Horrific Discovery in Search for Missing Musician
A new lead in the investigation of missing musician Keith Palumbo has tragically led authorities to a cemetery crypt, revealing a grim finding.
This heartbreaking case involves Keith Palumbo, a 36-year-old musician from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, who was murdered by a close friend. It’s currently being explored in Oxygen’s true-crime series, *Philly Murder,* where former detective Chris McMullin revisits some of Philadelphia’s most disturbing crimes.
“This is a very sad incident,” McMullin shared. “Through extensive investigation and interviews with people who were involved or had knowledge, they ended up at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Honestly, I was aware that stolen cars were often dumped there, so it wasn’t shocking to me.”
Undercover Agent’s Experience
McMullin noted that if someone wanted to conceal a crime, the cemetery was, unfortunately, a suitable site due to its neglect.
Back in April 2020, investigators exhumed Palumbo’s body along with the remains of David Rosillo Jr., a 33-year-old potential member of the Warlocks Motorcycle Club. Their bodies were discovered in a cellar connected to Captain A.H. Kane, who had passed away in 1884. Even though Rosillo’s death was unrelated, both bodies were found in the same grim location.
McMullin explained that Mount Moriah Cemetery had fallen into disrepair, becoming almost abandoned over the years. Reports suggested it was notorious for illegal activities, including the dumping of stolen vehicles.
He shared a personal anecdote about visiting the cemetery while working part-time at a funeral home, describing it as resembling a scene from a post-apocalyptic film: gravestones crumbling, mausoleums overrun with vines. “It’s disheartening,” he added, “because this is where people are laid to rest.”
As they searched, investigators noticed one cellar had apparently been disturbed. This, combined with witness accounts, directed them towards the case’s horrific conclusion.
A Betrayal Among Friends
Palumbo, a heavy metal guitarist with a close-knit family, was reported missing in February 2020. The moment his family learned of his disappearance, they sensed something was terribly wrong.
At the time, he was in his mother’s car with two other men when he received a call from his friend Michael DeLuca, a member of the Warlocks, urging him to come over to his home in Southwest Philadelphia.
“When I discovered he was missing, I just had a bad feeling,” McMullin recalled. “Every case in this series is tragic, but this was a true case of betrayal.”
Witnesses indicated that upon arriving at DeLuca’s apartment, he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Palumbo. Despite Palumbo’s protests, DeLuca allegedly shot him in the face. It’s unclear what triggered this violent turn, but some suggested DeLuca might have feared that Palumbo was cooperating with law enforcement—a claim that was not substantiated with evidence.
McMullin expressed uncertainty about DeLuca’s motivations, positing that he may have acted to reinforce control over the group. What’s particularly disturbing is that DeLuca and Palumbo were lifelong friends.
Investigators have long identified the Warlocks as an active outlaw motorcycle gang, notorious for violent crimes, although they don’t receive the same media attention as larger gangs.
Federal and local agents have tied their members to a host of violent activities, underlining that a lower profile doesn’t imply less danger.
In September 2020, both DeLuca and another Warlocks member were arrested. Subsequently, in 2023, one was convicted of first-degree murder, while DeLuca pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in Palumbo’s case.
As McMullin reflects on the incident, he highlights the tragic connections between victims and their murderers, often pointing out that more people fall prey to those they know than to strangers. “In my eyes, Michael DeLuca committed an evil act,” he concluded.
