On October 17th 2012, a few days after arriving home from the 2012 Los Angeles Gravecation. I was fresh off the two-week trek, and still itching to do some grave hunting. To help feed the urge on Wednesday October 17th, I planned to cruise downriver to Mt. Carmel Cemetery, in Wyandotte, and Michigan Memorial Park, in Flat Rock.

The History: Mt. Carmel

Mt. Carmel is a small catholic cemetery, on Ford Ave & Northline, in the suburban Detroit, downriver community of Wyandotte. The office for Mt. Carmel is located off-site, a few miles away at the historic St. Patrick Church. At the moment it is unknown to me when this cemetery was founded. However as you will soon find out a few notable Detroit/Wyandotte mafioso’s rest in this small tranquil cemetery.

The Tour: Mt. Carmel

Upon my arrival at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, I circled the grounds in my vehicle to map out my game plan. Unfortunately I didn’t have the Mt. Carmel cemetery map, which I printed up with me. So keeping up with things, and based on some online research I did prior to the visit. I had a general idea of who I was looking for, with names, death dates, and section info on a pdf file on my Kindle Fire. So with the absence of the map. I canvassed each section with my eyes as I drove around the particular areas. To pinpoint the gravesite locations I was looking for. Being that the graves I planned to track down had monuments, and considering the fact that this was a small cemetery, the hunt would be relatively easy.

The first gravesite I found after pinpointing the location from the road. Was of “alleged” early Detroit organized crime figure Salvatore Giannola. Salvatore, who rests peacefully in section C, was the younger sibling of Antonino (Tony) Giannola.  I’ll go into more detail about Antonino, later in this article as he’s buried in Michigan Memorial Park, I’ll also give a more detailed description of the brothers activities then as well.

Continuing on, Salvatore took over the leadership of the Giannola gang  after Antonino was murdered in one of Detroit’s first mafia vendettas. After a few attempts on the life of the younger Giannola sibling, which would culminate in the murder of their brother-in-law Pasquale D’Anna. The leadership role would come to an abrupt end for Salvatore when he to was murdered a few months after his brother Antonino was gunned down in 1919.

Now speaking of Pasquale D’Anna, at the moment its unclear to me what his involvement in Giannola Brothers criminal activities were. But keeping with the upstanding tradition of The Gravecast Blog, and my downright sanity, he’s buried a few leisurely steps away from Salvatore, in section C.

After photographing the gravesides of Salvatore Giannola, and Pasquale D’Anna. I then strolled over to where Giuseppe Manzello is buried in the corner of section A. Manzello who’s buried under his real name of Manzella, was a member of the Giannola gang. After the unfortunate demise of the Giannola brothers in 1919. Manzella would then make a strategic move to gain the leadership position of the Giannola gang. However this ploy for power, was met with fierce resistance by the elders of the young Detroit crime family. A plan was orchestrated, by members of the Renda/Mirabile family to eliminate Manzella out of the picture once and for all.

Manzella’s demise came on August 10th 1920. As he was having an amicable conversation with a few other local Detroit mobsters outside the apartment building he shared with local hoodlum Angelo Polizzi. As the conversation was getting started, a large touring sedan was noticed in the vicinity. As the touring car was gaining speed, the unknown occupants of the vehicle, unleashed a sudden barrage of firepower from their weapons. Eight of the rounds from the guns found their mark in the back of Giuseppe Manzella, while the rest of the rounds found their mark in Angelo Polizzi. The gangster duo were then rushed to Detroit’s Receiving Hospital, where they ended up in a coma like state. The doctors announced that they didn’t expect Polizzi, or Manzella to survive. However Manzella briefly improved to the point where local Detroit PD, detectives questioned him about the shooting. To which Manzella replied that he saw the assailants, but motioned with his hand that he’d take care of the problem himself. Manzella never fully recovered from his gunshot wounds and passed away a few days later.

After photographing the graveside of Giuseppe Manzella. I then strolled over to section D. Where reputed downriver bootlegger, labor racketeer, and notorious gangster Joe Tocco rests. Tocco was born in Sicily in 1890. After entering the United States at a tender young age. Tocco, would eventually rise to prominence as a bootlegger and racketeer with his base of operations in the downriver Detroit community Wyandotte.

