Cold case: Giovanni Arena

At approximately 4.30pm on the 24th of May 1984, Giovanni Arena’s body was found by his son, in the family home in O’Hea’s Street, Coburg.

Giovanni had been shot whilst he slept.

He was fifty years old at the time of his death and was a loving husband and father of three children, aged 20, 17 and 8 years old.

He worked hard to provide for his family at Crosta D’oro Hot Bread, as well as building his dream home in Pascoe Vale, before his life was horribly cut short in a cowardly act of violence. Investigators have not been able to establish any motive for his murder.

Giovanni had worked overnight at the bakery, on 656 High Street, Thornbury before finishing his shift at 11.30am.

He then drove to Surrey Street, Pascoe Vale in his White Ford Cortina sedan, to inspect the new home he was building for his family.

A neighbour witnessed Giovanni at this location at 11.45am, which would ultimately be the last time anyone saw him alive.

Giovanni’s workday routine was to arrive home from work, and eat lunch before sleeping until 3pm, when his wife would then ring to wake him up to collect their young son from school.

On this day, at the end of the school day, his 8-year-old son went looking for him under the old oak tree where his father always waited, but Giovanni wasn’t there.

Concerned that she was unable to reach her husband on the phone, Giovanni’s wife asked one of their elder children to check on their father, and at approximately 4.30pm, the grim discovery was made.

Despite extensive and thorough investigation, the person who violently attacked and killed Giovanni, is yet to be brought to justice.

We ask that you review this case and all the available details, and for anyone that has any information about the person responsible for this brutal crime to please come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

In particular, investigators ask that you cast your mind back to the 24th of May 1984, particularly if you were in the area of O’Heas Street, Coburg or Surrey Street, Pascoe Vale and observed anything suspicious or recall seeing Giovanni’s White Ford Cortina sedan.

Also, if you saw anything suspicious in either Fraser, Rolland, Sutherland or Murray Streets, which border the rear access lane to his home.

37 years ago, the hopes and dreams of the Arena family were stolen from them.

Giovanni was well respected and loved by everyone who knew him. He had emigrated to Australia in 1959 with a dream of making a better life, with all the best opportunities for his family.

He loved spending time with his children, tinkering in his workshop, hunting for rabbits, gardening, listening to Italian music and working on his pride and joy, the family Ford Cortina.

I’m asking for your help in the hopes that we can move forward in our investigation into Giovanni Arena’s murder and provide justice and closure for his family.