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Killer Confession: Newlywed Tells Priest That He Shot His Wife
John Grazioli marked his Mercedes to allegedly confess to a priest that he killed his wife. It was his third confession after the death of Amanda Grazioli.
A man from Pennsylvania used a nearby church as his personal confessional, admitting to the killing of his wife.
On Thursday, John P. Grazioli, a 44-year-old financial manager, parked his Mercedes SUV before walking into a Roman Catholic cathedral in downtown Erie and approached a priest to allegedly confess.
“He pretty much just said I need to tell you that I killed my wife and I am going to go home and kill myself,’ the priest, Michael Polinek, told Go Erie, the online version of The Erie Times-News.
The priest tried to convince Grazioli to call 911. He also contacted the authorities himself. Under Roman Catholic law, priests are not supposed to call police over confessions but Grazioli’s alleged admittance wasn’t during a formal confession, according to Go Erie.
That same day, police arrested Grazioli for the murder of his wife Amanda Grazioli, 31. She was shot once in the back of the head in the couple’s bed, according to the Altoona Mirror.
By the time John talked to the priest, police were already looking for him. In fact, he had already allegedly confessed to the murder twice before walking into that cathedral. John’s ex-wife called the police to tell them that he called her to confess that he killed Amanda, according to the Altoona Mirror. Police said he also left a handwritten note next to his dead wife, explaining that he was behind her death. That note allegedly also said, “I am profoundly sorry.”
John and his ex-wife were embroiled in a custody battle the Altoona Mirror reported. Amanda, John's newlywed bride, was supposed to testify in that case.
John has been charged with first-degree murder amongst other charges. He is being held without bond. He has not yet pleaded to his charges and it’s unclear if he has a lawyer yet who could comment on his behalf.
[Photos: Facebook, Millcreek Township Police]
