Lothian Love Triangle Murders: Judge Allows Evidence at Trial

LOTHIAN, MD — A legal effort by a Lothian mother of five -- charged with murder in her husband's death and a woman he was seeing -- to keep evidence and statements she made to the police out of court has been rejected by an Anne Arundel County judge.

Ann Marie Anastasi, 42, of Lothian, is accused of plotting to portray her husband’s death as a suicide and blame him for killing a woman with whom he was romantically involved.

Last week, Anastasi's attorneys sought to keep her statements -- along with a cellphone, clothing and DNA samples -- out of court. The Capital-Gazette reports that her lawyers argued Anastasi didn't talk to the police voluntarily and that she hadn't been advised of her Miranda Rights.

Circuit Court Judge J. Michael Wachs said Tuesday he will allow all the contested physical evidence collected from Anastasi, the newspaper reports. And statements the accused made to police will also be admitted at trial, except for one minute of questioning when she was detained by police.

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Her trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 28.

Anastasi, whom court documents say planned with her 13-year-old daughter and the girl’s boyfriend, Gabriel Ezekiel Struss, 18, of Annapolis, have all been indicted, according to Maryland online court records.

Struss pleaded guilty last month to five charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, according to online court records. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 3.

The trio is accused of plotting to kill Anthony Joseph Anastasi Jr., 40, and Jacqueline Irene Riggs, 25.
Anne Arundel County Police say Riggs had been an associate of the family and had been romantically involved at times with both Anthony and Ann Anastasi. Last summer, Riggs moved into the basement of the Anastasi home in Lothian, and continued a relationship with Anthony Anastasi.

The Anastasi marriage was “fraught with conflict and domestic abuse,” according to charging documents, which caused tension within the residence.

Soon after Riggs moved in, Ann Anastasi and her daughter decided to have Anthony Anastasi and Riggs killed, police allege. Struss was reportedly enlisted to commit the murders.

Bodies Found in Home
Police were called to the Anastasi home at 630 W. Bay Front Road on Oct. 5 by Ann Anastasi, who reported her husband had committed suicide. Police found him in the master bedroom suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body.

As police searched the residence, they found Riggs in the basement with multiple stab and cut wounds. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and their deaths ruled homicides by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Charging documents say both victims were killed Oct. 4. Anastasi died from a .380 caliber gunshot; while a Sig Sauer .45 caliber gun was found beside his body. This convinced authorities his death was not a suicide.
Struss allegedly texted his girlfriend and Ann Anastasi that night about the killings, according to charging documents, warning the girl not to talk to police or he would spend the rest of his life in prison. Other texts showed the girl discussed taking the fall for the murders on behalf of Struss, police said.

Multiple Charges Filed

Ann Anastasi was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The 13-year-old girl was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and also accessory after the fact. She was remanded to the custody of a juvenile detention facility.

Police charged Struss with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit second degree murder and two counts of a firearm use in a felony crime of violence.

Anne Arundel County Police ask anyone with information on the case to call Detective Jason McNemar at 410-222-4756. If people with information wish to remain anonymous, they can contact the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
»Arrest photo of Ann Anastasi, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police