Cranston, Rhode Island — A Rhode Island community is mourning after a 21-year-old woman was found dead inside her home, with authorities accusing her mother of killing her before attempting to take her own life. Investigators say a handwritten note and medications were discovered inside the apartment as they worked to piece together what happened.
Police Respond to Cranston Apartment
Officers with the Cranston Police Department were called to a first-floor apartment on Kingwood Avenue during the morning of July 27 after receiving a report of a serious incident.
When officers arrived, they allegedly found Anna Maria Angelosanto, 62, suffering from apparent self-inflicted injuries. In another bedroom, officers discovered her daughter, Alexandra Straccia, 21, dead.
Angelosanto was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment while detectives began investigating the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed exactly how Straccia died.
Mother Faces Murder Charge
According to authorities, investigators believe Angelosanto killed her daughter and then attempted to kill herself.
The 62-year-old has since been charged with murder in connection with Straccia’s death. Angelosanto is being held without bail at the Gloria McDonald Women’s Facility in Cranston as the criminal case proceeds.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not released every detail surrounding the alleged killing.
Investigators Find Note and Medications
As detectives searched the apartment, they reportedly discovered a handwritten note, along with prescription and over-the-counter medications.
The significance of the note has not been fully disclosed publicly, and authorities have not indicated whether it contained an explanation for what allegedly happened.
Police also said Straccia had been diagnosed with autism and depended on her mother for “around-the-clock care.”
That information has become an important part of the investigation as authorities work to understand the circumstances surrounding the mother and daughter’s lives before the tragedy.
Community Reacts to Shocking Death
The incident left neighbors stunned, particularly because residents described the family as friendly and supportive.
Frank Oster, a longtime neighborhood resident, described the situation as a tragedy and said he believed the events would have a profound effect on the mother.
Another resident, Richard Jennings, said he was shocked to learn what had happened.
He described the people involved as friendly neighbors who took care of each other, making the alleged killing difficult for the community to understand.
Police Chief Calls Case ‘Extraordinarily Tragic’
Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist described the investigation as an extraordinarily tragic case that has affected both the local community and those involved in investigating the death.
The chief expressed condolences to Alexandra’s family and loved ones as they deal with the loss. Authorities have not yet provided a detailed explanation of what allegedly led to the killing.
The case is expected to continue through the Rhode Island court system as investigators work to establish a complete timeline of events and determine what happened inside the apartment before police arrived.
Angelosanto remains accused of murder, and the allegations against her have not been proven in court.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case? Share your reaction and condolences for the family in the comments below.
