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Buffone, who killed himself on Tuesday in a car near his West Harrison home at 106 Park Ave., shot Perla Gatchalian last Thursday in anger over family finances, said Carmel Police Chief Mike Cazzari.
Police recovered the suspected murder weapon off the Route 6 corridor in Yorktown on Tuesday, Cazzari said.
"Unfortunately, before Filippo Buffone could be arrested, he shot and killed himself in a parking lot off Park Avenue near his residence in Harrison," Cazzari said.
The investigation into Gatchalian's death, led by the Town of Carmel Police Department, resulted in the execution of several search warrants, the recovery of numerous items of evidence, and a determination Gatchalian was killed Buffone, Cazzari said.
Carmel police have been working non-stop since the homicide that rocked the hamlet of Mahopac, saying early on they believed the murder was not random.
Gatchalian, who lived with her daughter's family and helped care for her grandchildren, was found on Thursday by Carmel police after a neighbor went to check on the elderly woman.
The investigation into her death led police to a home in West Harrison that belonged to Buffone, where investigators removed numerous items and towed a vehicle.
The chief added, that while the investigation is still continuing, there is no indication at this time that anyone else was involved in Gatchalian’s death.
The chief thanked the many agencies that assisted the department during the investigation, which spanned several towns and cities, including the New York State Police and their Major Crimes Unit, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County District Attorney’s Office and the Harrison and Yorktown police departments.
He also thanked the Town of Carmel Highway Department for assisting officers in searching for evidence.
"Most importantly, we would like to thank our community and business owners who came forward with information," Cazzari said.
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