Police are focusing on finding a missing Porsche after the suspicious death of a 49-year-old periodontist found bloodied Monday in his ransacked south Fargo home.
Philip Mario Gattuso sustained a significant head injury, but the cause of death is not determined, Chief Keith Ternes said.
An autopsy was scheduled for 8 a.m. today at the state medical examiner's office in Bismarck.
"At this particular point, our initial investigation certainly leads us to believe that this is a homicide," Ternes said.
Gattuso's condo, Unit A in the Upper 9 Condominium Court at 2536 S. University Drive, was in disarray, with drawers opened and furniture overturned, Ternes said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It appears that somebody or somebodies had gone through the apartment pretty thoroughly looking for something," he said.
Police asked for help in finding Gattuso's missing vehicle, a silver 1999 Porsche Boxster with personalized North Dakota license plates 2KRYSIS.
"That, I think, will give us the first major step toward solving this," Ternes said.
Uncommon vehicle
The convertible sports car is uncommon in Fargo. Ternes encouraged anyone who sees the car, or who saw Gattuso on Monday to call police at (701) 241-1405.
Gattuso dropped his 3-year-old daughter off at day care at 8:30 a.m. Monday. His co-workers didn't see him that day, Ternes said.
Gattuso had recently sold his dentistry practice at 2838 S. University Drive, about three blocks south of his condo but continued to work part time, said Molly Volkerding, whose husband, John, is a dentist in the adjacent office and was a friend of Gattuso.
When Gattuso didn't show up to pick up his daughter, the day care provider called a family friend listed as an alternate contact, Ternes said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The friend called Gattuso's next-door neighbor, Dick Brammell, who checked on Gattuso's condo. Brammell, who declined to talk about what he saw, said Gattuso usually picked up his daughter around 6 p.m.
Officers arrived about 7:47 p.m. Monday, and investigators remained on the scene Tuesday evening, gathering and processing evidence. Ternes wouldn't comment on what evidence was collected, including if a weapon was found.
The 3-year-old girl was placed in the care of a family friend, Ternes said. Gattuso's brother, Roy Gattuso, Gretna, La., said the child's aunt was taking temporary custody.
Ternes said it's been a while since Fargo police investigated a homicide, adding Fargo "continues to be a very safe community."
The most recent Fargo homicide that resulted in a conviction was the August 2007 stabbing death of David Delonais. Elijah Addai, 24, Fargo, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder.
Fargo police continue to investigate the July 26 fatal attack on 47-year-old Ronald Hammersmith, Fargo, Ternes said.
"I don't believe that there's any reason for people who live in our community to feel or sense that they have to take some type of extra security precaution in the wake of this particular incident," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
