By Howard Koplowitz
The mystery surrounding the fate of a Howard Beach man who accidently ran over and killed Gambino mob boss John Gotti Sr.’s son nearly 30 years ago after the boy darted into the street while riding a dirt bike appears to have been solved, according to papers filed last week in Brooklyn federal court for the Eastern District.
For years, there was speculation that the body of John Favara, 51, was dumped into the ocean, but prosecutors are claiming two cooperating witnesses in the case against reputed Gambino hitman Charles Carneglia said Carneglia, 62, dissolved Favara’s body in a barrel of acid.
Favara was targeted for murder after the March 1980 accident that killed 12−year−old Frank Gotti, according to the New York Post.
He disappeared a couple of months later and his body was never found, but a judge ruled him dead in 1983.
The new details about his fate emerged in court papers filed last week by prosecutors in Brooklyn federal court as part of a motion to introduce evidence in Carneglia’s case.
Carneglia was one of 62 reputed Gambinos who were arrested by federal agents in February as part of a massive Mafia crackdown.
Carneglia allegedly told two Gambino associates now acting as cooperating witnesses in his case that he got rid of Favara’s body by putting it in a barrel of acid.
The witnesses said Carneglia told them of his expertise in getting rid of bodies. The suspected hitman allegedly told one of the witnesses that he was reading a book on dismemberment and said using acid was the best method.
Years after Favara’s death, Carneglia allegedly asked one of the witnesses to help him move barrels of acid from his basement. He claimed the barrels were used in disposing of other bodies, according to the court papers.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
