In April of 1923, eight-year-old Josephine Bruno disappeared just steps from her Brooklyn home. By the next morning, she was found brutally murdered in the shared cellar of her apartment building — and despite an intense investigation, her killer was never identified.

Josephine was born in Lombardi, Italy, and came to America with her family as a small child. On a rainy spring night, her mother left her waiting briefly while she went back inside to retrieve an umbrella. Josephine vanished in those few minutes, setting off frantic searches by her family, neighbors, and eventually the police.

In this episode, I tell Josephine’s story through contemporary newspaper accounts, tracing the night she disappeared, the devastating discovery made by a neighbor the following morning, and the investigation that followed. We look at suspicious arrests that went nowhere, the heartbreaking funeral attended by thousands, and the troubling questions raised by journalists months later — including whether critical mistakes in the early hours cost the case its chance at justice.

More than a true crime story, this is a quiet remembrance of a little girl whose life was cut short and whose name slowly faded from the headlines. By revisiting her story over a century later, we honor Josephine Bruno, her family, and the truth that her life — and her death — mattered.

🎙️ Italian American Stories Podcast 📸 Follow along on social media to see historical photos from the case 🌐 Visit us at italianamericanstories.com

In this sixth installment of Tales from the Archives, we uncover three unforgettable — and unsettling — stories pulled straight from old newspapers that reveal the complex, often dark realities of Italian American history.

We begin with Rosa DeCicco, an Italian immigrant whose obsession with reclaiming her children led to repeated arrests, courtroom drama, and violent confrontations that shocked early-1900s Portland. Her story raises difficult questions about motherhood, custody, and mental health at a time when women had few protections.

Next, we travel to Castle Garden in 1878, where immigration officials uncovered a disturbing case involving a young Italian girl allegedly sold by her own father and brought to America under suspicious circumstances — a chilling glimpse into the exploitation and trafficking that haunted many immigrant families.

We close with the remarkable life of Michael Bochino, a deeply devout Italian immigrant in Baltimore whose backyard shrine to the Virgin Mary became a place of pilgrimage for decades. Revered by many yet plagued by personal controversy, Bino’s life reveals the complicated intersection of faith, temper, devotion, and legacy.

These stories remind us that Italian American history is not just one of triumph — but also of struggle, sacrifice, and survival.

In this chilling two-part series, Stephanie and Sandy take listeners deep into one of Colorado’s darkest and most unsettling Italian American cases—the life and crimes of Antonio Neroni, a man who lived under many names…and left just as many tragedies behind.

Born in Italy in 1877, Neroni’s violent past began shockingly early—and followed him across the ocean to the rugged company towns of southern Colorado. By the early 1900s, “Tony Bava,” as he called himself, had settled in Florence, where mysterious disappearances began to ripple through the community: a housekeeper, a farmhand, and two brothers who were also his business partners.

When charred bones, burned clothing, and a blood-stained axe were discovered on his property, the quiet farming town erupted into fear, superstition, and rage. Crowds gathered. Psychic visions were reported. And investigators unearthed horrors along the Arkansas River and beneath Neroni’s farmhouse cellar that stunned even seasoned lawmen.

In Part 1, we cover: • Neroni’s violent beginnings in Italy • The world of Colorado coal towns in the early 1900s • The sudden disappearances surrounding his small Florence farm • Disturbing discoveries that turned rumor into terror • Neroni’s chilling confessions…and contradictions • His unhinged escape attempts and increasing instability

This is a story filled with mystery, hysteria, community fear, and a growing body count—one that captured headlines across the country and had Colorado wondering whether they were facing a murderer, a madman, or something far worse.

Join us as we unravel the first half of the shocking case of Antonio Neroni, Colorado’s forgotten nightmare.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2, where we dive into the trial, the hunt for the final missing man, and the explosive conclusion of this unbelievable story.

This Veterans Day, we honor the life and legacy of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, one of the most decorated heroes of World War II — and a proud Italian American whose courage continues to inspire generations.

Join Stephanie and her husband Jared, a U.S. Marine veteran, as they share the incredible story of Basilone’s bravery at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, his deep devotion to his wife Lena Riggi, and the lasting impact of his sacrifice.

This special video version pairs the original audio with powerful historic photos and emotional visuals, bringing this unforgettable story to life.

🕯️ “We fight together and we fall together. No Marine left behind.”

🎙️ Bonus Episode: Mamma, That’s All Right — Italians in the American South

In this bonus episode of Italian American Stories, Stephanie sits down with director Valentina Signorelli and Italian musicians Luca Chiappara and Mario Monterosso to discuss their new documentary, Mamma, That’s All Right, which debuted at the National Italian American Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C.

The film follows Luca and Mario as they journey from Italy to the American South, tracing their pursuit of the American Dream through music, friendship, and culture. Set against the backroads of Nashville and Memphis, the story bridges two worlds, Sicily and Tennessee, through rhythm, heritage, and heart.

With a special cameo by Priscilla Presley, this conversation explores the shared soul between Italian passion and Southern sound, and the beauty of chasing dreams far from home. As Mario puts it best, “My family gave me my roots but rock and roll gave me my wings.”

Check out more information about the film at www.daitona.it

Follow Valentina, Luca and Mario

Valentina:

Instagram - @⁠cosmopolitan_londoner⁠

Luka:  

https://lucachiappara.com/

Instagram - @luca.chiappara

Facebook: “Luca Chiappara Music” page 

Mario:

⁠mariomonterosso.com⁠

Instagram - @marioredmount

Facebook page “Mario Monterosso Music”