Select by gender or name

Murder of Micaela “Mickey” Costanzo

In the quiet desert town of West Wendover, Nevada, Micaela “Mickey” Costanzo was the kind of girl everyone admired. A high school junior, she excelled academically and athletically, was editor of her school’s newspaper, and dreamed of one day becoming an author.

Her vibrant personality and close-knit bond with her family made her beloved by all who knew her. But on a fateful afternoon in March 2011, her promising life was cruelly cut short, leaving behind a community shattered and searching for answers.

March 3, 2011, began like any other day for Micaela. She attended classes and spent time with her friends at West Wendover High School. But as the final bell rang and students headed home, Micaela vanished. She didn’t return home that evening, prompting her family to contact the police. A frantic search ensued, but no one could have anticipated the grim discovery that awaited.

Two days later, in a shallow grave in the desert outside Wendover, Micaela’s body was found. The details of her death were gruesome—she had been beaten and her throat slashed. The brutal nature of the crime sent shockwaves through the small town. Who could have done such a thing to someone so kind and full of life?

Shocking Arrests Are Made

Suspicion quickly fell on Kody Patten, a 19-year-old former classmate of Micaela’s. Known for his troubled past and volatile behavior, Kody was no stranger to the authorities. He was arrested just days after Micaela’s body was discovered, and the evidence against him was damning. But the investigation took a shocking turn weeks later when Toni Fratto, Kody’s girlfriend, confessed to playing a role in the murder.

Toni was a soft-spoken, seemingly gentle 19-year-old with no prior criminal history. Her confession stunned everyone who knew her. She claimed that on the day of the murder, Kody had picked her up with Micaela already in his truck. The two had driven into the desert, where an argument erupted between Kody and Micaela. Toni admitted to hitting Micaela with a shovel and holding her down while Kody delivered the fatal blow.

Legal Proceedings

In April 2012, Toni accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to second-degree murder with a use of a deadly weapon enhancement and agreeing to testify against Kody.

During her tearful sentencing, Toni apologized to Micaela’s family, saying, “I’m sorry for what I did to Micaela and for what I didn’t do—to protect her.” Her words did little to ease the anguish of the Costanzo family, who had lost their beloved daughter in such a horrific manner.

Toni was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison for the murder and a consecutive 8 to 10 years for a weapons charge.

A month after Toni’s plea deal, Kody pleaded guilty to first-degree murder to avoid the death penalty.

He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The judge described the crime as “the worst kind of murder,” highlighting its premeditated and brutal nature. In court, Kody expressed remorse, but his words rang hollow to Micaela’s grieving family.

The impact of Micaela’s murder reverberated far beyond the courtroom. Her mother, Celia Costanzo, spoke of the profound loss she felt every day. She couldn’t bring herself to cook or visit the places she and Micaela had once enjoyed together.

“There’s a part of me that’s been ripped away, and I’m not whole,” she said. Micaela’s siblings, too, struggled to cope, pulling away from friends and family as they tried to process their grief.

The crime was a painful reminder of the darkness lurking beneath seemingly ordinary lives in the small town of West Wendover. Friends and neighbors who had known Kody and Toni as teenagers were left grappling with the unthinkable—how two young people with bright futures could commit such a senseless and violent act.

Toni’s Fratto’s Parole

By February 24th, 2021, Toni was eligible for parole, but she was denied. She got another chance three years later, but was denied again. She remains locked up in the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center in North Las Vegas, NV. Her next chance to get out will be in February 2027.

When she is paroled on her life sentence, she won’t be a free woman. Her 8-10 year sentence for the deadly weapon enhancement is consecutive, which means she still has to serve that time before she is released onto the streets again.