In the quiet town of Verona, Virginia, a grim discovery was made on August 21, 2014, when authorities were called to a home on Oak Crest Drive. Inside, they found the bodies of 57-year-old Roger V. Giggey Jr. and his 56-year-old live-in girlfriend, Diane Marie Napoleone. The scene told a story of a turbulent relationship that had come to a violent and tragic end.
Both Giggey and Napoleone had died from gunshot wounds to the head. The investigation by the Augusta County Sheriff's Office pieced together a timeline of events that suggested a murder-suicide. It is believed that Napoleone was killed as early as August 17, with Giggey taking his own life two days later. The call to the authorities was made by Napoleone's 25-year-old son, who had been in the house at the time of the shootings. He reported hearing a gunshot two days prior to the discovery of the bodies and was not considered a suspect in the incident.
The investigation revealed a history of domestic problems at the residence, with law enforcement having been dispatched to the home 22 times since the beginning of the year for issues ranging from domestic violence to public intoxication and disorderly conduct. In 2013, Giggey had been charged with domestic assault and brandishing a firearm, while Napoleone had faced a charge of public intoxication. Authorities concluded that Giggey was the perpetrator in the murder-suicide, and with no other suspects, the case was closed.
