DNA from fork leads to arrest of Florida man 15 years after uncle killed in NYC

A Florida man has been charged with second-degree murder in the 2009 slaying of his uncle in New York City after authorities said DNA collected from a discarded fork linked him to the crime.

Rosario Prestigiacomo, 64, was stabbed to death in his Queens home on February 10, 2009, according to a press release of the Queens County District Attorney’s Office. A neighbor heard a commotion and called the police, who found Prestigiacomo face down in a pool of blood. The investigation found that he had been stabbed 16 times in the face, neck, torso and extremities, and that he also had blunt force injuries.

Blood samples were collected at the scene, according to the prosecutor, and the city medical examiner used the material to create DNA profiles of the victim and an “additional unknown male.” The second profile was entered into databases, but did not match any profiles currently in the system.

The case remained cold until March 2022. That’s when the district attorney’s office and the NYPD’s cold case squad joined forces with Othram, a private laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to use forensic genetic genealogy to try to learn more about the second person. Forensic genetic genealogy uses genetic research and DNA analysis to try to identify DNA profiles.

Othram was able to use advanced DNA testing to create a “comprehensive genealogical profile” from blood left at the crime scene, the district attorney said. Meanwhile, the NYPD’s Forensic Investigations Division used databases and public records to build a family tree of the victim to try to determine possible suspects.

That family tree helped lead investigators to Anthony Scalici, Prestigiacomo’s nephew. Scalici, now 41, lived in Boynton Beach, Florida.

NYPD and Boynton Beach Police Department detectives researched Scalici in Florida, working to obtain a DNA sample. On February 17, 2024 – almost exactly 15 years after his uncle’s murder – police were able to recover a discarded fork that Scalici had used.

That fork was analyzed and a DNA profile matched unknown DNA found at the crime scene, the district attorney said. Matching DNA was also recovered from under Prestigiacomo’s fingernail.

United States Marshals, the Boynton Beach Police Department and the NYPD Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Scalici on May 14. He was extradited to New York City on Wednesday.

The New York Times reported that Scalici’s attorney, David Cohen, said his client has pleaded not guilty. He is being held at Rikers Island, the Times reported, and will appear in court on July 8.

Scalici faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Investigators say the motive is unclear at this time, CBS New York reported.

Prosecutors said this is the first time forensic genetic genealogy has been used to identify and arrest a homicide suspect in New York City.

“I formed a Cold Case Unit to provide closure for grieving families and seek justice on behalf of victims,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz in the press release. “This case is an example of the perseverance and determination of investigators in this and all cold cases, and highlights the successful partnership formed between my office and the NYPD Cold Case Squad. the time has passed.”