On a cold February day in 2016, the quiet community of Cuttingsville, Vermont, was shaken by the unexpected death of Donna Marzilli, a 57-year-old Caucasian woman. A beloved assistant manager at Pierce's Country Store, she was a familiar and friendly face to many in the Shrewsbury area. Her life, however, came to a sudden and violent end on February 15th, inside the home she shared with her boyfriend.
The events of that day unfolded when a distressing 911 call was made by Marzilli's
live-in boyfriend, Frank Weir. He reported to the authorities that a dispute had escalated, resulting in Marzilli being shot. When police and emergency services arrived at their residence, they found Marzilli deceased. The initial investigation into her death quickly transitioned from an unexpected tragedy to a homicide case.
In the wake of the shooting, Frank Weir was taken into custody by the Vermont State Police. The investigation that followed revealed a history of domestic turmoil. It was discovered that Marzilli had been shot by Weir, her partner. As the legal process began, Weir faced the grave charge of second-degree murder for the death of his girlfriend.
Ultimately, Frank Weir admitted his guilt in a court of law. He pleaded guilty to the charge of second-degree murder, officially acknowledging his role in the fatal shooting of Donna Marzilli. In September 2019, he was sentenced for his crime. The court ordered him to serve eight years in prison for her death. This sentence was to be served in addition to time he was already serving for a separate federal gun charge, which stemmed from the discovery of numerous firearms, including an illegal machine gun, in his home during the investigation.
