Anthony Santo (born c. 1894 in Italy[1] – date of death unknown) was an Italian-American man who confessed to murdering two of his cousins and another girl in the span of three months during "mad spells".
He confessed to murdering his two cousins, Frank and James Marino (ages 18 and 12 respectively) in Brooklyn as well as six-year-old Louise Staula in Dedham.
[3] According to Santo's confession, he led his two cousins on a long walk in the woods in Brooklyn near 6th Street.
[4] About a month before Louise Staula's death, Santo moved to East Boston where he lived with another cousin.
In that moment he claimed to experience a "mad spell" and struck the girl once before picking up a rock and throwing it at her while she tried to escape.
After an examination and trial, Police Chief Fred S. Sackett and a few reporters were interviewing the boy when he announced that he had something important to tell them.
[2][10] Shortly after, an order for his removal was issued by the authorities of Dedham, and Santo was submitted to the Taunton Lunatic Asylum.