2 Hours of Deadly Mob Hitmen and Shocking Family Murders

The podcast explores two cases of murder, both committed by individuals who were driven by greed and a desire for a better life. The first case involves Larry Carosa, a promising young gangster who is killed by a hitman, Sal Mota, for his involvement with the daughter of a powerful Mafia boss. The second case involves Bob Samuels, a Hollywood assistant cameraman who is murdered by his wife, Mary Ellen Samuels, who is motivated by his money and a desire to escape their mundane existence. Both cases illustrate the dangerous consequences of ambition and the lengths to which people will go to achieve their goals.

Larry Carosa

• 00:00:05 Larry Carosa was a promising young gangster who aspired to be a made man in the Columbo crime family. He was known as 'Champagne Larry' for his love of the good life and his ambition for success. Larry was deeply involved with the Francesi family, specifically with the daughter Gia, despite already being married with three children. His relationship with Gia and his involvement in a lucrative gasoline scam with Michael Francesi, the son of the Mafia boss, put Larry in a dangerous position.

Mafia

• 00:03:54 The American Mafia was born in 1931, and in New York City, certain sections of the city were controlled by different families. The Columbo crime family was one of the five families in New York and controlled a myriad of illegal activities, including loan sharking, gambling, and narcotics. The Columbo family had a reputation for being ruthless and violent and did not hesitate to use violence to protect their interests.

Salvatore Mota

• 00:06:37 Salvatore 'Big Sal' Mota was a hitman for the Columbo crime family. He was known for being disciplined, efficient, and a master craftsman in the killing trade. He was the go-to guy for the Columbo family when it came to taking out gangsters who didn't work out. Big Sal's life revolved around the Mafia and he knew the rules and regulations of the organization. He was also a terrifying figure, known for his willingness to use violence.

Larry Carosa's Murder

• 00:14:58 Larry Carosa was killed on May 20th, 1983, by Sal Mota. The official reason for Larry's murder was his disrespect of Sunny Francesi, the Mafia boss, by involving his daughter Gia in drug use. However, Sal Mota believes the real reason was Larry's involvement in the gasoline scam with Michael Francesi, and that Michael wanted to keep all the money for himself.

Bob Samuels

• 00:49:14 Bob Samuels was a nice guy who worked as an assistant cameraman on Hollywood production crews. He had a dream of working in the movie industry and had achieved success in his career. Bob met Mary Ellen Samuels, a former homecoming queen, in Santa Ana and they married in 1980. Bob adopted Mary Ellen's daughter Nicole and became a hardworking family man.

Mary Ellen Samuels

• 00:50:06 Mary Ellen Samuels was a beautiful and ambitious woman who had dreams of a glamorous Hollywood lifestyle. She was unhappy with Bob's job and the reality of their life in the San Fernando Valley. Mary Ellen was involved with drugs and spent money lavishly. She was a manipulative and cunning woman, capable of convincing others to do her bidding.

Bob Samuels' Murder

• 01:13:35 Bob Samuels was killed on December 7th, 1988, by Jimmy Bernstein, a small-time drug dealer. Mary Ellen had convinced Jimmy that Bob was an abusive husband who had raped Nicole. Jimmy believed he was doing the right thing by killing Bob to protect Nicole. Mary Ellen helped stage the crime scene to look like a burglary gone wrong.

Mary Ellen's Trial

• 01:30:34 Mary Ellen Samuels was arrested for the murder of Bob Samuels and tried in court. She attempted to portray herself as an abused wife, but the jury found her guilty. The police discovered evidence of Mary Ellen's manipulation and the way she used her daughter Nicole to find a hitman. She was sentenced to life in prison.

Gulam Munda

• 01:37:49 Gulam Munda was a successful doctor who immigrated to America and settled in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. He was a kind and generous man who loved and supported his wife Donna. He was also a successful businessman who had amassed a fortune through his medical practice.

Donna Munda

• 01:37:33 Donna Munda was a young and attractive woman who met Gulam Munda when she was just 20 years old. She fell in love with Gulam and he supported her education. They married in 1985 and Donna became a nurse anesthetist. After the death of her father, Donna fell into a deep depression and started using drugs.

Donna's Murder Plot

• 01:55:14 Donna Munda, fueled by her addiction to drugs and a desire for a better life, decided to have her husband Gulam Munda murdered. She met Damian Bradford, a drug dealer, in rehab and they began an affair. Donna convinced Damian to kill Gulam, promising him half of Gulam's fortune. Damian followed Gulam to a mosque and tried to shoot him, but he failed. Donna then persuaded Damian to kill Gulam on a road trip to Ohio.

Gulam's Death

• 02:14:10 Gulam Munda was shot and killed by Damian Bradford while on a trip to Ohio with Donna and her mother. Donna staged the crime scene to make it look like a robbery. However, the police were suspicious of Donna's story and eventually arrested Damian. Damian cut a deal with the prosecution and agreed to testify against Donna. Donna was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The Double D's

• 02:00:46 Donna Munda and Damian Bradford called themselves 'The Double D's'. They were deeply obsessed with each other and Donna was willing to do anything to be with Damian. Donna used her money to support Damian's lavish lifestyle, and she was obsessed with the idea of being with him. Their love was a destructive force that led to the death of Gulam Munda.