Did Deceased Author Belittle Brutal Mafia Killer?
Tommy Pitera, decades in prison. Tommy "Karate" Pitera was unique in the annals of the American Mafia, or Cosa Nostra. He is suspected by law enforcement of committing as many as 60 murders. His nickname is derived from his love of martial arts, including karate. He also had more in common with a serial killer than a mobster in terms of how he killed and dismembered his victims, and kept "trophies." In one case, supposedly he kept the ears of one victim. When threatening someone for whatever reason, Pitera would supposedly throw the ears down on the table and tell his trembling target to: "Talk to him." But in one of those bizarre quirks of fate, Tommy was not blessed with a deep masculine voice. He didn't sound like the big, bad killer he was. Rather, he sounded more like Mickey Mouse .