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Who Is Bruno Rocuba & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

by · January 15, 2026

Bruno Rocuba was once seen as a devoted husband and father living in the quiet town of Simpson, Pennsylvania. Married to Melissa Rocuba, with whom he had two daughters, Bruno lived a seemingly ordinary life. Friends and family viewed him as a stable presence in the community, and Melissa’s father, Joe White—himself a retired law enforcement officer—considered Bruno like a son.

Behind closed doors, however, signs of marital strain were beginning to emerge. By 2013, Bruno was reportedly involved in an extramarital affair. These tensions came to a head on August 6 of that year, when Melissa was shot in the head in their home. Bruno called 911 and said the shooting was accidental, claiming the gun discharged while he was either unloading it or while the couple was “playing” with the firearm. Melissa died in the hospital four days later. At the time, no charges were filed, and Bruno walked free.

For nine years, he maintained his freedom, telling those around him that the incident had been a tragic mishap. He even claimed he visited Melissa’s grave—something later disproved by her family. His daughters struggled with the duality of remembering him as a loving father while suspecting he was responsible for their mother’s death.

The Reopened Investigation and Guilty Plea

In 2022, nearly a decade after Melissa’s death, Pennsylvania State Police reopened the case. Investigators uncovered a crucial piece of evidence—a previously ignored audio recording that captured an argument between Bruno and Melissa just before the fatal shot. That discovery, along with further forensic analysis and video surveillance, painted a different picture: one of escalating conflict rather than an accidental shooting.

Bruno Rocuba was arrested and eventually charged in the cold case. In May 2024, he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. His plea came after increasing pressure from evidence, investigators, and the persistent advocacy of Melissa’s daughters and father. During the sentencing phase, Bruno expressed sorrow and claimed he didn’t expect forgiveness. “I don’t forgive myself,” he told the court.

Where Is Bruno Rocuba Now?

Bruno Rocuba is currently serving a sentence of 12 to 40 years in a Pennsylvania state prison. He was sentenced in January 2025 by Judge Mary Walsh Dempsey, who criticized his lack of remorse and highlighted how he benefitted from Melissa’s death—including financial gain and moving on with another relationship.

At the time of sentencing, Bruno was 59 years old. Given his age and the minimum term, he will be eligible for parole when he is in his early 70s, though parole is not guaranteed. His incarceration marked the final chapter in a case that had long haunted Melissa Rocuba’s family. While Bruno claimed he acted to bring closure, his family and the court saw his actions as self-serving and deeply harmful.

Bruno Rocuba’s name is now tied to one of Pennsylvania’s most disturbing domestic homicide cases—one where truth was buried for years until the voices of a grieving family brought it to light.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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