A family friend has spoken out about Joseph Azzaretto’s fears of becoming like his father after police said the deaths of him and his wife, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel set designer Mary Kate Golding, are being investigated as an apparent murder-suicide. An NYPD spokesperson told People that Golding – a 34-year-old set designer who also worked on The Flight Attendant, Hawkeye, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith – had been found fatally stabbed in the back at her New York apartment just after midnight on Tuesday, July 21. At around 6.39am that morning, police were called to Astoria Park South following a 911 report of an unconscious person. Officers found a man “unresponsive”, with the police source saying he was later identified as Golding’s husband, Joseph Azzaretto, 33. Credit: Facebook Sources told the New York Post that Azzaretto was found hanging from a tree. Both him and Golding were pronounced dead at the scenes and an investigation is ongoing. The spokesperson said the authorities believe the deaths were a “possible murder-suicide.” Golding and Azzaretto share an 11-month-old son together, who reportedly was found alone in the apartment with his slain mother. He’s said to be unharmed, with sources stating that he was recovered by either one of Golding’s friends or her parents. Film Shrine has contacted the NYPD for comment. Now, a family friend who chose to only be identified as Richard has spoken to the Daily News to shed light on Azzaretto’s past. Years before the deaths of Golding and Azzaretto, his family was at the centre of another tragedy. According to local reports and court records, his younger brother, Nicholas Azzaretto, fatally shot their father in 2020 during a domestic incident in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The following year, Nicholas pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years probation. Video: Nicholas Azzaretto leaves court after being arraigned on charges for shooting and killing his father w shotgun last night at their Stroud Twp. home. @69News pic.twitter.com/ZQXYZS5pXe — Jamie Stover (@JamieStoverNews) February 14, 2020 The Pocono Record, which covered the case, reported that both prosecutors and defence lawyers told the court the incident came after a long history of domestic abuse within the family. Defence attorney James Swetz argued Nicholas should not be in jail “in light of the abuse this family has suffered,” adding, “This case is a tragedy. This case is not a murder case.” Following the latest incident, the family friend said Joseph Azzaretto feared becoming like his father, and it’s something he spoke to his mother about. “After his dad died, he told her he wanted to see a psychiatrist so he wouldn’t be like his father,” Richard said. “Joe told her he was looking to go to therapy because he didn’t want to have the same anger issues his dad had.” It’s currently unclear whether Azzaretto did seek professional help, but neighbours of the couple told the outlet that he’d earned a reputation as having a temper. Featured image credit: Instagram Post navigation Next storyPrevious story
