The Disappearance of John Favara: The Man Who Accidentally Killed John Gotti’s Son
In March 1980, a man named John Favara accidentally killed the son of notorious mob boss John Gotti. Just four months later, Favara vanished without a trace. Even today, no one truly knows what happened to him.
On July 28, 1980, Favara left work at a factory on Long Island, New York, and was never seen again. Three years later, he was declared legally dead, but his body was never found. Many believe his mysterious disappearance was connected to the tragic accident involving Gotti’s son.
The Accident That Changed Everything
John Favara was an ordinary man. He was 51 years old, lived in Howard Beach, Queens, with his wife and two adopted children, and worked at a factory. His neighbor was John Gotti, a powerful crime boss in the Gambino family. While Favara wasn’t involved in any criminal activities himself, he had a friendly relationship with the Gotti family. His son, Scott, even had sleepovers with John Gotti Jr.
But everything changed on March 18, 1980. That evening, as Favara was driving home, Gotti’s 12-year-old son, Frank, rode a minibike into the street. The sun was setting, and a large dumpster on the street created a blind spot, so Favara didn’t see Frank. Tragically, he hit Frank with his car. According to witnesses, Favara didn’t realize what happened until neighbors shouted and banged on his car windows. When he finally saw the injured boy, he allegedly reacted by asking, “What was he doing in the street?”
Some members of the Gotti family later claimed that Favara had been drinking, though this was never proven.
Living in Fear: Threats Against Favara’s Life
Soon after the accident, Favara’s life became a nightmare. Two days after Frank’s death, a woman called the police, warning that Favara would be “eliminated.” Although police tried to warn him, Favara didn’t take it seriously at first. But things escalated quickly. He began receiving threatening letters, mysterious phone calls, and even found a picture of Frank Gotti in his mailbox. On May 22, someone spray-painted the word “MURDERER” on Favara’s car.
Favara’s fear grew, especially after John Gotti’s wife, also named Victoria, attacked him with a baseball bat in May. After this, Favara and his family decided it was best to leave Howard Beach. He put his house up for sale and found a buyer. The sale was set to close on July 31.
A few days before the closing date, the Gotti family went on vacation to Florida. This timing later became significant because it provided John Gotti an alibi when, on July 28, a group of men kidnapped Favara near his workplace. He was never seen again.
What Happened to John Favara? Theories and Rumors
After the Gotti family returned from Florida on August 4, 1980, police questioned them about Favara’s disappearance. When asked about it, Gotti’s wife said, “I don’t know what happened to him, but I’m not sorry if something did.” Gotti himself reportedly said, “He killed my kid.”
In 1983, authorities officially declared John Favara dead, but no clues emerged about what happened to his body. Years later, in 2004, federal agents searched a known mob “dumping ground” in Queens but found no sign of Favara.
John Gotti had passed away in prison two years earlier, but in 2009, new court documents hinted at what might have happened. A witness claimed that Gambino family member Charles Carneglia had shot Favara on Gotti’s orders and then disposed of the body in a vat of acid. This chilling detail was never confirmed, but it added to the theories about how the mob may have hidden Favara’s remains.
Reflections on a Tragedy
Favara’s son, Scott, once spoke about his father, saying he was “a great man, more than anyone would ever know.” Meanwhile, members of the Gotti family suggested that Favara’s lack of remorse after the accident might have played a role in his disappearance. Victoria Gotti, John Gotti’s daughter, once wrote that she believed Favara might still be alive if he had shown more respect and remorse for the accident.
Today, the case of John Favara remains a mystery. Some believe he became a victim of mob justice, while others feel his disappearance was simply revenge for a tragic accident. Though the truth may never be known, the story of John Favara is a chilling reminder of how one incident can forever change lives.
Certainly! Here is an FAQ section related to the story of John Favara and the tragic incident involving John Gotti’s son.
FAQ: The Disappearance of John Favara and the Tragic Accident Involving John Gotti’s Son
1. Who was John Favara?
– John Favara was an ordinary man who lived in Howard Beach, Queens, New York. He worked at a furniture factory and lived with his wife and two adopted children. Although he was neighbors with mob boss John Gotti, Favara wasn’t involved in organized crime.
2. What happened to Frank Gotti?
– On March 18, 1980, 12-year-old Frank Gotti, the son of mob boss John Gotti, was tragically killed in an accident involving John Favara. Frank rode his minibike into the street, and Favara, driving home from work, didn’t see him due to glare from the sun and a nearby dumpster that blocked his view.
3. Was John Favara charged with a crime for Frank Gotti’s death?
No, John Favara was not charged with any crime. Authorities determined it was a tragic accident, and there was no evidence that Favara had been drinking or acted recklessly.
4. Why did John Favara disappear?
Four months after the accident, on July 28, 1980, Favara disappeared. Many believe his disappearance was orchestrated by John Gotti or members of the Gambino crime family as revenge for Frank’s death. Favara was last seen being forced into a van by several men.
5. What threats did John Favara receive after the accident?
– Favara received several threats after the accident. People sent letters and made anonymous phone calls warning him. Someone even spray-painted “MURDERER” on his car. At one point, John Gotti’s wife reportedly attacked him with a baseball bat outside his house.
6. Did John Gotti admit to being involved in John Favara’s disappearance?
– No, John Gotti never admitted involvement. He and his wife expressed little sympathy for Favara’s situation. Gotti reportedly remarked, “He killed my kid,” while Victoria Gotti, his wife, said she wasn’t sorry if something happened to Favara.
7. What theories exist about what happened to John Favara?
– There are several theories about Favara’s fate. Some believe he was killed and his body was dissolved in acid to hide any evidence. Others think he may have been buried in a secret location by the mob. No body has ever been found, so the truth remains unknown.
8. Was there ever a lead on John Favara’s remains?
– In 2004, authorities searched a known mob dumping ground in Queens, but no evidence of Favara’s remains was found. A 2009 court document suggested he might have been shot and then dissolved in acid, but this theory was never proven.
9. How did John Favara’s family react to his disappearance?
– Favara’s family was devastated. His son, Scott, remembered him fondly as “a great man.” Favara was officially declared dead in 1983, but his family never received closure since his remains were never recovered.
10. Did John Favara show remorse after the accident?
– According to some accounts, Favara did not express much remorse, which may have angered the Gotti family further. Victoria Gotti, John Gotti’s daughter, suggested that if Favara had shown more respect or apologized, he might have been spared.
11. Why is John Favara’s story so well-known?
– The story is infamous because it combines elements of a tragic accident with the ruthless reputation of the mob. John Gotti was one of the most well-known crime bosses in America, and any events connected to him, especially those as mysterious as Favara’s disappearance, attracted widespread media attention.
12. What ultimately happened to John Gotti?
– John Gotti was convicted on multiple charges, including murder and racketeering, in 1992. He spent the rest of his life in prison and died in 2002. Gotti’s death came before any significant developments in Favara’s case, so he took any secrets regarding Favara’s fate to his grave.
13. Is there any chance that John Favara survived?
– It’s unlikely. Given the circumstances and the many theories about how the mob may have handled his disappearance, most believe he was killed soon after his abduction. However, with no physical evidence, his case remains officially unsolved.
14. Could John Favara’s disappearance ever be solved?
– There is always a possibility of new evidence surfacing, but it seems unlikely after so many years. Favara’s case remains one of the many mysterious disappearances believed to be linked to mob activities, and without any hard evidence, authorities may never be able to confirm what truly happened.