On the October 22, 1949, Rosina “Rosie” Fazio, left her residence (at 512 Summers St) in Charleston, WV to go to the market and collect groceries for her local beer garden and restaurant. The details of the events that follow are vague at best, blurred by conflicting news reports and slowly erased by the years of time. Irregardless, the hard facts of the brutal murder of Rosina Fazio remain the same even after all these years.
Charleston or West Virginia locals, perhaps you have dined at Fazio’s in the heart of our capitol city? The establishment which was founded by Rosina and her husband Dominico is still in operation to this day, its legacy being carried on by grandson, Danny.
Rosina arrived in America from her native Italy in 1913 and married Dominico in June 1914. Together they had seven children. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was a devout Catholic until the end.
On the evening of her attack, as was stated above, Rosie set out to collect groceries. It is unknown at which time this occurred. Reports have been stated that Rosie left her residence as early as 1:00pm to 3:30pm. It has also been noted that she left the grocery story around 4:00pm. Likewise, reports have also claimed Rosie leaving much later, around 8:00pm.
According to witness statements, a woman of Rosina’s likeness was witnessed screaming in the passenger side of a vehicle heading towards the Elk- 2 Mile Hollow near Coal Branch Heights. The woman was reportedly flung from the passenger side of a vehicle and landed in a ditch, very injured. Several witnesses attempted to help, however a man who was (presumably) the assailant returned claiming to know the woman and offered to take her for help. They returned to Charleston, where he flung Mrs. Fazio from the vehicle a second time, this time believing himself successful in finally killing her- but Rosina lived.
She was discovered by a Mrs. Ruth Prunty who had been returning from a late movie when she heard moaning coming from behind the Diamond Go Ice Plant in Downtown Charleston. As with the times listed above, no definite timeline could be established, however, Fazio was noted to have been found anywhere between 10:30-11:30pm
Rosina succumbed to her injuries three (3) days later on October 25, 1949 but not before identifying her assailant as “Bob the Glass Cutter.” Her cause of death was revealed to be total body paralysis from a broken neck, embolism and disruption of the spinal cord.
Charleston PD handled the investigation and put word out in a 5-state-wide-bulletin for the capture of their primary suspect, a man by the name of Robert Ballard Bailey. Though the name was not initially made public, Bailey was on the run from another encounter with police that also took place on October 22, 1949.
When he was ultimately captured, it was the first Bailey had heard of the charges against him for murder. Bailey, who worked as a glazier for the General Glass Company in Charleston, insisted that he had never been known as “Bob the Glass Cutter” and denied the allegations against him. He claimed the following as the events of October 22, 1949:
8:30pm-9:30pm: Returned to Charleston from a hunting trip with some buddies in Richie County. The group had bee drinking beer until they reached the city limits, where they finished two (2) bottles of wine. They got into an altercation with police regarding drunk driving, and a chase ensued. Several shots were fired at the vehicle (which was located at a family member’s house in St. Albans). When he woke up from his drunken stupor the next day, he recalled the events and left the State with his wife and child to avoid trouble with the law.
Bailey’s wife, corroborated his story. However, despite his insistence of innocence, his criminal history and the assertion of guilt by Mrs. Fazio, proved too strong against Robert Bailey’s words alone. The trial of Bailey vs. The State Of West Virginia in the Murder of Rosina Fazio began on March 7, 1950 and lasted three (3) days. Bailey was found guilty of first degree murder without the recommendation mercy. This meant the death penalty (electrocution) was mandatory.
Though despite this grim set of events, Bailey would ultimately be exonerated of the charges against him. First, having the death penalty dropped and his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, then to being released with a set of stipulations, and finally having all stipulations dropped in 1960.
The following are notable facts about the case which lend themselves to the mystery of Rosina’s fate. Did Robert Bailey kill Rosina Fazio? Did she know too much about something? Was it an inside job? Was it random? We cannot confidently answer any of the above mentioned questions. It is up to you, the listener, to decide what you believe, given the facts. Be sure to listen to the Cold Case Crew’s upcoming episode , “The Murder of Rosina Fazio” an unsolved homicide from 1949 in Kanawha County, West Virginia, to learn more about the case.
Important Facts (in NO PARTICULAR ORDER):
The vehicle driven by Bailey (though dark in color) does NOT match the vehicle that Mrs. Fazio was seen in during her assault and abduction.
Bailey had an alibi that was corroborated by multiple people for the time of the assault against Mrs. Fazio. (He was involved in a police chase for drunk driving at the time). This is evidenced by the bullet holes located in his vehicle.
The presumed motive for the attack on Rosina was robbery. An estimated $500.00 was reported missing from her person as well as a diamond studded crucifix and a ring worth $200.00. But this is what I don’t understand. WHY WAS SHE TRAVELING WITH THAT MUCH MONEY? $500.00 in 1949 = $6,073.72 in 2022.
Despite robbery being the apparent motive, Mrs. Fazio’s purse was recovered with her at the time she was discovered in downtown Charleston.
Rosina was only able to speak in her native Italian after her accident and was unable to communicate with police. The only record for her translation were her family members.
All evidence that was used in court against Bailey was considered circumstantial, which ultimately helped get him off.
Bailey was known by the Fazio’s and it was said that he often frequented the establishment. He was a glazier by trade, and “Bob” is a nickname for Robert. Most of the witnesses did not know Bailey but were said to have positively identified him as the assailant.
Rosina was said to have been catching a ride to her home from a presumed acquaintance… but would women have hitchhiked or taken rides from men at this time period?
The witness accounts and stories were said to have changed in varying degrees throughout the trial, ultimately compromising their validity.
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References:
Website:
Newspapers:
The Charleston Daily Mail
The Charleston Gazette
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