BUCKS COUNTY, PA – Anna Maria Tolomello, the 50-year-old owner of Pina’s Pizza in Chalfont, has pleaded guilty to the murder of Giovanni Gallina, her business partner and romantic partner, just as her trial was about to commence.
Tolomello, accused of shooting Gallina once in the head with a .38 Special revolver over two years ago, has admitted to third-degree murder, among other charges, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
Tolomello, who had been recognized alongside the 65-year-old Gallina as the operator of the local pizzeria, faced accusations following the discovery of Gallina’s body, concealed in a tarp in her bedroom for 13 days after his mid-March 2022 death. Although initially claiming self-defense,
Tolomello has now acknowledged her actions, including abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. This case highlights the application of third-degree murder, a charge specific to Pennsylvania and two other states, meant for cases not meeting the criteria for first- or second-degree murder.
The investigation into Gallina’s disappearance intensified when his son, residing in Italy, reported a sudden halt in communication from his father, leading to Tolomello’s arrest and subsequent guilty plea.
