Santo Cassamento was the leader of the Cassamento crime family in Gotham City. He had an affair with Maria Panessa, the wife of Franco Bertinelli, resulting in Maria becoming pregnant with Helena Bertinelli. Franco became abusive towards his family as a result of Maria’s affair.
Several years later, the assassin Omerta was sent to wipe out the Bertinelli family. Santo instructed Omerta not to kill Maria, as he was still in love with her, but Omerta misunderstood and spared Helena instead. Helena grew up to become the vigilante known as the Huntress, and Santo eventually learned her identity. He still blamed her for surviving in her mother’s place and attempted to frame her for several murders and blackmail her into working for the mafia.
Helena set up a trap for Santo involving a heroin shipment, but when Santo arrived at the docks he was instead confronted by Tomaso Panessa, Helena’s uncle and Maria’s brother. Tomaso then killed Santo out of revenge for Santo’s involvement in his sister’s death.