During Tocco’s ascent to the mobdom hierarchy in Wyandotte. He would eventually be arrested a total of eleven times on charges ranging from investigation of murder, armed robbery, violation of federal liquor laws, evasion of federal income tax, among others. Despite that Tocco was arrested on many occasions. He would never be convicted of the crimes he was accused of. He was literally untouchable when it came to being convicted of the crimes he was alleged to of orchestrated. This was likely due in part because of his friends in high places, notably his political friends. Who provided his motley organization with literal free rein to do as they pleased without the fear of going to prison for long sentences.

As the years were cruising along Tocco, and his brother Sam ruled over the Wyandotte fiefdom they carved out for their self with an iron-fist. Pretty much eliminating anyone, and anything that stood in their way. This came at a time in regional history when Wyandotte was known in the national press as one of the toughest bootlegging regions in the United States. As an example of their blood-thirsty ruthlessness, law enforcement accused the Tocco organization with being involved in the murders of three rival Wyandotte bootleggers. The rival group had feuded with Tocco’s faction over control of the lucrative bootlegging empire for several years leading up to the massacre.

The days that followed the triple murders in the aftermath, left Wyandotte residents in a state of shock, and downright outrage. No doubt over the boldness of the senseless slaughter that took place a leisurely stroll of two blocks from police headquarters. Due to the outrage of community citizens, police none the less hauled the Tocco brothers in for questioning, to investigate the triple homicide. Unfortunately the brothers were released after a fiercely fought legal wrangling with prosecutors who tried desperately to not let the infamous mobsters go free. Tocco pretty much had an alibi as he produced seating tickets to a boxing match in Detroit, which was taking place at the exact time of the massacre. Due to this little tidbit of an alibi, the prosecutor had to let the brothers go.

On May 6th 1938, things would come to an abrupt end. Arriving home around 9:30pm, for some odd reason or another Tocco parked his vehicle nearly two blocks from his home. By the time he reached the vicinity of his residence, he had two assailants armed with a shotgun, and pistol tailing him. After noticing the hoodlums following him, he b-lined it for a neighbor’s house. As Tocco was making his way through the kitchen, & living room, he had the two rival gangsters firing their weapons in quick secession in his direction. He made it to the living room where he collapsed of his wounds. The two assassins believing he was dead vacated the premises and drove off into the night. He was then rushed to the hospital by unknown subjects, and administered the last rites of the Catholic church. He had a total of five gunshot wounds fired from a pistol, and another twelve from a shotgun.

So that concludes the tour at Mt. Carmel cemetery. Before I left Mt. Carmel cemetery, I punched in the address for Michigan Memorial Park cemetery in Flat Rock, Michigan. Being that I was on that side of town which was a good 45-minute to one hour drive from my home in Sterling Heights. I decided to kill two-birds with one stone and cruised over to Michigan Memorial Park, as well.

The History: Michigan Memorial Park

To give you a general overview history of Michigan Memorial Park. Which include a description of its founding, the beautiful tranquil grounds, etc. I invite you to visit the history page on the official Michigan Memorial Park website.

The Tour: Michigan Memorial Park

Upon my arrival at Michigan Memorial Park. I strolled into the cemetery office to inquire about two gravesites I planned to look for. The two people I inquired about who are buried in Michigan Memorial Park, were reputed Detroit & Wyandotte mobster Antonino (Tony) Giannola, and Detroit Police Officer Matthew Bowens who was killed in the line of duty in 2004.

Before I close out the article with the biographical overview on reputed Detroit mobster Antonino Giannola. I’m going to briefly discuss the situation regarding Officer Bowens. To make a long story short, Officer Bowens, was killed in the line of duty on the night of February 16th 2004, while he was on patrol with fellow officer Jennifer Fettig. Officer Fettig was also killed in the line of duty that night. Officer Fettig is buried in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Saginaw, which is located near Bay City, Michigan. If you’re interested in viewing her online memorial feel free to visit Find A Grave.

