Dig for mob associate halted for day

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Troopers, along with heavy construction equipment, were back at the scene of Lisboa Apartments in East Providence Tuesday.

Though State Police aren't officially revealing who they are looking for, sources told the Target 12 Investigators crews are digging for the remains of mob associate Joseph "Joe Onions" Scanlon.

Digging has been halted for Tuesday. State Police said they plan to be back out at the Bullocks Point Ave. site again at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Scanlon was murdered in a mob hit in 1978. However, his body was never found.

The digging started Monday, the same day State Police announced nearly two dozen arrests in the 18-month long investigation "Operation Mobbed Up."

One of the people arrested in the probe is mob associate Nicholas "Nicky" Pari. Pari served time for Scanlon's death. Sources said it was Pari who pointed investigators to the East Providence location.

Crews searched the Riverside property for hours on Monday, finally calling it quits just before 5 p.m. without finding any remains. A guard kept watch in the area overnight, and troopers began their work again Tuesday morning.

Lt. Col Steven O'Donnell said he is confident in the information that brought them to the scene.

As for neighbors, they're a little on edge.

"We've never had this much excitement," said Melanie Aldrich, East Providence. "It is in my backyard and the kids are a little nervous. But, I assured them that it was 30 years ago, so hopefully things have changed since then."