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The Chilling Halloween Night Murder of Peter Fabiano
Halloween night is supposed to be a time for tricks, treats, and innocent fun. But on October 31, 1957, one seemingly routine knock on the door in Los Angeles turned into a real-life nightmare. Peter Fabiano, a husband, father, and owner of a successful beauty salon, opened his door that evening, unaware that what awaited him wasn’t a typical trick-or-treater, but cold-blooded murder.
The Night of the Crime
It was just past 11 PM when Fabiano’s wife, Betty, heard the knock at their door. Peter answered, expecting late-night trick-or-treaters. Instead, a figure stood at the door dressed in a mask, aiming a paper bag toward him. Without warning, a shot rang out. Peter collapsed, and his life was over in an instant. The shooter fled into the night, leaving behind a shocked neighborhood and a grieving wife.
A Case of Jealousy and Deception
It wasn’t long before investigators began to uncover a tangled web of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden love. Betty Fabiano revealed to police that her husband had a falling out with a woman named Joan Rabel, a photographer with a peculiar interest in their marriage.
As detectives dug deeper, they discovered that Rabel harbored romantic feelings for Betty and was intensely jealous of Peter’s role in her life. Rabel recruited her friend, a troubled woman named Goldeen Pizer, to carry out the murder. Pizer, captivated by Rabel’s manipulation, agreed to pull the trigger. On that fateful night, Pizer donned the disguise of a trick-or-treater and shot Peter Fabiano at point-blank range.
Justice for Peter Fabiano
The case shocked Los Angeles, not only for the brutal nature of the crime but also for the motive behind it—a twisted love triangle culminating in murder. Both Rabel and Pizer were eventually caught and confessed to their roles in the killing. In 1958, they were convicted of second-degree murder, with both women sentenced to prison.
To this day, Peter Fabiano’s murder serves as a reminder of how jealousy, manipulation, and obsession can spiral into unimaginable violence.
If you're fascinated by true crime stories like this, be sure to listen to our latest episode of Hitched 2 Homicide, where we delve even deeper into the plans of Joan Rabel to win back the affections of Betty Fabiano.
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