Moving along, while on routine patrol for some unknown reason Officers Bowens, and Fettig, pulled over a pick-up truck with one occupant. After the officers approached the vehicle, and obtaining the Michigan drivers license of its occupant. They returned to their patrol car. At which point the lone occupant Eric Lee Marshall, exited his vehicle, and proceeded to open fire, on Officers Bowens & Fettig with a .40 caliber handgun. Officer Fettig was shot at least two times, with one round striking her in the head. Officer Bowens then exited the patrol car, radioed for back-up, and then proceeded to chase after Marshall. Marshall then shot Officer Bowens a total of nine times. While Bowens was on the ground, suffering massive blood loss from multiple gunshot wounds. Marshall then stole Bowens service weapon, and sped off into the night. He would be apprehended a few days later at his Detroit home.

Even though I had the precise coördinates of where Officer Matthew Bowens rests peacefully in the outdoor mausoleum. After searching high, and low in the outdoor mausoleum area. I was unable to find his graveside crypt. If your interested in paying your respects to Officer Bowens I suggest you visit his Find A Grave memorial.

On a personal recollection, I remember the night Officers Bowens & Fettig lost their lives like it was yesterday. At the time, I was working the midnight shift for the security company I was employed with. Around the time I was getting off my shift, and driving home to get some much-needed rest. I heard news reports on the radio during the drive home about the officers being killed in the line of duty. So that pretty much concludes that.

Continuing on with the Michigan Memorial Park tour. After failing to find the graveside crypt of Officer Bowens. I then hopped back into my vehicle and cruised over to section 177 of the cemetery. After a leisurely stroll going up and down the isles of in ground grave markers, which lasted about ten minutes. I came upon the graveside lawn burial of reputed Detroit & Wyandotte, Michigan mafioso Antonino (Tony) Giannola.

Born in Terrasina, Sicily, Antonino arrived in America around the turn of the century with his family. Settling in the downriver Detroit enclave known as Wyandotte. Antonino and his brothers would open a grocery store/fruit market a stones throw away from their home on Jefferson Ave. After the brothers opened the grocery store, they’d eventually make their first appearance in police records when $2,000 dollars worth of stolen imported olive oil, was confiscated in the basement cellar of the brothers store.

The 1911 police raid, and confiscation of the stolen olive oil. Would lead the Giannola brothers to believe that their business associate Sam Buendo (sp) tipped authorities off to the whereabouts of the stolen merchandise. This in turn would cost Buendo his untimely albeit grusome demise. When a few weeks later Buendo’s mutilated lifeless cadaver was discovered, badly burned in an Ecourse, Michigan field. The ruthless execution style murder, led the Giannola brothers to become a force to be reckoned with in the rapidly budding Detroit Italian underworld.

As the years were rolling on. Antonino, carved out his fiefdom in the Wyandotte region as a safe haven so to speak, for his growing crime family. When in 1913, he initiated an old-world style feud known as a vendetta with a rival clan The Adamo’s from the old-country. The Adamo faction was led by two ruthless brothers Salvatore, & Vito Adamo. The Adamo-Giannola feud would ultimately lead the Adamo brothers to promptly retreat from the Wyandotte rackets. This was primarily due in part because the Adamo’s were on the receiving end of the Giannola brothers blood-thirsty, hair-trigger ferocity.

The Adamo-Giannola vendetta reached a boiling point, with the constant barrage of bombings, shootings, and assassination attempts, of the feuding factions during the massive turf war bloodbath. The sudden tidal wave of gangland violence would eventually lead the Adamo brothers to seek refuge within the city limits of Detroit. While hiding out in Detroit the Adamo brothers aligned themselves with, and sought protection from another Detroit mafioso from the old-country Pietro Mirabile.

