Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"He didn't want her, but he didn't want her to be with anyone else." — Christine (via Philadelphia Daily News reporter Scott Flander)
"There's only one person in the world that knows I didn't do it. And it's me." — Joe Imbeau (via Steve Volk)
"It's the only thing I can think of. All the authorities have said to this point is murder for hire. And, you know, these kinds of people, gang members who are running a prescription drug ring, those are the kinds of people we usually associate with a murder for a higher plot." — Britt
This episode of Crime Junkie delves into the 2005 disappearance of Richard Petrone and Danielle Imbeau, who vanished with Petrone's truck from a Philadelphia street. The narrative traces Danielle's complicated personal life, including a contentious divorce from Joe Imbeau, and her budding relationship with Richard Petrone, who was her best friend's brother. The episode highlights threats made by Joe Imbeau towards Richard, adding a layer of interpersonal conflict to the unfolding events. The disappearance itself is marked by an eerie lack of evidence; no witnesses saw them leave the bar, no security camera footage captured their movements, and their vehicle was not found on toll road cameras.
The investigation into the disappearance was hampered by the 48-hour waiting period before it could be officially treated as a missing person's case, leading families to initiate their own searches. As time passed, suspicion fell on both Danielle's ex-husband, Joe Imbeau, and Richard Petrone's background. However, investigations into Joe's alibi and Richard's life revealed no concrete evidence linking either directly to the disappearance, though Joe admitted to being bitter about the ongoing suspicion. The case remained cold for years, with various theories emerging, including a potential professional hit, a murder-for-hire plot, and even a possible connection to serial killer Israel Keyes, though none were definitively proven.
The episode concludes by emphasizing the enduring mystery and the FBI's continued involvement, offering a reward for information. The lack of tangible evidence, the complex web of personal relationships, and the passage of time have left the fate of Richard Petrone and Danielle Imbeau unresolved. The podcast suggests that while a professional hit theory has been pursued, the true motive and perpetrators remain unknown, leaving families searching for answers after nearly two decades.