REHOBOTH - Richard A. "Dickie" Callei, long considered by law enforcement officials as a major figure in Rhode Island organized crime, was found dead of gunshot and stab wounds early yesterday in a shallow grave a half-mile off a country road here.
The freshly dug grave was discovered by a Rehoboth patrolman at 6:30 in the morning after he spotted fresh tire marks in the snow leading into the woods behind an abandoned gravel bank on Brook Street. The tire tracks traveled along a dirt "lovers lane" a half-mile and ended in blood stains. A few feet away, in a clump of trees, the patrolman spotted the grave.Callei, 41, of 6 Brenda Drive, Johnston, R.I. was found at the bottom of the five-foot grave, fully clothed, lying face up, police said. A sports jacket was buried beside him. No identification or money was found on him. Dr. James Shamey, Bristol County (Mass.) medical examiner, said Callei was stabbed in the face, chest, and abdomen, shot five times in the back with a .38 caliber pistol and struck on the head with a blunt instrument several times.
Callei's arrest record dates back to 1952. Law enforcement officials say he emerged as a major organized crime figure in the late 1960s. He was described by "Big Vinnie" Teresa two years ago as the most powerful crime figure in Rhode Island after the imprisonment of Raymond L.S. Patriarca, who was recently paroled.
Police say Callei was killed sometime overnight and his body driven into the woods and buried between 1:30 and 6:30 yesterday morning. Rehoboth Police Chief Raymond McKearney said snow lined the bottom of the grave, leading police to conclude that the grave might have been dug hours or even days before Callei was buried in it. Police said Callei was clad in a blood-soaked white shirt and green tie and buckskin shoes. A green and white sports coat was buried beside him. He was wearing a watch and two rings with initials on them.
Chief McKearney said it appeared from the marks and blood stains in the snow that he was dragged from the car by more than two persons, but wouldn't say how. There were blood stains between the tire marks at the end of the trail, indicating the body probably was taken from a car trunk. Chief McKearney called the slaying "brutal" and said it appeared to be a gangland killing. Dr. Shamey said Callei suffered three skull fractures caused by blunt instruments, stab wounds in the face, chest and abdomen and several bullet wounds in the back, the bullets going through the heart and lungs. He said shots were fired from close range.