On a November day in 1991, what began as a seemingly innocent visit turned into a horrific tragedy for 85-year-old Anna Masini of Orange, New Jersey. Her nephew, Frank Masini, a carpenter, stopped by her home with the excuse of needing to use the telephone. After sharing a soft drink and conversation with his aunt, he took a knife from her kitchen and fatally stabbed her multiple times in the neck. Following the brutal attack, he sexually assaulted her body before leaving the residence.
Anna Masini's body was discovered on November 27, 1991.
The investigation into Anna Masini's murder remained without a suspect for a year, a period during which Frank Masini would claim more victims. His connection to the crimes began to unravel after he murdered an elderly couple. A bloody footprint at that crime scene was matched to a specific pair of hiking boots owned by Masini, leading to his arrest in December of 1992. Once in custody, law enforcement officials were able to link him back to the unsolved murder of his aunt.
Confronted with the evidence compiled by investigators, Frank Masini confessed to the murder of his aunt, Anna Masini, as well as the murders of three other elderly individuals. In an effort to avoid a possible death sentence, he pleaded guilty to the charges against him. In April 1993, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murders, with parole eligibility not coming until he has served a minimum of 60 years. At his sentencing, he expressed a plea for help and forgiveness for his actions.
