It’s Been 11 Years Since Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone Vanished

Missing persons Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone in photos provided by the FBI.

On February 19, 2005, 34-year-old Danielle Imbo of Mount Laurel, New Jersey and 35-year-old South Philadelphia man Richard Petrone walked along South Street together and then, mysteriously, into the missing persons files of the FBI. They haven’t been heard from since. On the eleventh anniversary of the their disappearance, the FBI is once again asking for the public’s help in finding out what happened to them.

Imbo and Petrone were both single parents who had known each other for years and had, at times, a romantic relationship. After a period of separation, they appeared to be back on that Saturday night. They were seen kissing over drinks at Abilene, a bar that was located at 429 South Street, now the home of a Circles Thai location.

Petrone had his truck parked nearby, a 2001 black Dodge Dakota pickup with Pennsylvania license plate YFH-2319, and the plan was reportedly for the couple to go to Imbo’s home in New Jersey. But no one knows if they ever made it there, and neither the couple nor the truck were ever seen again.

Despite what the FBI has called “promising leads,” the case remains unsolved. No bloodstains were ever found, Imbo’s purse didn’t turn up anywhere, zero activity on their bank accounts and phones. Nothing.

Various theories have been floated, and some friends and family members had their suspicions — Imbo’s estranged ex-husband had an alibi that had him an hour away at a party attended by police officer; he has never been declared a suspect — but this hasn’t led to any closure. There is a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or a determination of the couple’s whereabouts.

Petrone lived on Snyder Avenue in Philadelphia and worked at Viking Pastries, his family’s bakery in Ardmore. At the time of his disappearance, he was 5’9″ and 200 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes, and an “Angela” tattoo on his left arm and one of clowns on his right. Imbo was 5’5″ and 117 pounds with hazel eyes, brown hair, and a flower tattoo on her back.

When the couple disappeared, Imbo’s son was 18 months old, and Petrone’s daughter was 14.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission tip line at 215-546-TIPS. Tips can remain anonymous.

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