Police solve 62-year-old cold case of Miami businessman shot and killed in his car in 1961

MIAMI (TCD) -- Cold case investigators said they have solved the decades-old mystery of a 53-year-old businessman who was shot and killed in what his wife initially claimed was a fatal carjacking.

On Friday, March 24, 1961, Joseph DiMare and his wife, 33-year-old Frances DiMare, left their home at around 7:15 p.m. and were on their way to dinner at a local restaurant. Miami-Dade County Police said two suspects allegedly jumped into the vehicle while the DiMares were stopped at Broad Causeway and North Bayshore Drive and forced Frances DiMare to drive to Northeast 122nd Street. When they got to 122nd Street, the men allegedly knocked her unconscious, and when she came to, her husband was dead.

Frances DiMare reportedly got out of the car and ran to a nearby gas station for help.

Now, Miami-Dade County Police are debunking Frances DiMare’s claims about what happened that night. According to WPLG-TV, investigators believe DiMare killed her husband at their home and got rid of the pistol while she drove.

Detective Jonathan Grossman reportedly said in a press release that Frances did not have any injuries on her body or scrapes on her feet even though she claimed she had been attacked by the two men and ran barefoot to the station. She reportedly left her shoes right next to the car.

Investigators reportedly learned that Joseph and Frances DiMare were going through marital problems and he had recently changed his will to require Frances to be living at their home when he died in order to receive part of his estate. There was reportedly a trail of blood from the DiMares’ residence to the nearby gas station where Frances called for help.

According to NBC News, Frances allegedly used Joseph’s gun to kill him and was motivated by their divorce. Miami-Dade Police reportedly said in their statement they met with the State Attorney’s Office and they "all agree that there is no credible evidence to support that anyone other than Frances DiMare is the person responsible for the killing of Joseph DiMare."

Frances DiMare died in 2006.

Richard DiMare, Joseph’s son, told NBC Miami, "I’m relieved on one side, but the pain and suffering my family suffered, I don’t know that’s ever going to go away."

MORE:

• Cold Cases: 1960-1969 - Miami-Dade County Police Department
• Detectives solve 62-year-old mystery, report finding killer was closer than they thought - WPLG
• Woman who said her husband was killed after she was held at gunpoint decades ago is now blamed in his death - NBC News
• 'All About Money': Son of 1961 North Miami Murder Victim Speaks After Cold Case Solved - NBC Miami