Warrant in Rachael DelTondo's murder probe seeks to pinpoint ex's whereabouts
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Frank Catroppa's cellphone in an effort to pinpoint his whereabouts on the night his ex-fiance Rachael DelTondo was murdered in Aliquippa, court records show.
Catroppa, 36, of Robinson held a news conference after DelTondo's May 13 murder to say he had nothing to do it. They had been romantically involved for about eight years before breaking off their engagement more than a year ago.
The search warrant, one of more than a dozen obtained so far in the murder investigation, said it sought call records, text messages, location data and other information from Catroppa's phone that could “either verify or dispute his location” when the crime occurred.
Catroppa's attorney, Stephen Colafella, did not return messages.
The warrant lays out Catroppa's alibi, which he provided to investigators during questioning.
Catroppa told police he left his Robinson apartment, picked up food to take to his mother's Aliquippa home and remained there until 4 p.m. From there, he went to his girlfriend's mother's home in Center and stayed there until after 5:30 p.m. He then returned to his mother's home to pick up food before returning to his apartment at the Ridge at Robinson.
He told investigators he was there with his girlfriend for the rest of the night, according to the warrant.
Investigators said in the warrant that Catroppa's key fob data showed no log-in times for his apartment or the building on May 13. They said no security cameras show his apartment, so they couldn't visually verify whether he had been there.
The search warrant, executed May 19, said some of DelTondo's family members and friends alleged that Catroppa and his friends and associates had been following DelTondo after she and Catroppa broke up.
DelTondo's mother, Lisa DelTondo, told police that her daughter had received death threats on social media as well. The warrant does not specify from whom.
Other search warrants executed sought similar cellphone data from phones belonging to DelTondo; Tyrie Jeter, 25, and Lauren Watkins, 17, who were with DelTondo before she was shot; and Sheldon Jeter Jr., 20, with whom DelTondo had been romantically involved in the past.
Police also requested information related to an unknown number that Sheldon Jeter Jr. called at 10:46 on the night of the murder.
Authorities said Watkins dropped off DelTondo at her mother's home at 10:44 p.m. Four minutes later, authorities received an emergency call about shots being fired in the area. Responding officers found DelTondo in the driveway. She had been shot at least 10 times.
A suspect has not been identified. Aliquippa police Chief Don Couch and Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier aren't publicly saying where the investigation stands.
The FBI confirmed Friday that it is assisting with the investigation, but did not detail the nature of its involvement.
While the search warrants have provided many details about the investigation to date, Lozier said investigators intend to keep information from any future warrants sealed because they believe it could be detrimental to the investigation. He declined further comment.
Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib.
