South Philly man charged with 1999 mob-style murder of Gino Marconi.

For more than two decades, law enforcement officials have pursued leads in the mob-style slaying of Guerino “Gino” Marconi, who was gunned down outside his home in South Philadelphia on April 10, 1999. Recently, authorities have taken a significant step toward resolving the case by charging 60-year-old Richard Leidy with murder, attempted murder, and related offenses.

Leidy was apprehended at his residence located on the 2500 block of South 19th Street, approximately one block from the scene of the crime. Marconi, then 42, was fatally shot in the head with a .22-caliber rifle on the 2400 block of South 20th Street. At the time of his death, Marconi was known to be associated with Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino, a reputed mob boss. In the incident, Marconi’s girlfriend, Patricia Miley, who was 31 years old at the time, sustained critical injuries.

Details concerning how investigators connected Leidy to the murder have yet to be disclosed, as a judge has sealed the court filings associated with the case. Law enforcement officials have not elaborated on the evidence tying Leidy to the crime.

On the night of the tragic event, Marconi and Miley were reportedly leaving their home for a late dinner when they were ambushed. Investigators believe that the assailant waited in a van parked across the street prior to opening fire on the couple. After the shooting, the perpetrator disposed of the rifle in the backseat of the vehicle and subsequently set the van ablaze in an effort to obliterate any evidence.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Leidy’s name had surfaced during the investigation, particularly as police were examining a burglary at his home two months prior to Marconi’s death. At that time, he conveyed his concerns about his family’s safety, mentioning that intruders had threatened him.

Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore recalls both the night of the murder and the earlier robbery, noting that Leidy had been considered a person of interest from the outset. However, the investigators lacked sufficient evidence to pursue charges at that time. The recent developments in the case emerged from renewed collaboration between Philadelphia homicide detectives, the FBI, and prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Office.

As this long-anticipated case unfolds, the family of Guerino Marconi has not publicly commented on the charges against Leidy.