Episode 113: The Trick or Treat Murder of Peter Fabiano

In the 1950s, Sun Valley, CA was a quiet, family-friendly corner of the San Fernando Valley attracting returning veterans from WWII and the Korean War with their young families. It was here that Peter Fabiano settled with his wife, Betty. Peter was a former Marine turned owner of two successful beauty salons in the LA area. But Halloween night 1957 would shatter the peaceful neighborhood. Around 11 p.m., a knock at the door changed everything. Peter, thinking it was just a late trick-or-treater, opened the door… and a single pop of a gun rang out. Betty rushed to Peter while her daughter sprinted to a neighbor for help, but it was too late. Peter succumbed to his injury. Who could have wanted Peter dead? And why? Whispers from friends and employees soon pointed to one name: Joan Rabel. When police investigated into Joan, they found a web of complicated relationships between her and the Fabiano’s. In this episode, we dive into the shocking ‘Trick-or-Treat Murder’ of 1957 and reveal how detectives uncovered the evil truth of Peter’s murder.   Sources: “Trick Or Treat! Your Enemy Sent Someone To Kill You” by John Popham on After Midnight with Granger Smith on October 31, 2022 (https://aftermidnite.iheart.com/content/2022-10-31-trick-or-treat-your-enemy-sent-someone-to-kill-you/) “Widow of Victim Recalls Phone Talk with Slayer” by Walt Keenshen Jr. in The Valley Times on December 7, 1957 “The Trick-or-Treat Murder” on Deranged LA Crimes on October 25, 2024 (https://derangedlacrimes.com/?p=13846) “Beauty Shop Owner’s Mate Slain at Door” in The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News on November 1, 1957 “Murder on Halloween: The Trick or Treat Murder” by The Kitchen Table Historian (https://johnbrassardjr.com/2024/10/30/murder-on-halloween-the-trick-or-treat-murder/) “Seek Spook Murders of Valley Business Man: Pair Sought in Killing at Home Door” in The Valley Times on November 1, 1957 “Mystery ‘Caller’ Kills Man Answering Bell” by lmharnisch on The Daily Mirror on October 31, 2007 (https://ladailymirror.com/2007/10/31/they-had-planne/) “Woman Tells of Firing Shot in ‘Trick or Treat’ Murder” by Marilyn Jacobson in The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet on December 8, 1957 “The Trick or Treat Murder” by Truecrimetales on Medium on October 27, 2022 (https://medium.com/@truecrimetales/the-trick-or-treat-murder-6f2c40adf5fc) “Trick or Treat Slaying Motive Remains Mystery” in The Los Angeles Times on November 2, 1957 “The Bizarre Lesbian Murder Scandal That Rocked 1950s LA” by Scout MacEachron on Vice on November 9, 2015 (https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-bizarre-lesbian-murder-scandal-that-rocked-1950s-la/)