In a quiet West Des Moines, Iowa neighborhood, the life of 59-year-old Justine Fortugno, a White/Caucasian female, came to a tragic end on January 19, 2022. The events of that day unfolded after police were dispatched to her residence on S. 100th Street to conduct a welfare check. Upon their arrival and subsequent entry into the home, officers made the grim discovery of two deceased individuals.
The deceased were identified as Justine Fortugno and her 52-year-old husband, Dana Fortugno.
A thorough investigation into the circumstances of their deaths was immediately launched by West Des Moines Police Detectives, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The investigation concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide that occurred within the confines of their home.
Investigators determined that Dana Fortugno was the perpetrator in this tragic event. Having taken his own life after killing his wife, there were no arrests made in connection with Justine's death. The case was confined to the two individuals, with no indication of outside involvement. The community was left to mourn the loss of a woman described as a beacon of light, whose vibrant energy and positivity had touched the lives of many.
