Crime & Safety

Nephew Testifies Piantedosi Called Him Night of Murder

Christopher Piantedosi's nephew Ernest Frongillo, 24, testified in court on Tuesday.

The murder trial of Christopher Piantedosi continued Tuesday at Middlesex Superior Court and one of the witnesses was Piantedosi's nephew Ernest Frongillo, 24, of Concord, NH. 

According to authorities, at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2012, Burlington Police responded to 23 Forbes Avenue for a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers located a female victim, with clearly fatal stab wounds.  The victim, Kristen Pulisciano, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene in her home.

Frongillo testimony, in response to questions from Middlesex District Attorney's Office Prosecutor Nicole Allan and defense attorney Michael Collora, covered the months before the murder and the night of the stabbing. 

Frongillo said that until late April or early May of 2012 he was living with his grandparents in Methuen. Sometime in April Piantedosi moved out of his Burlington home and slept on a couch in Frongillo's room at the Methuen condo. He said Piantedosi was upset about breaking up with Pulisciano and was getting frustrated trying to find a job after losing a position in a warehouse. 

Frongillo also said that when he was a child he and his family shared a three-floor house in Everette with Piantedosi and Pulisciano and his grandparents (Piantedosi's parents). He also said that though Piantedosi and Pulisciano were never married he considered her an aunt and that she was part of family functions. He also said that while he knew the couple had had verbal fights a few times the past few years and that Piantedosi stayed on his couch a couple of nights he never saw any signs of domestic violence. 

On Sunday, April 29, 2012, Frongillo said he was met by his father at the Methuen home and was told that Piantedosi was at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. When he went to see his uncle he was informed that Piantedosi had been admitted after a suicide attempt. He said he saw cut marks on Piantedosi's left arm and that he was very depressed. 

"He said he couldn't take it anymore, the struggle with his life," he said. "He was upset at not being able to find a job and his breakup with Kristen." 

Frongillo said he next spoke to Piantedosi on May 1 when he again visited him in the hospital. He said that day Piantedosi was in better spirits and had a more positive outlook. 

"He was totally different, a lot happier," Frongillo said. "He talked about classes he was taking at the hospital." 

Frongillo said the next day he spoke to his uncle again and Piantedosi was still positive, talking about finishing school for message therapy and that he wanted to straighten out his life. 

On May 3, the day of the stabbing, Frongillo said he talked to Piantedosi that morning and he was out of the hospital. He said Piantedosi told him he was planning on taking his daughter, Bryanna, out for ice cream later that day and go to school that night. 

Bryanna Piantedosi testified Monday that she witnessed the attack

However, that night as Frongillo was at his Concord home with his girlfriend he testified he received a text from Piantedosi that stated "She's dead, c u later." 

Frongillo said in court that a short time later he spoke to Piantedosi on the phone and his uncle said "She's gone. I stabbed the [expletive] out of her." Frongillo said Piantedosi said he didn't know where he was and that he was going to drive until his car ran out of gas or he killed himself. 

Frongillo said he uncle then said "I love you," and asked him to look after his family and children and hung up. 

Piantedosi was found at the state police barracks in Weston the next day and turned himself in to authorities. 

Defense attorney Collora, who, according to the Boston Herald, stated on the first day of the trial that he is “not going to dispute the evidence" but suggested his client did not have the "mental capacity and intent" to commit the crime, asked Frongillo his reaction to the call from Piantedosi. 

He asked Frongillo if he and Piantedosi were close and Frongillo said they were best friends. Collora then asked Frongillo if he was "completely surprised" by the call and Frongillo said he was. 

Collora also asked how Piantedosi sounded on the phone. Frongillo said Piantedosi sounded shaky and out of breath. 

"He said 'I don't know what happened,'" Frongillo testified. 


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