Prosecutors: Everett Woman Shot To Death By Husband Had Filed For Divorce

A Massachusetts man accused of shooting his estranged wife to death outside her parents' home was ordered held without bail on a murder charge Thursday as new details of events leading up to the killing emerged.

Emilio Matarazzo, 55, of Peabody, was arraigned in Malden District Court, where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Police in Everett said Matarazzo shot his estranged wife, Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo, multiple times as she sat in her car in her parents' driveway Wednesday morning. The 50-year-old victim, who was living at her parents' home temporarily, was on Everett's Board of Assessors and a cousin of Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr.

Among the new details revealed by prosecutors in court Thursday was that Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo filed for divorce in November after 30 years of marriage and told a friend she was fearful of her estranged husband. Officials said she rejected his efforts to win her back, including his sending her a $20,000 check, chocolates and an apology letter.

Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo also told relatives last month that her husband had been violent with her, including an incident in which he strangled her, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Emilio Matarazzo called his son shortly after the shooting and said, "What is done is done." The couple had three adult children together.

Emilio Matarazzo turned himself in at the Everett police station about two hours after the shooting.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said authorities had not previously been aware of any violence involving the couple. Emilio Matarazzo has no criminal record and has a license to carry a firearm.

The victim's aunt, Maureen DiPierro, gave a public statement to the media Thursday.

"This has been a difficult loss, not only for our family but for the entire community," she said. "We all loved Ersilia very much. She touched a lot of lives around her."

Emilio Matarazzo is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 18.