STATEN ISLAND — The man who broke into a Woodrow home in 2014, stabbing its owner to death and injuring his wife, has been sentenced to life in prison, District Attorney Michael McMahon announced.
Dante Viggiano, 21, of Great Kills, was sentenced for the murder Peter Gialluisi, 66, by Judge William Garnett on Thursday, McMahon said.
"Dante Viggiano understood full well the consequences of his actions when he mercilessly slaughtered Peter Gialluisi and brutally knifed Vincenza Gialluisi inside their home," McMahon said in a statement.
"He knowingly violated the sanctity and safety of their residence as he lay in wait to carry out this appalling attack.
"[Vincenza] Gialluisi will forever bear both the physical and emotional scars of that tragic night. Thus, it seems only fitting that the defendant forever spend the rest of his days incarcerated in a prison cell."
On Aug. 31, 2014, Gialluisi, his wife and his brother-in-law returned to their 80 Venus Place home at about 9:45 p.m. after celebrating their birthdays in New Jersey with family, McMahon said.
His brother-in-law went upstairs into his separate apartment and, when Vincenza Gialluisi, 67, walked out of her garage into her home, she noticed a light on inside.
Viggiano came from behind and repeatedly stabbed her in the head, neck and back with a kitchen knife, McMahon said.
He then went into the garage and fatally stabbed Gialluisi — who was disabled — in the head and neck then ran into the woods, McMahon said.
Viggiano went home afterwards, but was taken to a hospital after his mother noticed he was covered in blood and his hands were cut.
He went to the same hospital where Vincenza Gialluisi was being treated. Detectives trying to find a connection between the two saw that a person living at Viggiano's address but using a different name was recently arrested for car theft, McMahon said.
Between July 19 and July 22, 2014, Viggiano had burglarized a home and taken the keys to a 2004 Nissan Altima. He later called the victims to set up an exchange for the car and was arrested afterwards, McMahon said.
He told officers his name was Jonathan Rameriz for that arrest, The original car keys were never recovered, McMahon said.
A day before Gialluisi's murder, Viggiano used the keys to steal the car again. It was found several houses down from the Gialluisi's home after the murder, McMahon said.
Investigators later found the murder weapon and a bloody glove in three plastic cups inside the woods near the home.
