Former Bucks Pizza Shop Owner Sentenced To Prison For Killing Partner

DOYLESTOWN, PA —Former Bucks County pizza shop owner Anna Maria Tolomello was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 to 40 years in state prison for the murder of her longtime business and romantic partner two years ago in their Hilltown Township home.

Tolomello, 51, pleaded guilty in April to third-degree murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. Hilltown Township Police and Bucks County Detectives charged Tolomello in March 2022 with shooting and killing Giovanni Gallina, 65. The two had operated Pina’s Pizza in New
Britain.

Before sentencing, Common Pleas Judge Gary B. Gilman heard an impact statement written by Gallina’s children. In the letter, his children described Gallina as a hard-working man, who was loved by all. They also said Tolomello’s actions were “motivated by greed.”

“All his hard work was for his family, his grandchildren, and the future,” the letter read. "That legacy was destroyed by someone who only thought of themself."

The investigation began when Gallina’s son reported he had not heard from his father since March 16, 2022, and was unable to reach him. Tolomello said Gallina was out of town and never reported Gallina missing to any law enforcement agency, detectives said.

Police went to the couple’s home on Limekiln Pike in Hilltown Township and found Gallina’s body wrapped in a blue tarp inside the home’s main bedroom.

Tolomello pled guilty to shooting Gallina once in the head with a handgun, hiding his body inside the home for 13 days, and removing and disposing of evidence. Gilman, noting forensic evidence suggested the defendant was using gambling apps on her phone within an hour of the killing, called her actions after the killing “heinous.”

Following the hearing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Rees praised investigators for their work in such a complex case.

“Credit to the Bucks County Detectives, the Hilltown Township Police and those who recognized that something seemed wrong and took the steps to ensure that justice was done,” Rees said. “We hope the loved ones of Giovanni Gallina can now move beyond the criminal case and mourn him
privately.”

The investigation was conducted by Detective Louis Bell and Detective James Towhey of the Hilltown Township Police Department and Detective Eric Landamia with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Rees and Deputy District Attorney Brittney Kern prosecuted the case.