Who the F*ck is James V. Carter?

Everyone knows I love a good mystery. In fact, family mysteries are my specialities. While looking through a bunch of old photos, that belonged to my step-dad (Dave)'s family, I had some questions.

Coletta Todaro Coy Jones was Dave's Aunt. It wasn't until Dave was an adult that he realized Coletta was his father's half-sister. What does that really matter though, who calls someone "half-aunt"?

The family story was that Coletta's father was an Italian produce seller in Marion, Ohio. He refused to pay "protection" money to some crime syndicate and was killed. His widow, Dave's grandma Yanka, remarried in 1919. Nothing was ever spoken or known about the Todaro family. Dave grew up close with his Aunt Colletta.

Coletta & her husband, Paul, never had children. It was never spoken of why but Dave was invited over often for sleepovers. She also plied Dave's mother, Ruth, will endless child rearing advice that drove Ruth nuts.

Grandma Yanka (Margaret Yanka Todaro Coy) flanked
 Left: Coletta & Paul Jones
Right: Ray & Ruth Coy

Getting back to the box of photos, it was packed up from Coletta & Paul's house after they died. Direct from the source!

As I began to go through the photos, I wondered ...

Where are the Todaro's? Why are there no photos, documents, etc in here?
What is the truth about Coletta's Dad?
What even was her father's name?

This is the part where I stopped trying to solve one mystery and tripped over another.

Coletta was born in circa 1912 and Margaret remarried in 1919. Therefore, Mr. Todaro had to have died sometime between these years.  I found James "Jim" Totaro. Ironically his mother's name was Nicoletta, the name Dave says was Coletta's actual name before it was "changed".

Single gunshot wound to the neck.

Nicoletta died in 1931 in Ohio but I do not know if she had a relationship with her granddaughter. 

I searched a few more things. Seems everything was on the up & up the the Todaro legend. Something else was about to rear it's head ...

While going through the box I recalled seeing Coletta & Paul's wedding announcement neatly clipped in the album. They married in 1941. It regaled the marriage of Miss Coletta Coy & Mr. Paul Jones. No longer Todaro?

Doing some additional searches I found some more information regarding Coletta. As I never knew Coletta nor was she my family, I didn't anticipate the look of surprise on Dave's face when I said, " What is the story with Coletta's first husband? ". His response, "WHAT?". 

Maybe that's why she was using Coy? Why was she in Cleveland from Marion? Most importantly, who the f*ck is James V. Carter?

And so this new mystery begins .....