Local detective opens historic cold case

Jack Trombetta spent 25 years with the Lower Township Police Department, retiring as a detective sergeant.
But he’s right back on the beat, opening a case that is 2,000 years old—and cold.
In his first novel, Material Evidence, Trombetta takes an investigative look at the alleged theft of a corpse from a grave. As his title page asks: “Who would want to steal a corpse; and why?”
The body that has disappeared, is perhaps the most famous in all of Western history—that of Jesus of Nazareth. And the man in authority, Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, assigns two of his best men to investigate: Marcus, a Roman Centurion who has expertise in the Hebrew faith, and his young partner, Anthony.
“Anthony is a sort of ‘rookie,’” Trombetta said in a recent interview, “and occasionally gets on Marcus’ nerves, but together, they have to piece together all the material evidence, and find the stolen body.”
The novel takes some expected turns. Jesus’ disciples have no doubt what happened to the body—it rose from the dead, whereas the investigators are just as sure of their hypothesis—that person or persons unknown stole the corpse, but to what end?
The unexpected turns begin when Marcus and Anthony begin to add up testimony after testimony, interviewing not only disciples, but those who guarded the tomb, those who actually took part in the crucifixion, and those who have everything to gain or lose, depending on the conclusions drawn by the investigators.
“The most dynamic change to take place as the novel unfolds is from ‘where is the body?’ to “who was the body?’” said Trombetta.
His purpose in writing the novel was two-fold.
“For those who totally reject the possibility of a god,” said Trombetta, “I wanted to plant a seed in their mind. For those who have faith, I wanted to show them that their faith can be based on evidence.”
The book is available from the usual sources, such as Amazon.com, but can also be obtained from Trombetta’s Web site: blueline1.com, and locally at Lamb Book Store, 9th and New Jersey Ave., North Wildwood.
Material Evidence is dedicated to Trombetta’s late nephew, John David Maher.
“He always told me I should write this book,” Trombetta explained. “And writing it has caused changes in my life.”
Trombetta will talk about those experiences, and sign copies of his book when he appears at Borders Express on the Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing (609-484-9277) on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 1-4 p.m.