Woman In Failed Purse Snatching Video ID'd As Infamous Hitman's Daughter-In-Law

LYNN (CBS) – It took nearly two months, but Lynn police say they've finally found the woman wanted for a brazen robbery attempt that was caught on video.

Forty-one-year-old Dina Martorano turned herself into police Thursday night and was charged in the incident back on May 2.

A customer left Lynnway Liquors and was attacked from behind in the parking lot by a woman who then tried to grab her purse.

The victim, a woman in her 50's, was spun around and hit her head on the pavement. But, as surveillance video showed, she managed to fight back, kick her attacker and keep her purse.

The would-be thief was apparently so startled, she ran away.

But police had trouble finding her, so they released the video Tuesday – eight weeks after the attack – to generate some leads.

"We got a lot of good tips that came in shortly after airing the information through the news media and subsequently this woman turned herself in," police Lt. Christopher Kelly told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Friday.

"I'm sure she saw herself at some point or was told by other people that knew her that that video was out there and was in the news."

Martorano was arraigned in Lynn District Court Friday on charges of assault and battery and attempting to commit a crime.

Just two weeks earlier, she had been charged with larceny and receiving stolen property.

Dina Martorano has a criminal record dating back to 1993, which includes assault and drug convictions.

But perhaps most notably, she's the daughter-in-law of notorious Winter Hill Gang Hitman John Martorano.

John Martorano is now a free man as part of a plea deal after serving a dozen years.

He was once the chief executioner for the infamous Winter Hill Gang, and perhaps the most feared man in Boston.

John Martorano confessed to 20 murders, but is suspected of many more.