On a cold, winter’s night in early 1963, mob enforcer Rocco Anthony Balliro and a pair of associates stormed a darkened apartment on the outskirts of Boston and engaged in a fierce gun battle with several assailants (police officers, it turned out) waiting in ambush for the ex-convict and recent prison escapee. In the aftermath, a young woman and her toddler son lay dead.
The story of Rocco Balliro, a petty criminal and enforcer for New England crime boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca, played out in glaring headlines across the country following the shootout with the Boston police. Had he heeded the commands of the cops to drop his weapon, Rocco would not have spent the next fifty years behind bars, and his girlfriend and her son might still be alive today. Instead, he fired the gun, erupting death and mayhem in the apartment. In the aftermath of the shootings, all fingers pointed at Rocco. But he would maintain his innocence in the death of his girlfriend and her son for the rest of his life, though plagued with lingering questions.
Did he fire the deadly bullets or did they come from another source? Did he unknowingly kill the pair or was he simply guilty of an ill-advised home invasion? What was the police’s true involvement?
Balliro agreed to meet with the author over the span of a couple years. Along with countless tales of criminal escapades, Balliro handed over reams of documents, correspondence, and clippings related to his life and the alleged crime that put him behind bars, while Balliro arranged for meetings with many of his family members and associates. They also shared their perspective with the author over what actually took place in February 1963.
This is Rocco’s own story of his life. But most importantly, it is his version of the events from the night of February 2, 1963, in a Boston suburb, and his profession of innocence until his dying breath.
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This is about my Great Uncle Rocco. The story isn’t completely accurate, according to my grandfather, Rocco went to his house and asked him for a gun and my papanona told him to get out of there. So he went to his girlfriend’s house with no gun. The police surrounded the house and just started shooting and lied saying he fired a gun. He didn’t and then he was blamed for the murders of both her and her son.
Jack,
Your comment is appreciated. I would have to disagree, however. Keep in mind that I grew up with a family tale, as well. My family insisted that your great uncle Rocco murdered my aunt and cousin. I didn’t know what to believe until I actually met the man in prison and let him tell his story. I could go over the details, step by step, and recap what took place at that home in Roxbury. But you’ve already read the book so I’ll reiterate what I’ve told my own family members, who disagree with my version. It’s NOT my version. This story was told by Rocco himself (I have written correspondence from him outlining much of what you read in the book). Obviously, I have police reports which corroborate exactly what Rocco shared. In addition, your great uncle Billy Balliro, during a number of meals we shared, agreed with everything I eventually entered into print. Of course, because these men are now deceased, you would have to accept my word. By whatever means the Boston Police used to kill my aunt and cousin, Rocco never should have been blamed. In that, we agree. Bottom line: I thought your uncle was a special man. We became close friends and I wrote this book to exonerate him and I’m confident I succeeded.
There is nothing ordinary about this story of two people. Every chapter, from start to finish, was so interesting. It was easy to get consumed with their lives. This is a tragic love story, which I appreciate, having read R and J by WS four times. The author has done a superb job in describing all of the important details to the point that it is very easy to picture the happenings in your mind. I have the utmost respect for the author in bringing an accurate account of the events to us, otherwise we would never have known. Well done author!