one has ever been charged.
UPDATE: DNA Testing
In 2000 DNA samples were collected from Margaret's oldest son, in an effort to follow-up on a lead, which later failed to produce a suspect.
In late 2020, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office reported they were reopening Margaret’s case. Investigators now claimed an individual was identified as being responsible for Margaret's murder, however there was insufficient evidence to file charges.