Man kills wife, directs daughter to body in garage horror
Father directs daughter to mother's body after brutal garage murder
A 53-year-old man brutally killed his wife in a garage and then directed his daughter to her mother’s body after she returned from school. Joe Lo Bianco attacked and murdered Kaliopi Roumeliotis and suggested to his daughter that her mother might be in the garage when she asked about her. This incident happened on November 30, 2022. Initially, Lo Bianco claimed innocence and tried to portray the murder as accidental. However, he later confessed and pleaded guilty in court.
On the day of the incident, Lo Bianco ambushed his wife and repeatedly struck her with a metal car ramp. He placed the ramp near her head to make it look like an accident and hid his bloodied clothes in the garage. After committing the murder, he went to his in-laws’ house and chatted with them while waiting for his daughter. When she arrived, he directed her to the garage to find her mother.
The child discovered the horrifying scene and called for help. Roumeliotis’ family, who lived next door, rushed over, and her sister-in-law performed CPR until emergency services arrived. Paramedics confirmed Roumeliotis’ death.
Breaking: Callous killer Joe Lo Bianco told his young daughter to ‘say hello’ to her mother Kaliopi Roumeliotis after he had beaten her to death in their garage https://t.co/bcC0qSwhyw #beaten #Bianco #callous pic.twitter.com/4dHAeTR1MW
— WhatsNew2Day (@whatsn2day) September 4, 2024
Lo Bianco initially told police that his wife must have tripped and hit her head on the metal pipe accidentally. He eventually admitted to the crime and pleaded guilty to murder in the Victorian Supreme Court.
In a victim impact statement read by her uncle, Arthur Roumelioti, the daughter, now 12, expressed her trauma. She described her mother’s love as a constant hug and lamented the loss caused by her father’s actions. Arthur Roumeliotis also expressed his sorrow, stating how much he missed his sister and her presence in her daughter’s life.
The court revealed that Lo Bianco and Roumeliotis often argued about money after Lo Bianco lost his job during the pandemic for refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine. They had an argument on the day of the murder as well.
Defence attorney Moya O’Brien argued that the murder was an impulsive act, not premeditated. She stated that Lo Bianco feels remorseful and knows he has lost any chance of a relationship with his daughter. Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, however, described the murder as a vicious and sustained attack. She highlighted Lo Bianco’s deliberate actions to cover up his crime.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Yahoo News reports on a shocking case where a father, Joe Lo Bianco, directed his young daughter to greet her mother’s motionless body after murdering her in their garage, creating an illusion of an accidental death.(read more)
- The Greek Herald reports that Joe Lo Bianco faced justice for the brutal murder of his wife, Kaliopi Roumeliotis, in the Victorian Supreme Court, where he confessed to the crime.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened in the garage incident involving Joe Lo Bianco?
Joe Lo Bianco killed his wife, then directed his daughter to find her body in the garage.
How did Joe Lo Bianco try to cover up the murder?
He staged it as an accident by placing a metal car ramp near her head and hiding his bloodied clothes.
What did the daughter do after finding her mother?
She called for help, and her family rushed in to perform CPR until emergency services arrived.
What was Joe Lo Bianco’s initial claim to the police?
He claimed his wife tripped and accidentally hit her head on a metal pipe.
What did Joe Lo Bianco’s defense attorney argue in court?
The defense argued it was a ‘heat of the moment’ action, not premeditated, and that he feels remorseful.
