Astoria murder-suicide tied to fear of becoming his abusive father, friend says

In Astoria, 33-year-old Joseph Azzaretto fatally stabbed his wife Mary Kate Goulding, a 34-year-old film-industry set director, in their basement apartment and then hanged himself in Astoria Park; their 11-month-old son was found unharmed. A family friend said Azzaretto had told his mother he wanted therapy to avoid repeating the anger and abuse of his father, who was killed years earlier by Azzaretto’s brother after a history of domestic violence. Nicholas Azzaretto pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received 10 years’ probation. Neighbors described Joseph as hotheaded, and investigators are still determining motive.