Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo Death — Emilio Matarazzo was found guilty of first-degree murder for the December 19, 2018 killing of his wife, Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo, 50. This was confirmed by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Everett Chief of Police Steven Mazzie. After a 16 day trial in Middlesex Superior Court, Matarazzo was found guilty.
He received a life sentence with no chance of release. “Intimate partner violence is a major threat to public health and safety. Ms. Cataldo Matarazzo had been abused by the defendant for quite some time, and things got worse when she tried to leave him. District Attorney Ryan explained that leaving an abusive partner can be a perilous period for victims, and that this was the case with Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo. “We know that when a victim decides to leave a relationship that time can be incredibly dangerous,” he said.
Her loved ones, neighbors, and many friends have been vocal about the issue of domestic abuse in their communities since her death. They’ve done their part to get the word out and give services for those in need. The Everett Police Department received a call about a shooting on Central Avenue at around 8:40 a.m. on December 19. Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo, 50, was found dead in her vehicle in the driveway when police arrived. Multiple gunshot wounds to the torso resulted in the victim’s immediate death. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office promptly requested assistance from the Everett Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police.
The investigation found that a month before the shooting, Cataldo Matarazzo had moved in with her parents on Central Avenue after filing for divorce from the defendant. She reported that the defendant had been verbally and physically violent toward her for quite some time, including recent incidents of strangulation and scratching. The incident occurred during a Christmas party hosted by the victim’s employer, St. Anthony’s Parish, in Everett on December 18, 2018. The accused asked to see his wife in a fit of rage.
The church requested him to leave, and he reacted angrily by pushing his daughter out the door. After 8:30 a.m. on December 19, 2018, a witness on Central Avenue heard gunshots and observed a man, later identified as the defendant, approach a car in the driveway and start firing into it, striking the victim inside. The suspect was taken into custody shortly after he arrived into the police station later that morning. The murder weapon, a Beretta.12 gauge shotgun, was found in the basement of the defendant’s Foster Street residence when police executed a search warrant. The shotgun missing from defendant’s home gun safe shared a serial number with that weapon.
An obituary states that Ersilia was a member of the Everett School Committee, Board of Registrar, and Board of Assessors. “As Vice President of The Kiwanis Club and a devout churchgoer, she was able to spread her love for the local community through her participation in a wide variety of volunteer and fundraising efforts. She worked for both the Metropolitan Credit Union and St. Anthony’s Church of Everett. Ersilia was a beloved and generous friend, according to her numerous admirers. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Everett Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office all worked together to investigate the crime.
The Office has now secured two murder convictions related to domestic violence this month. Two of Middlesex County’s six homicides related to domestic violence have occurred within the past few weeks. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office collaborates with local and statewide domestic violence service organizations to provide assistance to victims and their families. For victims to have immediate access to a victim witness advocate, District Attorney Marian Ryan established a victim text line in 2020. In non-emergency situations, victims can use the line to speak with an advocate from the District Attorney’s Office over the phone.
This is helpful not only for those who feel more secure communicating via text but also for the many young people who prefer texting to making phone calls. Understanding that many victims are calling with sensitive inquiries, this line establishes a human connection that helps ease the burden of dealing with the criminal justice system. During business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), victims can text a representative at 1-781-305-0399 for assistance. This is NOT an emergency service and the number is NOT staffed at all hours.
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