On December 19, 2018, a tragic incident occurred in Everett, Massachusetts, resulting in the death of Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo, a 50-year-old woman. The event unfolded in the morning hours when Everett Police responded to a report of a shooting on Central Avenue. Upon arrival, authorities found the victim inside her car in the driveway of her parents' home, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.
Despite immediate medical attention, Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into her death quickly identified Emilio Matarazzo, Ersilia's estranged husband, as the primary suspect. Emilio Matarazzo, who was 55 years old at the time of the incident and a resident of Peabody, had a history of domestic violence against his wife. In the month preceding the shooting, Ersilia had filed for divorce and moved into her parents' home on Central Avenue, seeking to escape the abusive relationship. She had disclosed to others a long history of verbal abuse, as well as recent instances of physical abuse, including being strangled and scratched by her husband.
The events leading up to the murder were marked by escalating tension. On December 18, 2018, Emilio Matarazzo attended a Christmas party at St. Anthony's Parish in Everett, where Ersilia worked. He became angry and demanded to see his wife, was asked to leave, and in a fit of rage, pushed his daughter outside the church. The next morning, on December 19, 2018, a witness reported hearing gunshots and saw a male, later identified as Emilio Matarazzo, approach Ersilia's car in the driveway with a long gun. The witness observed him aim the gun at the car window and begin firing into the vehicle where Ersilia was seated.
Following the shooting, Emilio Matarazzo walked into the police station and was subsequently arrested. An investigation led by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Everett Police Department, and Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office ensued. A search warrant executed at a Foster Street property owned by Emilio Matarazzo resulted in the discovery of the murder weapon, a Beretta. 12 gauge shotgun, hidden behind a workbench in the basement. The gun matched the serial number of a shotgun that was missing from the gun safe at the defendant's home.
Emilio Matarazzo's trial took place in Middlesex Superior Court and lasted 16 days. On August 8, 2023, he was found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the killing of his wife. The conviction highlighted the severe and often fatal consequences of domestic violence, a issue that continues to be a significant public safety and public health concern. Sentencing for Emilio Matarazzo was scheduled for August 10, 2023.
The case drew attention to the critical need for awareness and resources to combat domestic violence. Ersilia's family, friends, and community have been instrumental in raising awareness and providing support for victims and survivors of domestic violence, emphasizing that the time when a victim decides to leave an abusive relationship can be particularly dangerous.
