The Quarry
Summary
Host Delia D'Ambra recounts the 1920 murder of August Falcinelli in Wisconsin’s Harrington Beach State Park. Italian immigrant Dominic Manna claimed he accidentally shot Falcinelli after tripping, but ballistics evidence suggested intentional firing. Manna was convicted of first-degree murder, allegedly motivated by jealousy over Falcinelli’s wife. After years of appeals and a commuted sentence, Manna was released and lived until 1966.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Park Predators and the 1920 Wisconsin quarry setting
The shooting of August Falcinelli by Dominic Manna
Initial investigation and discrepancies in the crime scene report
Coroner's inquest reveals two shots and murder charges
Trial delay due to weather and the state's motive theory
Alleged affair with August's wife and defense strategy
Ballistics evidence disproves the accidental shooting claim
Guilty verdict and life sentence at Waupun Correctional
Threatening letter and suspicions of organized crime ties
Appeals, racial prejudice claims, and denied pardons
Sentence commutation, release, and the enduring mystery
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