Danielle Imbo Ex-Husband: His Relationship, Their Son and the Unsolved Disappearance

Danielle Imbo’s estranged husband, Joseph Imbo, remains a subject of public curiosity more than two decades after Danielle disappeared with her boyfriend, Richard Petrone Jr., in Philadelphia. The FBI renewed its appeal for information on the twentieth anniversary of their disappearance, emphasizing that investigators were still searching for answers. The case remains one of the region’s most troubling unsolved mysteries.

Danielle was separated from Joseph when she vanished on February 19, 2005. The former couple shared a young son, and their marriage had experienced difficulties before Danielle began dating Petrone. Joseph was questioned during the investigation, but he has never been charged in connection with the disappearance and has publicly denied any involvement.

Who Is Danielle Imbo’s Ex-Husband?

Danielle Imbo’s estranged husband was Joseph Imbo, also known as Joe Imbo. The couple lived in New Jersey and had one son together.

Joseph became publicly associated with the disappearance investigation because he and Danielle were separated when she went missing.

At the time, Danielle was living in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and working as a mortgage processor. She was preparing for a different future while remaining devoted to her child.

Although Joseph’s name appeared in news coverage of the investigation, he generally maintained a private life.

His professional background, age and current relationship status have not been extensively documented in reliable public reporting.

It is also important to distinguish between their separation and a finalized divorce. Danielle was still legally married to Joseph when she disappeared, meaning the commonly used description of him as her ex-husband is not entirely precise.

Danielle Imbo and Joseph Imbo’s Marriage

Danielle and Joseph Imbo were married before her disappearance and shared responsibility for raising their son.

Their relationship eventually deteriorated, and the couple began living separately.

By early 2005, Danielle was moving forward with her personal life while maintaining parenting arrangements with Joseph.

Investigators later explained that her young son was central to nearly every major decision she made.

She wanted to improve her financial circumstances and eventually purchase a home with a backyard where her child could play.

Her commitment to motherhood became an important consideration during the investigation because authorities found it difficult to believe she would voluntarily abandon her son.

Although Danielle and Joseph had separated, they remained connected through their child.

Did Danielle Imbo and Joseph Imbo Have Children?

Danielle Imbo and Joseph Imbo had one son together.

He was a toddler when his mother disappeared in February 2005.

Danielle’s family and friends consistently described her as a devoted mother who organized much of her life around her son’s well-being.

She worked in the mortgage industry and was taking classes to improve her professional opportunities.

Her goal was to achieve greater financial security and provide a comfortable home for her child.

On the weekend Danielle disappeared, her son was spending time with Joseph.

When Joseph attempted to contact Danielle the following day to arrange their son’s return, he could not reach her.

Her failure to respond contributed to the growing concern among family members.

The couple’s son has largely remained outside public attention as an adult, and details about his current personal life are private.

Who Was Danielle Imbo Dating Before She Disappeared?

Following her separation from Joseph, Danielle began dating Richard Petrone Jr.

Petrone was a 35-year-old Philadelphia-area resident who worked at his family’s bakery.

He was also a father, with a teenage daughter from a previous relationship.

Danielle and Richard had known each other since high school and later developed a romantic connection.

Their relationship involved occasional uncertainty as Danielle adjusted to her separation and focused on her son.

Richard reportedly hoped to establish a more settled relationship and potentially create a blended family.

Despite these complications, the couple remained close.

On February 19, 2005, they met friends for an evening in Philadelphia, unaware that it would become their final confirmed public appearance.

What Happened to Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone?

Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone disappeared on the night of February 19, 2005.

The couple had spent the evening socializing with friends at Abilene’s, a bar on South Street in Philadelphia.

They left the establishment at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Richard was driving a black-over-silver 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck with Pennsylvania registration YFH 2319.

After leaving the bar, neither Danielle nor Richard was seen or heard from again.

Their vehicle also disappeared.

The following day, Danielle missed an appointment, which concerned her family because it was unusual for her to disappear without communicating.

Richard’s relatives also began searching after they could not reach him.

Family members contacted friends, visited familiar locations and attempted to establish where the couple might have traveled.

Despite extensive searches, investigators found no confirmed trace of either person or the truck.

Was Danielle Imbo’s Estranged Husband Investigated?

Joseph Imbo was questioned during the investigation into Danielle and Richard’s disappearance.

Because Danielle was separated from her husband, investigators examined whether tensions surrounding the marriage could have been relevant.

Early reporting also described allegations of a disagreement between Joseph and Richard before the couple disappeared.

However, those reports did not establish that Joseph was responsible for any crime.

Former FBI investigator Vito Roselli later explained that authorities conducted a detailed examination of Joseph and his family as part of their investigation.

Investigators considered multiple possible explanations and interviewed people connected to both missing individuals.

Joseph publicly denied involvement in Danielle and Richard’s disappearance.

He has not been charged in connection with the case.

No publicly established evidence identifies him as responsible, and speculation about his role should not be presented as a confirmed finding.

What Did Joseph Imbo Say About the Disappearance?

Joseph Imbo has generally avoided extensive public discussion of the case.

However, during an interview reported in 2014, he directly denied having anything to do with Danielle and Richard’s disappearance.

His response was unequivocal.

At that time, reporting indicated that he was living in South Carolina with the son he shared with Danielle.

The interview provided one of the relatively few public accounts of his perspective.

Joseph’s limited public presence has contributed to ongoing curiosity about him, particularly among people following the investigation.

Nevertheless, the absence of frequent interviews does not establish wrongdoing.

The investigation has remained focused on determining what happened to Danielle, Richard and their missing vehicle.

Why Did Investigators Consider a Murder-for-Hire Theory?

The disappearance attracted attention because two adults and a pickup truck vanished without leaving an obvious crime scene.

Investigators explored several possibilities, including an accident, an abduction and a planned attack.

In 2008, federal authorities acknowledged investigating the case as a possible murder-for-hire.

That development encouraged speculation about whether someone had deliberately targeted the couple.

However, investigators did not publicly identify a person responsible for arranging such a crime.

Authorities also examined information involving organized criminal groups and other possible suspects.

None of those investigative directions resulted in a publicly announced resolution.

The absence of the vehicle has remained particularly challenging because it has prevented investigators from examining evidence that might explain the couple’s final movements.

What Did the FBI Reveal About the Case?

In February 2025, the FBI renewed its appeal for information marking twenty years since Danielle and Richard disappeared.

Investigators emphasized that both individuals were devoted parents who were unlikely to abandon their children voluntarily.

The agency described Danielle as a warm, outgoing woman who wanted to build a stable future for her son.

Richard was similarly remembered as a caring father with strong family connections.

Investigators explained that they had continued reviewing leads, interviewing witnesses and coordinating with other law enforcement agencies.

Despite these efforts, neither person nor the Dodge Dakota had been located.

The FBI also announced a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in their disappearance.

The investigation remains unresolved.

Where Is Joseph Imbo Today?

Joseph Imbo’s current whereabouts and personal circumstances have not been reliably established through recent public reporting.

Earlier coverage placed him in South Carolina, where he was raising his son.

However, that information should not be treated as confirmation of his present residence.

Joseph has not become a prominent public figure, and there are limited verified details about his professional or family life in recent years.

His connection to the case remains primarily through his former relationship with Danielle and their shared child.

For those searching for Danielle Imbo’s ex-husband, Joseph Imbo was her estranged spouse when she disappeared with Richard Petrone in 2005. He was questioned by investigators and denied involvement, but he has never been charged in connection with their disappearance.

More than two decades later, the central question remains unanswered: what happened to Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone after they left a Philadelphia bar that February night?