Gabriel Briguglio, the last living suspect in the infamous disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, has made a shocking claim to clear his name after nearly five decades.

Briguglio, now 84, denies any involvement in Hoffa's suspected murder, attributing suspicions about him to false testimony from mob informant Ralph Picardo, as Fox News reports.

Hoffa, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, disappeared on July 30, 1975, from a suburb of Detroit, where he was believed to be en route to a meeting with mob members. Gabriel Briguglio, along with his brother Sal Briguglio and others from New Jersey, became suspects in the high-profile case.

In an exclusive interview for Fox Nation’s series Riddle, The Search for James R. Hoffa, Gabriel Briguglio insists he was in New Jersey at the time of Hoffa's disappearance. "I have nothing to hide," states Briguglio, confident in his innocence.

Gabriel’s Alibi and the Lingering Suspicion

Gabriel Briguglio recalls being subpoenaed shortly after Hoffa incident disappeared to appear before the grand jury in Detroit. He consistently denied any association with the Mafia or involvement in Hoffa's presumed killing. He maintains, "I was home that night, and If they don't want to believe me, that's their business."

Adding to his defense, Briguglio mentions his brother Sal was at a dentist appointment on the day Hoffa went missing. Gabriel Briguglio recounts, "During the morning, I saw him in the office when I started to play cards, and then he said, ‘I’m leaving to go to the dentist.’"

The Role of Ralph Picardo

Key to the prolonged suspicion around Gabriel was Ralph Picardo, a mobster and informant whose claims implicated Gabriel and others in the Hoffa case.

Picardo’s credibility has been discredited over the years, but initially, his statements misled investigators. "If they had not listened to that kid (Picardo), maybe they might have resolved it," laments Gabriel.

According to Gabriel, Picardo fabricated stories to secure his own release from jail. "I couldn't believe that somebody would put my name in there, until I found out it was Picardo," says Gabriel, adding, "When I heard it was him, I knew right away what he had in mind."

The Impact on Gabriel’s Life and Family

Living under the shadow of suspicion has taken a toll on Gabriel and his family. He served time in federal prison for an unrelated labor racketeering case in which Picardo's testimony was a key element against him. "My kids, even now to this day, are wondering why I am even here, doing the interview with you," he reflects.

Gabriel is troubled by the distress caused to his family over the years. "I think it hurt my kids more than it hurt me because I know I was not involved," he states emphatically.

As the only surviving suspect in the Hoffa investigation, Gabriel is eager to clear his reputation once and for all. "They ever asked me anything about where I was, not even once," he says, pointing to significant gaps in the investigation.

Expert Opinions on the Case

Prominent figures such as organized crime journalist Scott Burnstein and former federal prosecutor Keith Corbett support Gabriel's claims of innocence. "I don't believe Gabe Briguglio killed Jimmy Hoffa or was anywhere near Jimmy Hoffa when he was killed," asserts Burnstein.

The narrative Picardo presented was compelling at the time, but as Burnstein comments, "In August 1975, that was a great tip. It hasn't aged well, but at the time, I wouldn't fault any investigator from running that lead down." Corbett adds, "What you have to do, if you're the bureau, you do some assessment and say, ‘Look, is this guy a person who might have been in a position to know this?'

A Plea to Hoffa’s Family

Gabriel hopes to meet Hoffa's children to tell his side of the story directly. "I don't know how much longer I have to live. I hope that it's a long time. But for whatever time I have left, I want to get it off my head, I want to let it be known," says Gabriel, seeking closure for all involved.

As Gabriel continues to fight for his vindication, he remains resolute against claims linking him to Hoffa's disappearance. "Picardo is lying. I know he is lying. In fact, I believe he's a pathological liar," he concludes.

Conclusion

Gabriel Briguglio's bid to clear his name highlights his belief in his innocence and the impact of Picardo’s false testimony.

Although Hoffa's disappearance remains unresolved, experts and Gabriel himself hope to shift the focus of the investigation, clearing Gabriel of long-standing allegations.