Man pleads guilty to killing woman found in pond

TRENTON, N.J. – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty Monday to killing his mistress, whose dismembered body was found in a New York City pond.

Rosario DiGirolamo faces a 25-year prison sentence after his admission in state Superior Court. Jury selection in the case that became known as the "Missing Mom" murder was scheduled to begin Tuesday.

DiGirolamo pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the June 2007 death of 27-year-old Amy Giordano. Prosecutors contend DiGirolamo killed Giordano, disposed of her body, then left the couple's 11-month-old son in the parking lot of a Delaware hospital.

DiGirolamo was married to another woman at the time.

At the plea hearing, DiGirolamo said he and Giordano had fought on the day of her death and that he struck her with a hammer as she lunged at him.

The indictment alleged DiGirolamo chopped up Giordano's body with a hacksaw after she was dead, then stuffed some of the remains in a suitcase and dropped it in the Staten Island pond. He was arrested in 2008 and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

After dumping the body, DiGirolamo allegedly drove the infant to the hospital, where the boy was discovered with a handwritten note pinned to his diaper that called him "John Vincent" and said his caregiver had no job or health insurance.

The boy was soon identified after a tipster recognized him as Giordano's child.

Giordano was living with the couple's son in an apartment in Hightstown when she vanished. Authorities said DiGirolamo was paying the $850 a month rent and was frequently seen at the apartment.

Shortly after Giordano disappeared, DiGirolamo abandoned his family, quit his job and flew to Italy, where he remained for about six weeks before returning to face child abandonment charges. He later pleaded guilty and was fined.

DiGirolamo had spent the last two years under home confinement at his parents' home in Brooklyn after posting $1 million bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3.