Dominick Scialo, whose partially decomposed body was found in a Brooklyn basement Wednesday evening, was slain three weeks ago by members of his own Mafia “family” because he had become impossible to handle, according to sources close to the case.

An affidavit filed Wednesday in Federal Court in Brooklyn said Mr. Scialo, reputed to have been a member of the Mafia family of Joseph A. Colombo Sr., was killed because “he had failed to follow the commands of the organization.”

The sources said that Mr. Scialo, who had a reputation for a fiery temper, had grown increasingly erratic and rebellious in recent months, demanding a bigger share of family rackets and disobeying his superiors.

Mr. Scialo, 46 years old, had been seeing a psychiatrist in Brooklyn because of problems with alcoholism and a violent temper, according to information gathered by investigators for the State Joint Legislative Committee on Crime.
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The affidavit said Mr. Scialo was killed by an underworld executioner known as “The Undertaker.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents found the body in a basement of Otto's Social and Athletic Club at 494 President Street in Brooklyn. The club is known as a hangout of associates of Alphonse and Carmine Persico, captains in the Colombo family.

The body of Mr. Scialo was found buried near the skeleton of a man with a bullet hole in the skull.