Alberto Martino was a DJ who connected with his community through salsa. On September 6, 1989, however, his life was unexpectedly and tragically cut short in a way no one could have predicted.
Martino's body was found near his car on Old York Road in Philadelphia, murdered in a planned attack by Roberto and Miguel Alvarez, his girlfriend's brother and cousin. Decades later, the case reopens in Philly Homicide, reviving two questions: Who killed Alberto Martino, and where are the killers now?
What happened to Alberto Martino?
At 54, Alberto Martino was at the peak of his career. He hosted a weekly salsa show on WIBF radio and was a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s Latino community. On the night of September 6, after work, he started his journey home, unaware that his final moments were already being plotted.
As Alberto Martino drove down Old York Road, his car suddenly died. Under the dim streetlights, he pulled over and lifted the car's hood, probably thinking that could be no more than a simple mechanical problem.
Roberto and Miguel Alvarez had set a deadly trap for Martino. The Alvarez cousins had sabotaged his car, and they were waiting in the shadows, ready to strike. Miguel was the first to attack Martino, beating him with a tape-wrapped rod, while Roberto delivered the fatal blow—a single hollow-point bullet to Martino's back.
The investigation initially pointed to this as a random act of violence but quickly unraveled a darker story. Lydia Alvarez, Martino's girlfriend, had received anonymous blood-stained letters demanding she end their relationship. Investigators discovered Miguel harbored obsessive feelings for Lydia, his cousin, and had turned violent after her rejection.
Witnesses emerged with crucial details. A convenience store clerk remembered seeing Roberto and Miguel near Martino's workplace weeks earlier, acting suspiciously. Roberto eventually confessed, revealing their elaborate plot—the threatening letters, vehicle sabotage, and planned ambush.
Miguel's fingerprints were found on the letters, and ballistics matched the murder weapon. Roberto and Miguel Alvarez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.
Whereabouts of the killers explored
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Roberto and Miguel Alvarez are now serving life sentences without the possibility of parole in separate Pennsylvania correctional facilities. Roberto is currently incarcerated at Mercer Correctional Institution, while Miguel serves his time at Laurel Highlands Correctional Institution. Despite their efforts to deny responsibility during the investigation, the overwhelming evidence—including Roberto’s eventual confession and forensic proof—ensured that both men were held accountable for their actions.
The story of their crime and punishment is here to remind us that their confinement offers a sense of justice but will never erase the pain of losing a life. Decades later, his case continues to resonate—a testament to a human life cut short and the complex mechanics of justice.
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