Fugitive Arrested in Mexico After Nine-Year Manhunt for Double Homicide
A Canadian man, Daniel Tomassetti, 35, has been apprehended in Mexico after evading authorities for nearly a decade. Tomassetti is a key figure sought in connection with the brazen, targeted killings of a mob boss and a veterinary technician in the Toronto area back in 2017. His arrest in August of this year marks a significant breakthrough for Canadian law enforcement, who are now working to secure his extradition to face serious charges.
Tomassetti faces grave accusations, including two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and three counts of conspiracy to commit murder. These charges are linked to a brutal period in 2017 that saw the calculated elimination of two individuals with ties, directly or indirectly, to organised crime.
The Victims and the Crimes
The investigation centres around the murders of:
- Mila Barberi: A 28-year-old veterinary technician from Toronto.
- Angelo Musitano: An infamous Ontario mob boss.
The first incident occurred on May 2, 2017. Angelo Musitano was sitting in his pickup truck in the driveway of his Hamilton home when a gunman approached his vehicle and fired at close range. The assailant was reportedly waiting in the vicinity before making their move. Tragically, this was not the only violent encounter involving the Musitano family that year. Angelo’s brother, Pasquale Musitano, also a prominent mob figure, was shot at just weeks later but survived the attempt. However, Pasquale’s luck ran out in 2020 when he was fatally shot in front of a furniture store in Burlington, Ontario. While Tomassetti is implicated in the conspiracy surrounding both killings, he has not been charged with the attempted shooting or the eventual murder of Pasquale Musitano.
Mila Barberi met her violent end on March 14, 2017. She was gunned down while standing next to an SUV parked outside a store in Vaughan. Authorities believe Barberi was waiting to pick up her boyfriend, Saverio Serrano, who was believed to be the intended target of the hit due to his alleged connections to organised crime. Serrano was injured in the shooting but survived. Surveillance footage from the parking lot captured the assailant approaching the vehicle and firing shots, initially unaware that their intended target was not inside. The gunman then moved around the back of the SUV and fired additional rounds at Barberi and Serrano. Investigators believe the same gunman was responsible for both the murder of Barberi and the death of Angelo Musitano.
A Mastermind on the Run
While Tomassetti is not believed to have been the triggerman in either of these fatal shootings, police allege he played a crucial role in orchestrating and facilitating the killings. Following the murders, Tomassetti came under police surveillance. However, in January 2018, he managed to slip away to Mexico, a country where he was known to have established connections.
Court documents reveal a calculated effort by Tomassetti to evade capture. He reportedly left his mobile phone at home before heading to the airport, booking a round-trip flight but conspicuously failing to return on the scheduled flight.
The Fate of Accomplices
The investigation into the Musitano and Barberi killings also saw two other men sought by authorities. However, the passage of time has brought a grim end to their lives.
- Michael Cudmore: Aged 39, Cudmore is believed to have been the individual who carried out the shootings. His body was discovered in an abandoned vehicle on a rural Mexican road in 2020.
- Daniele Ranieri: A 34-year-old, described as a mob enforcer and a criminal mentor to Cudmore, was found dead in a ditch in Mexico in 2018. He had reportedly been bound and executed.
The unfortunate fates of these alleged co-conspirators led to speculation that Tomassetti may have also met a similar end. However, law enforcement agencies remained committed to their pursuit. In 2023, Tomassetti was recognised as one of Canada’s 25 most wanted fugitives and was prominently featured on BOLO (be on the lookout) lists. A substantial reward of $50,000 was offered for any information leading to his arrest. It remains unconfirmed whether this reward has been claimed.
The precise details of how Tomassetti was located and apprehended by Mexican authorities have not been publicly disclosed. A spokesperson for York Regional Police confirmed to Canadian media that Tomassetti is currently contesting his extradition. The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a man who spent nine years on the run, and the extradition process will now determine his next steps in facing justice for the alleged crimes.