With the added support from Mirabile. The Adamo brothers launched an all out offensive against their despised rivals. Meanwhile the expulsion of the Adamo brothers from the downriver area pretty much led Antonino, and his brother Sam, to believe that they were thus the victors in the vendetta with the Adamo brothers. The Giannola brothers would eventually realize that they made an almost fatal mistake. When the Adamo brothers launched an attack on Antonino Giannola after Vito Adamo was acquitted on the murder charge stemming from the demise of one the Giannola’s top henchmen Carlo Callego. The latest turn of events in the struggle for control over the illicit Wyandotte, & Detroit rackets, would eventually lead to the formation of a special squad of detectives. This squad’s primary objective was to curb the violent feudal warfare which was taking place in the Sicilian communities in and around Detroit. The non-stop violence, and bloodshed would come to an abrupt end when Detroit Police Detective Emmanuel Roggers was murdered while investigating the increasing violence in Detroit’s Sicilian underworld. The murder of Detective Roggers would pretty much lead to an unprecedented crackdown of organized crime in Detroit by the Wayne County Prosecutors Office, and the Detroit Police Department.

After the murder of Detective Roggers. Antonino Giannola was arrested, and brought in for questioning, about the murder. However Giannola was eventually released from custody after posting a $10k bond. In a last-ditch  effort to exercise their dire determination at finding the local hoodlums responsible for the murder of their fellow officer. Detectives promptly rearrested Giannola before he could set foot out of the police station, and charged him with the crime of grand larceny. Once again, Giannola posted bail, this time in the amount of $2k, and was finally allowed to go to his Wyandotte home, without interference from Detroit Police.

The hoodlums responsible for Detective Roggers murder, would never be brought to justice. To this day the murder remains unsolved. Its been widely speculated that the Giannola’s were involved in the murder. But this little tidbit was never proven, more than likely due to lack of evidence. If you’re interested in checking out the graveside photo of Detective Roggers, with a short biographical narrative of his life, feel free to visit Find A Grave. You will probably notice that Detective Roggers graveside photo on F.A.G. was contributed by yours truly. With the murder of Detective Roggers behind him. Antonino’s influence within Detroit’s growing Italian, & Sicilian community pretty much skyrocketed. He thus became known as a man of influential power, with unified loyalty, and respect among the residents in Detroit’s Italian, & Sicilian community.

With prohibition on the horizon of becoming the law of the nation. The Giannola brothers were engaged in an ongoing feud for control of the highly lucrative liquor, and beer market in Detroit, and the surrounding region. For a little over a year, the Giannola brothers with their motley army of killers, waged a lost cause battle with their former allies, and business associates from Wyandotte, the Vitale gang. This ongoing vendetta would eventually cause over 100 gangsters, and associates to lose their lives. The rival factions looked for any opportune chance to execute their foes.

The rivalry of the Giannola, and Vitale factions, for control of the extremely lucrative liquor, and beer trade in Detroit. Would cost Antonino Giannola his life on the night of January 3rd 1919. At the time of Antonino’s demise he was with his army of bodyguards which included his “adopted” son Tony Alescio. The party went to go pay their respects to the widow of another gangster Giuseppe Braziola who for some unforeseen reason been shot to death in some sort of domestic dispute. As Antonino, and his entourage of bodyguards entered the home of Braziola’s widow, his adopted son shot him five times in the back. After the demise of Antonino Giannola, his younger brother took over the gang, and immediately mounted a retaliatory attack against the Vitale’s. The vendetta would rage on until a few months later when Salvatore Giannola was also murdered.

Before I wrap up this article. One thing I’d like to point out about the Giannola’s. Is that with the research I’ve done. I’ve got reason to believe that both Salvatore, and Antonino were originally buried in Mt. Olivet cemetery located on Van Dyke and McNichols in Detroit. The reason I say this is because both of their sons who died in infancy are buried there. Then over time they were eventually relocated to Mt. Carmel in Wyandotte. As for my theory on why Antonino is buried in Michigan Memorial Park? Don’t quote me on it but I think when his wife Lena finally passed away around 1969. The family had Antonino’s body exhumed and reburied in that cemetery.

On a final note please keep in mind, I do not own the copyrights to the portrait photos depicted with the graveside photos as I’ve found them online. But the graveside photos are my property.