FBI Digs Into ’90s Murder Case

Steven A. DiSarro was reported missing by his wife in 1993, while he was working as a co-manager of Boston’s The Channel nightclub, where his car was parked.

A website dedicated to The Channel’s history states that it closed its doors as a music venue in 1991 after the owners, Harry and Peter Booras, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Prior to this, it was known as an iconic venue and hosted many of the biggest punk, metal and reggae acts of the ‘80s. The Channel reopened as an exotic dance club soon after its initial closure, with Frank Salemme Jr., son of mob boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme, listed as the assistant manager.

The dance club closed within a year, however, and was eventually torn down. It was during this reopening when DiSarro was co-manager of the club and went missing. Stephen Flemmi, who is serving a life sentence for 10 murders, told government authorities in 2003 that he witnessed the murder of DiSarro carried out by Frank Salemme Jr., the Boston Globe reports. Flemmi said the elder Salemme later disclosed the location of the body in Providence to him. An attorney for Francis Salemme told the Globe that his client has not been involved with the criminal justice system for 20 years and accused Flemmi of lying. No one has been charged with the murder of Steven DiSarro.

A spokeswoman for the FBI’s Boston office did not issue a comment related to whether the search was for DiSarro’s body. The Investigation at the digging site has included forensics experts, medical examiners and Police K- 9 dogs. The owner of the land being excavated recently pled guilty to allowing marijuana to be grown on his property, the Globe reported.