SALEM — The children of a Peabody woman have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against their father, who prosecutors say killed their mom with a shotgun at point-blank range.
Carmine, Giuseppe, and Amata Matarazzo are asking a Salem Superior Court judge to block Emilio Matarazzo, 55, from accessing the couple’s four bank and brokerage accounts, and prohibit him from selling their Peabody home.
In December, Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo was seated in a car in her parents’ driveway on Central Avenue in Everett preparing for work at St. Anthony of Padua when Matarazzo shot her multiple times, prosecutors said. When police arrived, the 50-year-old victim was slumped over in the vehicle with six shots to the torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two hours later, the defendant turned himself in to the Everett Police Department.
The five-page complaint, filed last week, provides details about the couple’s relationship. They were married in 1989, and have two sons and a daughter. The children allege their father inflicted “physical and emotional abuse on his wife” for years, according to the lawsuit.
In November, Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo filed for divorce citing the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and she moved into her parents’ home.
“Between Nov. 15 and the date of her death, Emilio made numerous threats against Ersilia and accused her of cheating on him,” the complaint said. “Ersilia confirmed to her children that she was afraid for her life.”
The children say when their mother was found by police, her face showed signs of trauma. They believe she was struck in the face by their father’s hand or with the gun prior to the shooting.
The complaint asks the judge to issue a restraining order to prevent Emilio Matarazzo from accessing the couple’s assets at Bank of America, East Boston Savings Bank, Everett Bank, Eagle Bank, and TD Ameritrade, or sell their home.
Essex County Registry of Deeds records say the couple bought a three-bedroom home on Baldwin Street on two acres near Brooksby Farm for $552,000 in 2015. They took a $300,000 mortgage for the property that year from a private lender.
A spokeswoman for Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said she would not comment on whether the DA’s office consulted with the family on the lawsuit.
Matarazzo is being held without bail. His next court date is Feb. 13 for a probable cause hearing at Malden District Court.
The family’s attorney, Nicholas Nesgos, did not return a call seeking comment. Co-attorney Jessica Jeffrey said she did not have time to comment.
