Homicide in Celebration FL

[BethBreakey]

Celebration, Florida murder mystery: Crime touches Disney-made town for first time


An ugly dose of reality has shattered the calm at a Disney-themed Florida community after cops discovered the first homicide committed there in its history.

Residents of Celebration, Fla. - five miles south of Walt Disney World and planned as a picture-perfect community - were stunned when they awoke Tuesday to find crime scene tape near the Christmas-decorated downtown.

Cops had discovered a murder scene at the home of Matteo Giovanditto, 58, after worried neighbors had called to report he hadn't been seen for several days.

"This is very rare and unusual for a crime of this magnitude to occur in this community," said sheriff's spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain.

Details of the killing have not been released, but it has sent a shiver down the spines of the town's 11,000 residents.

"I've always thought of Celebration as a very safe community," said Heather Hardy, as she read a book while sitting in a rocking chair near downtown.

The development was created in 1989 when the Disney Corp. proposed a "wonderful residential town," that would be "closer to Main Street than future world."

Critics dismissed it as a type of "Stepford Wives" project, but residents quickly fell in love after starting to arrive in 1996.

[20K]

Was just reading this online. A terrible act, as any murder is.

[HauntedGabe]

One of our members lives there. So sorry your community is going through this.

[WDW4Ever]

I do have to say however that this being the first homicide since 1989 is pretty bloody impressive.

[NC_WDW_Daddy]

Murders are always bad. In small Americana communities they seem that much worse. We certainly don't expect things like that in rural NC either,

[Mike Fink]

Sad to hear this. Celebration is still a safe place to live. I'd move there in a minute.

[KristenGwyn2006]

how sad.

[HauntedGabe]

Murders are always bad. In small Americana communities they seem that much worse. We certainly don't expect things like that in rural NC either,

I so agree. We are a tiny tiny Hamlet. Smaller than Celebration. In the 25 years I've lived here I can only recall it happening once and even that was an odd case of a chemically imbalanced person passing through. Yet I remember it like yesterday.

[zippitydoodah]

They had another death yesterday. Apparently a resident was being evicted and barricaded himself in his home while shooting at the police, and he then committed suicide. Here's a link to an article about it
Suicide rocks Disney-inspired town of Celebration, Florida days after town's 1st murder reported

[HauntedGabe]

It appears they have found the suspect.

Disney town Celebration murder Murillo: Disney town Celebration murder suspect David Israel Murillo initial appearance - OrlandoSentinel.com

[offgrid]

I think people need to knowthe truth about MR Giovanditto,
my 18 year old son Jeremy was propisitioned for homo *****,in 2010,this man[giovanditto] drove up and offered him a ride ,then began with the propisitioning ,
theres another site ;crimesider48 hour , has another man stating the same story
read it your self ;[with our axe killer that makes 3people saying it ,huh kinda weird..
I DONT AGREE WITH MURDER OR ROBBERY,BUT ,I DONT AGREE WITH LURING NEEDY YOUNG MEN FOR YOUR SICK NEEDS.
48 HOUR MYSTERY CRIMESIDER CBS

by destinysdaddy December 9, 2010 3:07 AM EST
I used to fish in Celebration on a regular basis and this man (Giovanditto) used to come talk to me while I did so. He propositioned me several times, and even asked me to bring my pregnant wife to his condo for "some fun" when I told him about her in the hope of getting him to back off.
Reply to this comment ..by destinysdaddy December 9, 2010 3:09 AM EST
I don't think murdering him was right, but the man was definately doing some things that were questionable. I definately believe that he tried something with the man that murdered him.
--------------
Anyone else want to step up and speak out the truth ,or sweep it under the rug,
THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT..3 HAVE SPOKEN,

[offgrid]

It appears they have found the suspect.

UNFORTUNATLY THE OTHER" suspect" is dead..
no one wants to bring out ,GIOVANDITTO WAS DOING UNSPEAKABLE THINGS,well, GOD will sort it out..