John Pius: How Did He Die? Who Killed Him?

John Pius, AKA Johnny, was once a young boy full of life and promise before an appalling crime suddenly brought his life to a sudden halt. In April 1979, he went missing for a night before his remains were discovered the next day. This tragic incident completely shocked the quiet suburban community of Smithtown, Long Island. Netflix’s documentary ‘Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer’ focuses briefly on this case, shedding light on confession and witness statements that followed right after a swift investigation.

John Pius Went on a Bicycle Ride to a School But Never Returned

John Pius Jr. was born on August 1, 1965, fulfilling the lives of John Sr. and Barbara Pius in Smithtown, Long Island. The bright-eyed boy was his parents’ pride and joy. From an early age, John was an eager learner. Serving as a source of inspiration, his parents were hard-working and devoted individuals who always wished to provide him with a loving home in a quiet and close-knit community. While his father was keen on instilling the value of integrity in him, his mother made sure his life was filled with warm laughter and immeasurable joy. Just like any other boy of his age, he grew up playing and riding his bicycle around the locality of his house. John was obedient and a bright student with a future full of possibilities.

However, fate had other plans. Around 8:15 pm on April 20, 1979, 13-year-old John sought permission from his father if he could ride his bicycle down to Dogwood Elementary School. After promising to return within 15 minutes, he was reportedly last seen riding his bicycle towards the school by one of the neighboring girls around 8:30 pm. When minutes turned into hours, his father grew worried and went out to search for him on the school grounds. Throughout the night, he called out for his son and was accompanied by his neighbor and friend, Eddie Pembroke. Unfortunately, the search did not yield any results, and the next morning, John Sr. was informed that his son’s wallet had been found in the school playground.

Upon learning this, John Sr. went to the location with some of his family members, and his niece discovered John’s cycle under a pile of leaves. Further search led them to his remains, which were buried under leaves, logs, and branches. This shocking scene left them grief-stricken, and they informed the police. On their arrival, the authorities found that John had multiple cuts and bruises across his body, along with six rocks in his throat. The autopsy reports determined that the primary causes of his demise were traumatic asphyxia and compression of the chest and neck. Although the officials couldn’t find any hair, fingerprints, or fiber from the scene, they found a sneaker print on the victim’s body, alongside six more footprints in the vicinity. With all the pieces of evidence at hand, law enforcement launched an immediate murder investigation.

Four Individuals Were Convicted For the Murder, Only For Three of the Convictions to be Overturned

From the moment John Pius’ remains were found in the woods behind Dogwood Elementary School, the search for his killer became the top priority for the police. As they searched the area and interviewed his friends, it turned out that this was not a random act of violence. A major breakthrough in the case came when the investigators spoke to local teenagers near the school that evening. The investigation pointed toward four suspects, thanks to the statement from 17-year-old John Sparling. He and his two friends had allegedly seen Thomas Ryan, Robert Brensic, Michael Quartararo, and Peter Quartararo driving around the school during the time of the murder. As the investigators started questioning them, their stories began showcasing inconsistencies.

Although none of the footprints found at the scene matched with any of them, the witness accounts were too concrete. Another witness, James “Jimmy” Burke, came forward to present a chilling detail about John’s murder. He alleged that he had heard Michael speaking about killing him because he had caught the four stealing a bike. Since they were afraid that he would report them to the police, they panicked, which ultimately led to this tragic incident. Finally, after eight months, all four of them were charged with the murder of John Pius and stood trial, with Thomas Spota as the prosecutor. The brothers, Michael Quartararo (16) and Peter Quartararo (17), were treated as adults, and they were sentenced to 9 years in prison.

On the other hand, Thomas Ryan and Robert Brensic were convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, it was soon followed by retrials and appeals, making it more complicated. During an appeal in 1989, Peter’s conviction was overturned, and he had almost served 9 years in prison by that time and was released. Following this, Robert’s conviction was reversed, and he was released on parole in 1993. Thomas had pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in 2003 and was sentenced to five to fifteen years in prison. Since he had already served 18 years by that time, it was considered that his sentence was served, and he was released. Last but not least, according to reports, Michael had been participating in a temporary release program that was ordered by the court.