West Suburban Bureau

Police Discuss 1981 Murder Of Pizza Delivery Man

CHICAGO (CBS) ― After more than two decades of remaining unsolved, police have a suspect in the death of a pizza delivery man.

CBS 2 West Suburban Chief Mike Puccinelli reports 29-year-old Milton Rodriguez was sitting on a wall behind a Bella's Pizza Parlor in 1981 when police say he was shot off of it by his boss. Rodriguez was a delivery man for the restaurant and had been arguing for better pay.

"He was in the alley and the offender Mr. Cosmano shot him in the chest," said Chicago Police Department Det. John Pellegrini.

The shooting was at point-blank range.

Police say the triggerman was 56-year-old Michael Cosmano. The restaurant owner was arrested without incident Tuesday at his Naperville home. Police say there were more than half a dozen witnesses to the shooting, which happened in broad daylight. But at the time no one was talking.

"They were in fear for their lives," said Chicago Police Department Commander Edward O'Donnell.

In court Thursday prosecutors said that was because there were rumors in the pizza parlor that Cosmano was connected to the mob.

Cosmano's attorney, Anthony Onesto, said, "I even resent the question. Every time an Italian American is arrested there's an inference to organized crime."

Onesto said the pizza parlor workers had no reason to fear their hard working boss. He says the rumored mob connections were just that, rumors.

"Some people are afraid of the boogey man. Does that mean there's a boogey man?" Onesto said.

Police said it felt good to tell Rodriguez's family that justice delayed hadn't become justice denied.

"Anytime a killer goes free for 27 years there is a sense of satisfaction when you finally get him charged," sad Sgt. Carlos Velez.

Cosmano's bond was set at $500,000. Onesto said he expected that his client would post 10 percent and walk out of jail Thursday.

(CBS 2, the Naperville Sun and the Aurora Beacon-News are news partners covering stories in the western suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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