Chef Hacked To Death With Machete In Pizza Shop

Edward John Politelli, originally from Providence, Rhode Island, was described as a “hoot” by his friends. The 72-year-old had lived a long and memorable life. Eddie was missing his right index finger. He wouldn't explain how he lost it, merely stating he had been 25-years-old when it happened.

Eddie had two passions in life: music and cooking. He had once dreamed of becoming a jazz drummer and often played at local gigs. However, cooking took up most of his time.

He was known for being such a good cook that he was a chef for the Aurora Club — a distinguished Rhode Island social club focused on celebrating the Italian heritage of its members.

According to his friends, Eddie also enjoyed betting at horse races.

Eddie had married once but the relationship ended in divorce in the late 1980s. His only child, a son born in 1962, passed away in 2000 after battling cancer.

He eventually moved to California and settled in Santa Clarita. He lived at the Canyon Country Senior Apartments with his old beagle, Lolly. He often joked that Lolly was his wife as she was always with him.

Eddie worked at a popular pizzeria owned by his close friend Anthony “Tony” Sposato. Mama Mia Pizza shop was located on The Old Road in Stevenson Ranch.

In the early morning of June 12, 2006, Eddie arrived at the pizzeria. Although the restaurant only opened to customers at 11 AM, Eddie was always there by 8 AM to make his signature tomato sauce.

Just after 8 AM, a delivery man arrived with fresh lettuce and tomatoes. Eddie invited him inside for coffee. After a brief conversation, the delivery man left to continue his route.

It was a matter of minutes after the delivery man left that an uninvited man entered the pizzeria. The unknown man led Eddie through the kitchen into the back room and then out the back door where there was an alley.

Tony arrived just before 8:30 AM. As he approached the kitchen, he noticed the back door was open. This is when he heard Eddie pleading with someone, “Don’t hurt me. I don’t have anything.”

Frightened, Tony went out the front door and around to the alley. He was shocked to see his friend being harassed by a man holding a machete in one hand and a handgun in the other. Eddie noticed Tony and begged, “Tony, help me. He’s got a gun.”

Despite having mobility issues as a result of two hip surgeries, Eddie tried to flee. The assailant grabbed him by the back of his t-shirt, threw him on the ground, and began to slash him with the machete.

Tony backed away despite the attacker shouting at him to stay where he was. He ran to a nearby utility truck and grabbed a shovel. He noticed some workers close by and frantically asked them to call 911.

When he returned to the alley, Eddie was lying on the floor covered in blood. Tony once again urged the attacker to leave Eddie alone stating, “He’s an old man”, as he banged the shovel on the ground. The machete-wielding man was unbothered.

When he was finished attacking the defenseless chef, the assailant walked out the other end of the alley and got into a light gray Dodge Magnum station wagon.

Eddie was declared dead at the scene. He had lost 1.5 liters of blood. The majority of his stab and slash wounds were to his lower abdomen and lower back. He had defensive wounds on his right hand.

Notably, the killer had made no effort to conceal his identity. Despite this, he has never been identified. A sketch was made based on Tony’s description:

The machete killer was described as a clean-shaven, 25 to 30-year-old Latino (but possibly White) man. He stood at 5 feet 7 inches and weighed 160 pounds. They were wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black sweatshirt. Furthermore, they had a backpack hanging on their shoulder.

Aside from the killer still being unidentified, a motive has also never been established for the violent crime. Robbery was discussed as a possibility, however, the killer made no effort to steal anything. Given that Eddie was an old man, it would have been easy to rob the pizzeria without so much violence.

It has also been theorized that Eddie’s past caught up to him. Investigators revealed that several of the tips they received had involved Eddie being connected to organized crime.

Furthermore, authorities were confused by a couple of things at the crime scene. The killer had left an empty cardboard box in the alley. It is believed that it had contained the Nicholson 18-inch machete used to kill Eddie. The weapon was never found. There were also several clear plastic bags at the scene.

Police were further stumped by the fact that the killer chose to hack his victim to death with a machete instead of just using the gun he had in his other hand.

Tony has since passed away of natural causes and the pizzeria has closed.

Eddie Politelli’s murder, known as one of the most vicious killings in Santa Clarita, remains unsolved 15 years later.