Lothian Love Triangle Murders: Wife Pleads Guilty in 2 Deaths

LOTHIAN, MD — Less than a week before a Lothian mother of five charged with murder in the death of her husband and his live-in mistress was scheduled to stand trial, the accused pleaded guilty in the slayings. Ann Marie Anastasi, 43, of Lothian, was charged with plotting to portray her husband’s death as a suicide and blame him for killing a woman with whom he was romantically involved.

The Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's office says Anastasi pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two counts of murder, as well as the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence in the murders of Anthony Joseph Anastasi Jr., 40, and Jacqueline Irene Riggs, 25. Anastasi faces a maximum of 60 years in prison when she is sentenced on March 15.

Her trial was scheduled to begin Dec. 12.

Prosecutors say Anastasi planned the murders with her then 13-year-old daughter and the girl’s boyfriend, Gabriel Ezekiel Struss, 19, of Annapolis. Struss pleaded guilty in June 2016 to five charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, according to online court records.

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. In the summer of 2015, 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.

In July, 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. But a judge ruled all the contested physical evidence collected from Anastasi would be allowed at her trial, including statements she made to police, except for one minute of questioning when she was detained by police.

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, 2015, 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, 2015. 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 initially 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.

Her daughter 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.

»Arrest photo of Ann Anastasi, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police