In the quiet borough of Lodi, New Jersey, the life of 85-year-old Olga Bariso came to a tragic and unforeseen end in the winter of 2013. A female resident of Lodi, she became the victim of a shocking act of violence that would unravel a sad story of family and mental illness.
In the early morning hours of December 29, 2013, while Olga Bariso was asleep on her living room couch, she was shot multiple times. The startling event prompted a swift response from law enforcement, and she was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center for emergency surgery. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Olga remained in critical condition and ultimately succumbed to her injuries nearly two weeks later on January 11, 2014. An autopsy later confirmed that her death was a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a suspect who was both close to home and unexpected.
Olga’s grandson, Joseph Bariso, who was 28 years old at the time and lived in the same home, was identified as the perpetrator. Hours after the shooting, he was apprehended by police in the nearby town of Rutherford. Initially facing charges of attempted murder, these were upgraded to murder following his grandmother's death. He was also charged with illegal weapons possession and hindering his own apprehension.
The legal proceedings that followed painted a complex picture of Joseph Bariso's mental state. Concerns about his psychological well-being had been raised during hearings, noting a history that included going absent without leave from the U.S. Army. After a thorough evaluation, a judge found Joseph Bariso not guilty by reason of insanity. This verdict meant that he was not held criminally responsible for his grandmother's death and was instead placed under the supervision of the state's Department of Human Services for mental health treatment. The community and those who knew the family were left to grapple with the shocking loss of Olga Bariso and the intricate circumstances that led to her death.
