Michael Disporto is a killer from New Jersey who was convicted of the sexual assault and murder of 23-month-old Ariana Smyth.
According to court documents emergency personnel were called to a home where they would find 23-month-old Ariana Smyth unresponsive. The little girl was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately would die from her injuries two days later
After an autopsy was conducted it was revealed that Ariana Smyth had been sexually assaulted and died from blunt force injuries
Michael Disporto who was dating Ariana Smyth mother Holly Bobo at the time of the murder would convince the mother not to seek medical help for her daughter
Eventually Michael Disporto and Holly Bobo would be arrested
Holly Bobo would plead guilty to to endangering the welfare of a child. and was sentenced to three years in prison
Michael Disporto would be charged with murder and sexual assault. His first trial would end with a hung jury however during his second trial he would be found guilty of both of the major charges. Disporto would be sentenced to life in prison with no parole for the murder and additional forty years for the sexual assault ensuring he will die behind bars
Michael Disporto Case
A New Jersey man was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the sexual assault and murder of his girlfriend’s 23-month old daughter.
Michael Disporto, 30, of Manahawkin, received the life sentence with no parole eligibility for his first-degree murder conviction and a 40-year sentence for his aggravated sexual assault conviction, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said. A jury found him guilty of both crimes last October.
Police found the toddler, Ariana Smyth, unresponsive on July 3, 2016. She was brought to Cooper University Hospital, where it was determined she suffered extensive injuries and was also sexually assaulted, authorities said.
The child died two days later when she was taken off life support. Medical examiners ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
Prosecutors alleged Disporto sexually assaulted the girl, caused the injuries that led to her death and convinced her mother, Amber Bobo, not to seek medical care for her.
Bobo, of Gloucester City — pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. and was sentenced to three years in prison in May 2017.
Authorities said Bobo and Disporto picked the toddler up from her father’s home in Cape May County and brought her to Bobo’s home on South King Street in Gloucester City on July 2, 2016. Bobo and Disporto had been dating for about two weeks.
Disporto asked to be alone with the child to “get to know her better” and twice took her out of the house alone, prosecutors said. In the morning, Bobo discovered Disporto had moved Ariana and changed her clothes, according to charging documents in the case.
The child also had bruising on her head and genitals, she said, but Disporto denied causing them and convinced Bobo not to take the toddler to the hospital, court documents said.
Bobo admitted at her plea hearing that they instead took two separate trips to the Deptford Mall, where Ariana began to vomit. Bobo called EMTs that evening when Ariana lost consciousness.
Disporto was first tried for the murder and sexual assault in 2019, but the jury became deadlocked and the judge declared a mistrial.
