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Five years ago, on Jan. 26, 2007, Paula Grossi, a 45-year-old mother and grandmother, was shot and killed in her home during a home invasion. To date, the murder remains unsolved.
Police are once again asking for the public’s assistance to help solve this cold case.
On the day of the incident, the Delaware State Police responded to a residence located in the 36000 block of Winner Circle, in the Stable Farm development of Rehoboth Beach for the report of shooting.
Paula moved to Rehoboth in 2003. Her father, Frank Grossi, built the home in State Farms for his only daughter, who also suffered with lupus and neuropathy, a nerve condition that affected her legs.
She lived in the house with her two-year-old grandson, whom she cared for at the time.
Frank Grossi still feels responsible for convincing Paula that a move from Wilmington to Rehoboth would make her more safe.
“I talked Paula into moving down there to get her away from her neighborhood that was getting bad crime-wise,” Frank Grossi said. “There was no crime in Rehoboth and I thought it was a safer place to live. And, look what happened to her.”
When the police arrived at the scene, troopers located a female victim, later identified as Paula F. Grossi, suffering from a gunshot wound.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arriving troopers also learned that two more people were asleep in a second floor bedroom of the home when the shooting occurred. The two additional victims recounted the details of their experiences as they were confronted in the bedroom by the suspects and tied up by their hands and feet.
The suspects then ransacked the home, taking a few items, before fleeing. The two additional victims were then able to free themselves and located Paula on the first floor of the home.
According to Frank Grossi, with Paula’s medical conditions, she never stood a chance against the intruders.
“She had to walk with a cane and she couldn’t defend herself from anybody who’d attack her,” Frank Grossi said. “She just couldn’t defend herself.”
The investigation produced many leads in the case but police have been unable to make an arrest.
The surviving victims were able to advise troopers at the scene with a description of the suspects. Consequently, composite sketches have been drawn of the two white males suspected of being involved.
Five years ago, on Jan. 26, 2007, Paula Grossi, a 45-year-old mother and grandmother, was shot and killed in her home during a home invasion. To date, the murder remains unsolved.
Police are once again asking for the public’s assistance to help solve this cold case.
On the day of the incident, the Delaware State Police responded to a residence located in the 36000 block of Winner Circle, in the Stable Farm development of Rehoboth Beach for the report of shooting.
Paula moved to Rehoboth in 2003. Her father, Frank Grossi, built the home in State Farms for his only daughter, who also suffered with lupus and neuropathy, a nerve condition that affected her legs.
She lived in the house with her two-year-old grandson, whom she cared for at the time.
Frank Grossi still feels responsible for convincing Paula that a move from Wilmington to Rehoboth would make her more safe.
“I talked Paula into moving down there to get her away from her neighborhood that was getting bad crime-wise,” Frank Grossi said. “There was no crime in Rehoboth and I thought it was a safer place to live. And, look what happened to her.”
When the police arrived at the scene, troopers located a female victim, later identified as Paula F. Grossi, suffering from a gunshot wound.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arriving troopers also learned that two more people were asleep in a second floor bedroom of the home when the shooting occurred. The two additional victims recounted the details of their experiences as they were confronted in the bedroom by the suspects and tied up by their hands and feet.
The suspects then ransacked the home, taking a few items, before fleeing. The two additional victims were then able to free themselves and located Paula on the first floor of the home.
According to Frank Grossi, with Paula’s medical conditions, she never stood a chance against the intruders.
“She had to walk with a cane and she couldn’t defend herself from anybody who’d attack her,” Frank Grossi said. “She just couldn’t defend herself.”
The investigation produced many leads in the case but police have been unable to make an arrest.
The surviving victims were able to advise troopers at the scene with a description of the suspects. Consequently, composite sketches have been drawn of the two white males suspected of being involved.
The older suspect was a white male with a thin face, 40-years-old, 5’6” tall, 200 pounds, with an unknown marking under his left eye. He was last seen wearing a pair of black overalls, brown construction boots, a black knit cap, and dark gloves.
The younger suspect was also a white male with a round face who appeared to be between 20 and 25-years-old. He was 5’7” tall and between 160 and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a hooded jacket, white gloves, and wool “skull cap”.
According to Captain Ralph H. Davis, III, the case is not considered a typical cold case and evidence is consistently reexamined whenever new technologies become available.
Davis is also optimistic that the anniversary of the crime will produce some new information that could eventually help solve the case.
“We’re turning to the public for any kind of lead, as trivial as it may seem,” Davis said. “It may be very important to us.”
Frank Grossi is also hoping that a $25,000 dollar reward that is good through Feb. 18 will also motivate more people to come forward quickly with any information that could lead to the arrest of the men responsible for Paula’s death.
“I pray for justice everyday,” Frank Grossi said. “It would be such a relief and so rewarding to have a conviction.”
