Vincent Musetto: Man who wrote 'Headless Body in Topless Bar' headline has died

Writer and editor was diagnosed with cancer three weeks ago

Headless Body in Topless Bar edition of New York Post

Vincent Musetto wrote many articles and headlines during his career at the roaring, soaring New York Post.

But none will be better remembered than the headline he conjured up for an article that appeared on April 13 1983 about a murder in the Jamaica section of Queens.

Charles Dingle, a customer who was drinking, argued with the owner and ended up shooting him to death. According to reports, he took several women hostage, raped one and cut the head of another, apparently to confuse police.

“Headless Body in Topless Bar,” said the headline Mr Musetto wrote for the story.

Apprehended the next day, Mr Dingle was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life. Denied parole several times, he died in the Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo in 2012, the New York Times wrote.

Mr Musetto, who had just turned 74, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three weeks ago, the Post said. He passed away while in hospice care at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx with Claire, his wife of 50 years, by his side.

“He wasn’t in any pain. He was comfortable,” his daughter Carly VanTassell told the newspaper. “He passed peacefully in his sleep.”