Amato and Bonventre, who had done nothing to protect Galante, were left unharmed. ", In 1943, Galante allegedly murdered Carlo Tresca, the publisher of an anti-fascist newspaper in New York. [4], In 1953, boss Joseph Bonanno sent Galante to Montreal, Quebec to organize the familys drug business and rackets there. 20 Statues Honoring Confederates With Dishonorable Stories, This App Will Crowdsource Documentation Of Bizarre Animal Behavior During Solar Eclipse, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, Detectives take notes and examine the barbershop of New York's Park Sheraton Hotel, where the body of Murder Inc.'s, George Silk/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images, On February 14, 1929, seven members of the North Side Gang were trapped in a garage, lined up against the wall, and. Place:Intersection of 10th Street and Snyder Avenue, South Philadelphia, Means:Shotgun blast to the back of the head. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He led the Luciano crime family (later called the Genovese crime family), which is one of the Five Families that operates in New York City. On February 8, 1931, after pleading guilty to attempted robbery Galante was sentenced to 12 and a half years in state prison. The Mob Wife Stands for high-quality home decor and accessories such as sculptures, umbrellas, and backpacks in the medium price range. Frank DeCicco was a Gambino family underboss in the 1970s and '80s. Then, that Christmas Eve, he and other gang members attempted to hijack a truck and found themselves in a shootout with police. Camillo Carmine Galante was born on February 21, 1910, in a tenement building in the East Harlem section of Manhattan. His own assassination is the focus of our latest case. Also known as "The Cigar," he, along with New York City, New York crime boss Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Montreal, Quebec crime boss Frank Petrula organized the heroin distribution line known as the infamous "French Connection". By the age of 15, Galante had dropped out of seventh grade. Galante was arrested as a suspect, but no charges were ever brought against him or any one else. This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 01:27. They even served him up for the kill. Galante, Turano, and Coppola were killed instantly. And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts: On July 12, 1979, diners were eating at Joe & Mary's Italian-American Restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn when three men in ski masks, armed with shotguns and handguns, burst through the front door. 92K views 1 year ago From the 1950s to the 1970s Carmine Galante was the United States' most notorious heroin dealer. For a while, he was seen as a modern day Robin Hood, because he made donations to various charities, but then, seven gang rivals were murdered in broad daylight in the Saint Valentines Day Massacre, and Capone became Enemy No. After a second trial in 1962, Galante was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. The History of The Marlborough Diamond Chapter 1, Under New Management: By Order of The NCS, The Mob Wife: Mafia Inspired Home Decor and Accessories. Also sitting at the table were Galante's Sicilian bodyguards, Baldassare Amato and Cesare Bonventre. He died of a heart attack at age 74. Ultimately, he was killed in 1934 in a gunfight with the FBI. Thus, the then Genovese crime family boss, Frank Tieri began conspiring and building a consensus for his murder. Carmine Galante was the acting boss of the Bonanno Crime Family at the time of his assassination, and was said to be loyal to his former boss Joe Bonanno. Rastelli had his two top capos, Alphonse Sonny Red Indelicato and Dominick Sonny Black Napolitano, coordinate the details of the hit. In some ways, it seemed inevitable that Galante's. Thanks for your help! About 1 p.m. on July 12, 1979, Bonventre and Amato accompanied Galante to lunch at Galantes cousin Joe Turanos Joe & Marys Italian-American Restaurant on Knickerbocker Avenue in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. [27] Galante was buried at Saint John's Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens. In 1943, Galante made the mark that elevated him from ordinary gangster to mafia star. Attendees included Lucky Luciano and other American mobsters, with a Sicilian Mafia delegation led by Giuseppe Genco Russo. All the crime families in New York were furious with Carmine Galante over his brazen attempt to take over the entirety of the narcotics market. [14] On July 10, 1962, after being convicted in his second narcotics trial, Galante was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Galante spoke various Italian dialects and was fluent in Spanish and French. Galante wasn't the only one slain over wine and salad that day. Just like when Bonanno aspired to do the same thing a decade before, Galante was in over his head, blinded by hubris and greed, and his days were numbered. He worked with Vincenzo Cotroni of the Cotroni crime family in the French Connection. Coming at the tail end of a series of power-grab murders on other prominent mob families that were ordered by Galante, the murder was ordered by other high-ranking members of the CosaNostra to put an end to Galante's antics. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. According to a Washington Post article that ran a few days after the slaying, "Galante and the others were drinking wine and eating fruit and salad" when Galante, his 44-year-old associateLeonardo Coppola, and the 47-year-old owner of the restaurant,Giusseppe Turano,were gunned down with automatic pistols. One of the most feared Mafiosi in New York, this was a man who once said, "No one will ever kill me, they wouldn't dare.". To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. The last photo of John Gotti, taken by the Bureau of Prisons on October 17, 2001. As a teenager, he worked at multiple places including a floral shop, a trucking company, and on the waterfront as a stevedore and fish sorter. It was a favourite meeting place, where he often arranged sit-downs with his closest associates. [2] On February 10, 1945, Galante married Helen Marulli,[2] by whom he had three children; James Galante (not Jimmy Galante former owner of Danbury Thrashers), Camille Galante, and Angela Galante. Invoking a rarely used bit of ecclesiastical law, the church apologized for their unwillingness to do Galante'sfunerary service, but stated:We are not able to grant a liturgical service in the church because of the scandal that would ensue.. This account has been disabled. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Because of Galante'snotoriety, the Catholic Archdiocese of New York refused to give him a burial mass, which is a really big deal for practicing Catholics even those who make their living killing on the black market. However, his cornering of the narcotics market drew the ire of other New York crime families, resulting in his assassination at Joe and Mary's Italian-American Restaurant in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The death of the Mob boss exacerbated divisions within the Bonanno crime family that festered for years afterward. Organized Crime Figure. He was arrested more than once that year. With Bonventre and Amato moving out of the way, the table was sprayed with gunfire from shotguns and pistols. Nevertheless, Weiss was killed when Capone's men opened fire with a submachine gun on him and his associates while they were visiting a courthouse where an ally of his was on trial. As part of the agreement, Sicilian mobsters would come to the U.S. to distribute the narcotics. The bodies of Carmine Galante (right) and associate Leonardo Coppolla lie in the backyard of a restaurant at 205 Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn where they were murdered. Carmillo "Carmine" Galante was nicknamed "Lilo," Italian slang . Based in the Midwest, Scott M. Burnstein is an author, journalist and true-crime historian who has had six books on organized crime published in the last decade. Please try again later. What are you guys doing?. He was suspected of being behind several murders, including those of drug carriers who were too slow. Far from it. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. The killers were also from the Bonanno family, part of a faction led by capo Al Indelicato that sought to kill their boss. I should point out at this point that his bodyguards did nothing to help him, they simply walked out unharmed after the hit, so suspicion grew that his own crime family were in on the hit against him. Bonanno taught him how to lead. Copyright 2023 InsideHook. Was it greed that lead to Galante's downfall? The Mob Wife Stands for high-quality home decor and accessories such as sculptures, umbrellas, and backpacks in the medium price range. Booking photo of Carmine Galante, held as a material witness in murder case. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. When Rastelli went to prison, Galante seized complete control of the family. A system error has occurred. He had amassed a large, highly profitable heroin operation and refused to share his profits with the other families. Carmine Galante, the leader of the Bonanno crime family, was there smoking a cigar with . The day he walked free from federal lock-up in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, he ordered the tombstone of one-time New York Mafia chief Frank Costello blown to pieces by a hunk of dynamite. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. He was convicted at the Mafia Commission Trial in 1986 and did 13 years in prison. [4], By 1940, Galante was carrying out "hits" for Vito Genovese, the official underboss of the Luciano crime family. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Arthur Brower/New York Times/Getty Images. George "Baby Face" Nelson, known for his daring bank robberies and murders, is said to have killed more FBI agents in the line of duty than any other person. Carmine Galante, pictured here in a police mugshot from 1943, rose from obscurity to Mafia boss, driving a massive international narcotics trafficking operation. He developed a reputation for being vicious quite early on, and the NYPD even suspected him to be involved in over eighty murders. And awesome. The body of reputed Mafia boss Carmine Galante, covered with a tablecloth, lies on the ground of a Brooklyn restaurant as a homicide detective looks over Galante's last meal. Galante was not prosecuted for lack of evidence. Wikimedia CommonsGalante served as Joseph Bonannos chauffeur, capo, and finally as his underboss. (George Silk/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images). Galante took control of the Bonannos in a swift coup dtat. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The body of Carmine Galante lay behind an overturned chair, at right, as a police photographer recorded the scene terday in the backyard of the Joe and Mary ItalianAmerican Restaurant on . His body guard was taking a walk when two masked gunmen burst into the shop and opened fire. Means:Shot twice in the groin and once in each eye. On July 12, 1979, Carmine Galante was assassinated just as he finished eating lunch on an open patio at Joe and Marys Italian-American Restaurant in Brooklyn. It was widely known that the other mobsters in New York considered Carmine Galante power-crazed and greedy. Not since the days of Vito Genovese has there been a more ruthless and feared individual, said Lieutenant Remo Franceschini, head of the organized crime intelligence section of the New York City Police Department. Surprisingly, the blast didn't dislodge his signature cigar from his mouth, and he lay on the ground dead with it still firmly between his teeth. Hehad no knowledge of current events, routine holidays, or other items of common knowledge. The Execution of Mob Boss Carmine Galante. For the last 20 years of his life, Carmine Galante lived with Ann Acquavella; the couple had two children together. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. His murder was to be a statement: The Commissions word is the word of God, no questions asked. Unidentified plain clothes dectectives take notes and examine the barbershop of the Park Sheraton Hotel, where the body of Murder Inc.s Albert Anastasia lies, partially covered, on the floor after his murder by masked gunmen, New York, New York, October 25, 1957. Please reset your password. 2023 Getty Images. He went through three high-profile trials in the 1980s, all which resulted in his acquittal, though later it was discovered that the trials had been tainted by jury tampering, juror misconduct and witness intimidation. Learn all about the latest and greatest spirits. Bonventre was knocked off gangland style in 1984. The Assassination of Bonanno Street Boss Carmine Galante Galante Shot Dead July 12, 1979, on the mean streets of the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn New York, acting boss of the Bonanno. [29], Galante is depicted in the first episode of the UK history TV channel Yesterday's documentary series Mafia's Greatest Hits. Its free. . The gunmen had run away from the restaurant after completing their job, but a woman who was across the street saw the whole thing noted down the number place of their getaway car. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The other families feared his power grab. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime's history and impact on American society. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The anti-Mussolini newspaper editor Carlo Tresca, whom Carmine Galante allegedly murdered. [13] From the beginning, the first trial was characterized by jurors and alternates dropping out and coercive courtroom displays by the defendants. The Commission took exception. According to his FBI dossier: He had a mental age of 14 and an IQ of 90. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. On right is defense attorney Mary Ann Galante Crummel was sentenced to death Monday. Carmine Galante Had A Mental Age Of 14 And Was The King Of Heroin, Joseph A. Williams is a professional librarian and author of, The Story Of Alyssa Bustamante, The 15-Year-Old Who Slaughtered Her Nine-Year-Old Neighbor Just For The Thrill Of It, Why Police Said Rey Rivera's Death Was A Suicide And Why The Bizarre Evidence Says Otherwise, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. He was convicted of tax evasion in 1937 but his sentence was later suspended. Though he was given a 36-year prison sentence, he was released early and deported to live his life freely outside the U.S. At the age of 10, Galante was sent to reform school due to his criminal activities. Today, hes 72 and back in prison for his role in another Bonanno family hit in 2001. Of the principle conspirators, only Bruno Indelicato would be brought to justice for the Galante, Turano and Coppola slayings. Chalk marks indicate the slugs, casings, and impact points in the assassination. We have set your language to He was Bonannos driver and eventually his underboss. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Earl "Hymie" Weiss was the leader of the Chicago North Side Gang and known as the "only person Al Capone feared." Galante spent the years 1953 to 1956 in Canada organizing the narcotics operation. He died from a heart attack in1973. Carmine Galante passed away with a cigar in his mouth, dying from multiple gunshot wounds, 84 to be exact. (Photo by Fred R. Conrad/New York Times Co./Hulton Archive/Getty Images). It's free. However, following his imprisonment in 1936 he founded the Crime Syndicate of Mafia families and reorganized crime. First, they made a back-channel deal with Galantes inner circle, the so-called Zips from Knickerbocker Avenue, led by his personal bodyguards Cesare Bonventre and Baldo Amato, offering them promotion and a bigger piece of the familys drug rackets if they got on board with the gangland coup in the works. At 2:45, in the moments after they finished their meal and as Galante was lighting up his famous cigar, three masked gunmen burst in the restaurant and headed straight for the patio. Harlem, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA, Bushwick, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA. The Underground Open Noon to 6 p.m. He held the Gambinos in particular contempt because of their longstanding rivalry with the Bonannos, and because they had been muscling into the Bonanno drug empire. The body of Carmine Galante is taken out of Joe and Mary's Italian Restaurant. Probably. They tied his body to a slot machine and threw it into a river. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Galantes value to the Bonanno operation was in drug trafficking, particularly heroin. Camillo Carmine Galante was born on February 21, 1910, in East Harlem, Manhattan, and very early on, he started engaging in criminal activities. Known as Cigar since he was rarely seen without one, Galenteallegedly organized the murders of at least eight members of theGambino family, whom he was rivals with, so that he could take over the drug trafficking operation. Galante was born and raised in East Harlem and became a protg of both Vito Genovese and Joe Bonanno, two of the more widely known dons of New Yorks Five Families at the height of the Mobs power in the 20th century. After that, Galante mostly had his hands in the drug business, so, when he grabbed the position of unofficial acting boss of the family in 1976, thats the area he focused on, that is, until his death on July 12, 1979. accessed ), memorial page for Carmine "Lilo" Galante (21 Feb 1910-12 Jul 1979), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5134, citing Saint John Cemetery and Mausoleum, . See more of history's most infamous mob hits in the gallery above. Authorities had reason to believe this implicated the two in an ordered hit on Galante. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Galante brought many young men, known as Zips, from his family home of Castellammare del Golfo, Trapani, to work as bodyguards, contract killers and drug traffickers. On the sweltering-hot afternoon of July 12, 1979, the 69-year-old Galante and two of his men were killed in a hail of bullets on the patio of Joe & Marys Italian-American Restaurant in Brooklyn. For some time before his death, Galantehad been angling to grab power from some of the other major Cosa Nostra families. His trusty cigar in hand, at around 3 pm that afternoon,Galantewas shot at point blank range by three masked gunmen who found him in the garden section of the restaurant. Genovese allegedly gave the murder contract to Galante. The New York Post ran a front-page photo of the grisly scene: Carmine Galante splayed dead with his last cigar hanging from his mouth. Gotti was finally given a life sentence in 1992. He was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, extortion, tax evasion, and loansharking. Turmoil in the aftermath of his rubout split the family into rival factions, with Sonny Black heading one and Sonny Red heading the other, and soon the rising tensions erupted with the 1981 Three Captains Murders, depicted in the 1997 Al Pacino-Johnny Depp movie Donnie Brasco. Carmine Galante Part 3 of 12 View. Means:Shot twice in the chest, twice in the throat, and one final shot to the back of the head. It was during this time that he was dubbed the Cigar or Lilo, which is Sicilian slang for cigar. In 1957, Joseph Bonanno and Carmine Galante held a meeting of various mafia and gangster chieftains including the real-life Mafia godfather Lucky Luciano at the Grand Hotel des Palmes in Palermo, Sicily. Anthony Pescatore/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images. Carmine Galante grew up under the tutelage of New York Mafia bosses Vito Genovese and Joe Bonanno, learning violence from the former and leadership from the latter. Galante remained loyal to Bonanno throughout his career. The Bonannos were importing huge amounts of heroin by ship into Montreal and then sending it into the United States. Paroled in 1974, Galante returned to New York and immediately made his intentions of taking over the city clear. At around 2:45 pm, just as he was finishing up, three masked men entered the restaurant, walked to the patio, and opened fire with shotguns and handguns. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. Police also estimated that Galante was collecting gambling profits in Montreal worth about $50 million per year. He was a major part in bringing heroin into the United States, from Sicily. His palmprint, not fingerprint, matched those on the backdoor handle of the car, and thus, he was charged. His assassination was revenge for DeCicco's murder of mobsters Thomas Bilotti and Paul Castellano. Carmine Galante did time at Sing Sing Prison where a psychiatrist evaluated him in 1931. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Chicago in his early twenties. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. After 30 years on the run, Italys most wanted Mafia boss has finally been caught. Checking his body is a Philadelphia policeman. By 1953, Carmine Galante rose to become the Bonanno Familys underboss. In moments, Galante was blown backward by the force of a shotgun blast that struck him in the upper chest and by bullets that pierced his left eye and riddled his chest. He was 69 years old. At around 2:45 pm, just as he was finishing up, three masked men entered the restaurant, walked to the patio, and opened fire with shotguns and handguns. Carmine "Lilo" Galante. He was murdered at Joe and Mary's' restaurant in Brooklyn, New York City. Galante, Turano and Coppola were killed instantly. Police mug shot of Chicago Mobster Al Capone. Is Alabama Really Going to Allow Brandon Miller to Keep Playing Ball? But, the FBI was already getting close they had figured that the Commission had ordered his kill. He made hundreds of millions of dollars a year from criminal activities, and at his peak, Gotti was one of the most powerful and dangerous crime bosses in the history of the U.S. [23][24], On July 12, 1979, Galante was killed just as he finished eating lunch on an open patio at Joe and Mary's Italian-American Restaurant at 205 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn. He was dining with Leonard Coppola, a Bonanno capo and staunch Galante loyalist, and restaurant owner/cousin Giuseppe Turano, a Bonanno soldier. He was murdered while in his barbers chair. At the age of 10, he was sent to a reform school, by 15, he had dropped out to become a Mafia associate, and at 16, he was incarcerated for the first time pleading guilty to assault charges and being sentenced to at least two-and-a-half years in state prison. Galantes slaying didnt stabilize the Bonanno family, though. It became clear what Galantes ultimate goal was when he bragged to an associate he was becoming the boss of bosses, thereby threatening the Commission itself. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5134/carmine-galante. June 3, 1959. Al Capone, sometimes known as Scarface, was an American mobster, crime boss and businessman. On February 21, 1910, in an East Harlem tenement, one of the most notorious gangsters of the 20th century was born. From behind bars, Rastelli plotted with the Gambino and Genovese families to bump off Galante in spectacular fashion. His reign as crime boss lasted for seven years, until he was 33. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The jury foreman fell down some stairs at an abandoned building in the middle of the night and was unable to continue the trial due to injury. The two other dead men were Galante's associate, Leonard Coppola, as well as the owner of the restaurant and Galante's cousin, Giuseppe Turano. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. On December 22, 1926, Galante was sentenced to at least two and a half years in state prison. And awesome. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images. He controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and also had a lot of political influence. Try again. Even after a 1977 New York Times expos detailing his rise as a Mafia don and an FBI target, Galante was so confident in his power that he did not bother to carry a gun. Galante had a long career in organized crime and rose to acting boss (unofficial) of the Bonanno crime family. . This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Federal agents escort a handcuffed Galante to court after his arrest on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey for narcotics conspiracy. Try again later. Carmine Galante had been boss of the Bonanno crime family until his assassination by gangland rivals on the 12th July 1979. Place:Inside Virginia Hills Home, Beverly Hills, Means:Hit many times with a.30 caliber military M1 carbine, Place:Joe and Marys Italian-American Restaurant at 205 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn, Means:Shot multiple times with shotguns and handguns. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. While the other bosses got life sentences in the Mafia Commission Trial, on January 13, 1987, Bruno was sentenced to 40 years in prison. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Finally, the Mafia Commission, the highest rungs of Mafia leadership, ordered a hit on him, and used his own men to do it. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Tequila fanatic? Carmine 'Cigar' Galante's Death Photos Show Him Dead With A Cigar In His Mouth, found him in the garden section of the restaurant, apologized for their unwillingness to do Galante'sfunerary service. Chilling Photos Of Historys Most Infamous Mob Hits. Among the various charges ascribed to him were bootlegging, assault, robbery, extortion, gambling, and murder. He was himself murdered in 1936 in a Chicago bowling alley on the anniversary of the attack, likely as revenge for the massacre seven years earlier. He dined with Turano in the sunlit garden patio with no guns in sight. Carmine Galante was the acting boss of the Bonanno Crime Family at the time of his assassination, and was said to be loyal to his former boss Joe Bonanno. Today, Anthony Indelicato, 72, is back in prison for his role in another Bonanno family hit, which transpired back in 2001, and Baldo Amato, 67, the other bodyguard, is serving a life sentence for an unrelated double-murder as well. [17], On February 23, 1974, at a meeting at the Americana Hotel in Manhattan, the Commission named Philip "Rusty" Rastelli as boss. The New York Post ran a front-page photo of the grisly scene: Carmine Galante splayed dead with his last cigar hanging from his mouth. Bruno Indelicato was photographed by a FBI surveillance unit being congratulated outside a Manhattan social club run by powerful Gambino underboss Neil Dellacroce in the hours following the assassination. He surrounded himself with a crew of young imported Sicilian drug pushers for protection and used their access to connections in the foreign narcotics market. On July 12, 1979, Bonanno family boss Carmine Galante was eating on the private back patio at Joe & Mary's Italian-American Restaurant at 205 Knickerbocker Ave. in Bushwick, Brooklyn. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Carmine Galante passed away with a cigar in his mouth, dying from multiple . Galantes first notable alleged murder occurred on March 15, 1930, for slaying a police officer during a payroll robbery. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. "GREED!" was The Post's front-page headline about the death of the mob boss who wanted too much. The Gambino crime family was named after him. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Crazy about gin? Hal Goldenberg Before Cali, Paul Castellano was the most recent mob boss to be assassinated in an infamous 1985 hit that solidified John Gotti's . Though the bullet didn't kill him, he was left fully paralyzed and died seven years later in a hospital bed.