On a summer night in August 2013, 22-year-old Chelsea Cicio received a frantic call from her father, Bruno Rocuba, reporting a terrible accident involving her mother, Melissa Rocuba.
A Night of Tragedy
Cicio, who lived next door to her parents in Simpson, Pennsylvania, rushed to their home after receiving the news. A home security camera captured her desperate sprint, her cries of “Mommy, Mommy” echoing as she discovered her mother had been shot in the head. The scene, as Cicio described to “48 Hours,” was one of overwhelming trauma, with blood covering the bed and floor.
Bruno Rocuba initially told investigators he was cleaning his .40 caliber pistol when his wife sat down beside him and the gun accidentally discharged, injuring his own hand in the process. Both he and Melissa were hospitalized; he for treatment of his hand wound, and Melissa placed on life support.
Initial Investigation and Doubts
The initial investigation, led by the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, yielded no charges against Bruno Rocuba. Attorney Joe D’Andrea stated that the evidence was insufficient to prove murder, and Rocuba maintained his account of an accidental shooting. However, as time passed, Melissa Rocuba’s daughters and sister, Joanne Swinney, began to question the circumstances surrounding her death.
Concerns arose regarding Bruno Rocuba’s limited presence at his wife’s bedside while she was on life support. He also requested that his daughters clean the house and dispose of the blood-stained mattress shortly after the shooting. Even before Melissa Rocuba’s burial, he asked for help getting rid of her belongings, leading Chelsea Cicio to remark, “It’s like he wanted her erased.” He also removed all photographs of his wife and gave away her beloved dog, Zeus.
Adding to the family’s unease, Bruno Rocuba began dating Tonia Wilczewski just months after his wife’s death. Swinney questioned whether an affair had been occurring prior to the shooting, noting a conversation between Bruno Rocuba and Melissa’s best friend regarding the timing of a new relationship.
Reopened Investigation and a Plea Deal
Seven years after the shooting, in 2020, the Pennsylvania State Police reopened the case. Investigators Greg Allen and Dan Nilon focused on inconsistencies in Bruno Rocuba’s statements, particularly his multiple accounts to 911 dispatchers. Crucially, they uncovered footage from the home security system capturing the couple’s final conversation before a gunshot rang out.
Based on this new evidence, Bruno Rocuba was arrested and charged with Melissa Rocuba’s murder in June 2022. However, in May 2024, a plea deal was reached. Bruno Rocuba pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced to 12 to 40 years in prison, with potential parole eligibility beginning in 2035.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Bruno Rocuba’s initial explanation for the shooting?
Bruno Rocuba initially told investigators that he was cleaning his gun when his wife sat down beside him and it accidentally went off, injuring both himself and Melissa.
What prompted the reopening of the case seven years later?
The case was reopened in 2020 after Pennsylvania State Police investigators identified inconsistencies in Bruno Rocuba’s initial statements to 911 dispatchers and discovered previously unexamined home security footage.
What was the outcome of the case?
Bruno Rocuba pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced to 12 to 40 years in prison, with the possibility of parole starting in 2035.
As this case demonstrates, the pursuit of justice can be a long and complex process, and even seemingly closed investigations can be revisited with new evidence and perspectives.
