Two years later, Grossi's murder still unsolved
On that day in 2007, Paula Grossi, 45, entered her Rehoboth Beach home at midday and was murdered – shot in the head. Police said the apparent motive was a home invasion by two men who are still unidentified, even though there were two eyewitnesses to the crime. The break-in occurred in the quiet Stable Farm development, near the entrance to Rehoboth Beach, where many homes are not occupied during the winter months.
The apparent motive is based on interviews of two people, Paula’s son, Rocco, and a female friend, who has never been identified. Both were in the house at the time of the shooting.
Police have never named Rocco Grossi as one of the eyewitnesses, but friends and family identified him as being in the house at the time of the crime.
Police said the pair told them two intruders shot Grossi, tied them up, ransacked the house, stole several items and left. Police said they were able to get free within a few minutes and call for help.
They were able to provide a description of the suspects, but only enough specific information for a sketch of one suspect.
One of the suspects, who has a series of three teardrop tattoos with a greenish tinge under his left eye, is a white male, about 40 years old, 5-feet-6-inches tall, weighing about 200 pounds. The other white male is 20 to 25 years old, unshaven, 5-feet- 7-inches tall, weighing about 170 pounds.
Not a cold case
Fran Grossi, Paula’s father, stressed that the investigation is still active with calls coming in every month. “This is not a cold case,” he said. “We had three calls this month, and every call is being investigated.”
He said more than 300 leads have been turned in to police and a private investigator working for the Grossi family. “We are narrowing them down and getting closer every day.”
He said he had a second meeting with state police Jan. 13 to get an update on the investigation and share information. “It was a good meeting and I feel a lot better than when I went into the meeting,” he said. The family was fearful the investigation might be filed away as a cold case.
“We are waiting for the right phone call, and we know it’s going to come,” Fran Grossi said.
Det. Mark Papili, who is in charge of the investigation, said he has been following leads in the case for two years. “We continue to get tips,” he said. “We do have evidence, and at some point in time a tip is going to lead to that evidence, and we will be able to arrest someone.”
Family, friends want closure
Murders are extremely rare in the Cape Region – Delaware State Police reported no homicides in the Rehoboth Beach area in 2008. And the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit has a 93.5 percent rate of clearing cases, which is more than 30 percent higher than the national average of 61 percent. In 2007, of 37 murders in Delaware, only five were outside of metropolitan areas, according to FBI data.
That doesn’t provide solace to those who want closure.
Pam Hopkins, a friend of Paula’s, said she couldn’t imagine the frustration Paula’s mother and father feel. “I don’t know how they get through the day, especially now around the anniversary,” she said.
“I love her dearly and miss her more every day. Every day is a rerun of what happened to her. Paula is on my mind before sleep and as soon as my eyes open in the morning,” wrote her father on America’s Most Wanted web page. The case has been featured on the page since last year.
“There is something to be said for making an arrest to provide closure for the family,” Papili said. “The scars are still there, but it makes it a little easier for the family that someone didn’t get away with it.”
Case history
Fran Grossi was quick to offer a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. In October 2007, an unnamed informant contacted Delaware State Police and Grossi through his attorney, saying he knew the murderers and wanted the reward money.
The informant also supplied a list of demands, including being placed in the witness protection program, but the tip did not yield any information in the case.
Grossi withdrew the reward shortly after the first anniversary of the murder in February 2008. In a statement, Grossi wrote that he would use the money “in other avenues to apprehend her murderers and to bring my family and I closure.”
Her father also had the case posted on the America’s Most Wanted web page. He wrote on the page: “Paula lived in Wilmington raising her children. In 2003 the crime rate was rising in Paula’s neighborhood, so, I built her a house in Rehoboth Beach and her and the kids moved down. She loved her house and felt so safe and secure and look what happened, in her own home she was murdered.”
Why this family?
Hopkins, owner of Nanny Pam’s Daycare in Rehoboth Beach, cared for Paula’s grandson, Anthony.
Anthony, 5, whom Paula was raising, is now in the care of other family members. “He still talks about her and remembers things,” Fran Grossi said.
Hopkins said she still keeps a photograph of Anthony in her home.
“Every time I look at that photo, I see Paula,” she said. “She was a fantastic woman.”
She said she still thinks back to that day. “Why this family?” she asked.
Hopkins said she worked hard to get the case national attention during 2007, but with no success.
“I tried because I didn’t want this to become a cold case. Now, what can I do? I wish I knew what I could do. I have to hope police will find an end. I only have hope,” she said.
Not long after the shooting, Paula was laid to rest on a cold day in Cathedral Cemetery in her Wilmington hometown. She was honored for her untiring volunteer work on behalf of HIV-AIDS research, in memory of her brother Jeffrey. She had been captain since 1995 of a team in the AIDS Walk.
She had worked as a graphic artist for Xerox until she was forced to retire on disability.
“It’s tough and we all miss her dearly. She drew people to her; she was such a happy person,” her father said.
Call Delaware Crime Stoppers: 800-TIP-3333 or 302-739-5927 or goto Tip Submit
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Related stories from the Cape Gazette
• Father of slain woman offers reward
• Police keep tight lid on murder case
• State police release sketch of murder suspect
• Questions surround murder of Paula Grossi
• New information surfaces about Grossi murder case
• One year later, murder still unsolved
Obituary
Paula F. Grossi, graphic artist
Paula F. Grossi, 45, of Rehoboth Beach, tragically passed away on Friday, Jan. 26, 2007.
Ms. Grossi was born in Wilmington on March 29, 1961. A graphic artist, she had most recently been employed by Xerox. Paula was a champion of AIDS awareness and research, serving as captain of the Jeffrey Grossi Memorial Team for the Annual AIDS Walk since 1995. She also served as treasurer of the Stable Farm Home Association. Above all, Paula was a loving and devoted mother who cherished her children dearly.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Gary A. Grossi and Jeffrey M. Grossi; paternal grandparents, Rocco and Julia Grossi; and maternal grandfather, Cecil H. Gregg.
She is survived by her parents, Francis J. Grossi, and his fiancée, Okham, and mother, Yvonne (Gregg) Nass; a son, Rocco Grossi of Rehoboth; daughter, Trishia N. Grossi, of Rehoboth; grandson, Anthony Michael Grossi, of Rehoboth; grandmother, Sara M. Gregg; and a host of extended family.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the Charles P. Arcaro Funeral Home, 2309 Lancaster Ave., opposite Cathedral Cemetery, Wilmington. Entombment will follow in Cathedral Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m., at the funeral home, prior to service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jeffrey Grossi Memorial Team, c/o AIDS Delaware, 100 West 10th St., Suite 315, Wilmington, DE 19801.
