Local man nabbed for 1981 murder of pizza delivery driver

CHICAGO -- Chicago Police announced Wednesday that a Naperville man has been arrested for the 1981 murder of a delivery driver at his pizzeria on the north side of Chicago.

Chicago Police detectives cracked the case after speaking with witnesses who provided both critical details of the crime and helped identify the offender, according to a release Wednesday night from police News Affairs.

Michael Cosmano, 56, of Naperville was arrested Tuesday on an active warrant for murder with Intent to Kill, according to the release. He was arrested without incident at a Naperville residence, the release said.

On June 12, 1981, Chicago Police discovered the body of 29-year-old Milton Rodriguez of Chicago, who had been fatally shot in the alley behind the pizzeria where he worked as a delivery driver in the 1900 block of West Chicago Avenue, police said.

Chicago Police Cold Case and Harrison Area Detectives worked on the case, which led to charges against Cosmano, who was the pizzeria owner and Rodriguez's boss.

A verbal dispute regarding wages and employment conditions escalated and ended with Rodriguez fatally shot in the chest, police said.

Cosmano was due to appear in court for a hearing Thursday, but details of the appearance were not immediately available Wednesday night.