MURDER VICTIM Carlo Di Matteo gambled his life away while living a high life with a mansion in Woodbridge, fancy cars and a loving family.
Sources say the Chrysler line worker, whose parents came to Canada penniless from Italy more than 40 years ago, was in fact a big-time bookie. He was killed nearly a month ago.
"We all live average blue-collar lives," a staffer at the 24-hour Brampton plant, whose name is being withheld, told the Sun.
"How did he afford the luxurious life he had?" he asked. "Simple, if you are the plant bookie.
"Carlo usually looked like he was mad ... because of all the money people owed him," the plant worker said. "He was murdered the day after the NBA finals, but he had tons of cash to cover himself."
Homicide detectives yesterday would not confirm reports of the investigation focusing on a bookie operation. They also had no comment on the types of questions detectives asked of Di Matteo's co-workers over the past 19 days.
But the force is expected to make an announcement early today about key evidence unearthed in the case.
Di Matteo, 44, was shot June 24 with a large-calibre gun during a home invasion soon after neighbours reported him mowing the lawn outside his sprawling mansion on Cipriano Court.
Kathy, his wife of 17 1/2 years, daughter Stephanie, and sons Michael and Jonathan, weren't at home on the cul-de-sac of monster houses southeast of Rutherford Rd. and Hwy. 27, where professional gardeners tend many of the immaculate lawns.
Di Matteo called 911 and was rushed to Sunnybrook hospital, but died about 90 minutes after telling an operator of his shooting during a "robbery," Det.-Sgt. Bruce West told reporters.
The dying man was found on the second floor of the house.
At the funeral on June 29, Frank Di Matteo told 400 mourners that "Carlo loved life," despite rough times at school in Toronto, after their parents brought his brother here "for a better life."
Before his death, police said Di Matteo was unknown to them.
Anyone with information should call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7865, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Toronto Sun
Sources say the Chrysler line worker, whose parents came to Canada penniless from Italy more than 40 years ago, was in fact a big-time bookie. He was killed nearly a month ago.
"We all live average blue-collar lives," a staffer at the 24-hour Brampton plant, whose name is being withheld, told the Sun.
"How did he afford the luxurious life he had?" he asked. "Simple, if you are the plant bookie.
"Carlo usually looked like he was mad ... because of all the money people owed him," the plant worker said. "He was murdered the day after the NBA finals, but he had tons of cash to cover himself."
Homicide detectives yesterday would not confirm reports of the investigation focusing on a bookie operation. They also had no comment on the types of questions detectives asked of Di Matteo's co-workers over the past 19 days.
But the force is expected to make an announcement early today about key evidence unearthed in the case.
Di Matteo, 44, was shot June 24 with a large-calibre gun during a home invasion soon after neighbours reported him mowing the lawn outside his sprawling mansion on Cipriano Court.
Kathy, his wife of 17 1/2 years, daughter Stephanie, and sons Michael and Jonathan, weren't at home on the cul-de-sac of monster houses southeast of Rutherford Rd. and Hwy. 27, where professional gardeners tend many of the immaculate lawns.
Di Matteo called 911 and was rushed to Sunnybrook hospital, but died about 90 minutes after telling an operator of his shooting during a "robbery," Det.-Sgt. Bruce West told reporters.
The dying man was found on the second floor of the house.
At the funeral on June 29, Frank Di Matteo told 400 mourners that "Carlo loved life," despite rough times at school in Toronto, after their parents brought his brother here "for a better life."
Before his death, police said Di Matteo was unknown to them.
Anyone with information should call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7865, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Toronto Sun
