Everett Mother Gunned Down In Driveway By Estranged Husband: DA

EVERETT, MA — Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo got in her car Wednesday morning, ready for another day of work at St. Anthony's Church, where she had been employed for some two decades. She would never make out of the Central Street driveway.

Before the 50-year-old mother of three even pulled out, her estranged husband shot her in the torso with a shotgun-type gun, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emilio Matarazzo, 55, of Peabody, has been charged with her murder. Police said he walked into the police station and turned himself in two hours after police got the initial call. Ryan said where he was in between is still being investigated. He had a license to carry.

He will be arraigned Thursday in Malden District Court.

Ryan said she believed the two were in the process of getting a divorce. Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo had been staying her parents' house, Ryan said.

Cataldo Matarazzo, second cousin to Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, was a volunteer on the city's Board of Assessors. DeMaria was grieving with the family Wednesday afternoon, Everett Police Chief Steve Mazzie said.

"She was a lovely lady and very involved in the community," Mazzie, who knew Cataldo Matarazzo, said. "It’s sad to see something like this to happen to a person like that around the holiday season."

Police started searching for Emilio Matarazzo shortly after the initial call came in around 8:40 a.m. Everett High School, which is across the street from the Everett Police headquarters, along with the Keverian and Parlin schools were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.

Main photo courtesy of KatyRogersArt.com