Post by laurnsmom on Dec 31, 2008 18:16:10 GMT -5
Retired trooper posts his own bail, then kills estranged wife, self
MARBLETOWN — A retired state trooper shot and killed his estranged wife before killing himself early Wednesday morning, state police said.
On Wednesday, police were called to 3657 Main St. at 3:58 a.m. for a report of a man with a gun.
When they arrived, family members told them that William Cotto, 53, entered the house armed with a shotgun and shot his estranged wife, Isol Cotto, 49.
Police found Isol Cotto in a bedroom, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
Police then searched the surrounding area and found William Cotto in the parking lot of a nearby Mobil gas station on Main Street, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
William Cotto was a trooper for about 20 years, spending about half that time with the Troop T barracks in Kingston, according to a trooper. He retired earlier this year.
William Cotto filed for divorce from Isol Cotto in 2005 in Ulster County Court. The case was withdrawn and closed on July 20, 2006.
William Cotto had been arrested on Tuesday on misdemeanor unlawful imprisonment, menacing and harassment charges. He posted the $5,000 bail himself and left the Kingston jail at 12:38 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.
State police said they had confiscated all weapons known to be possessed by him, including a shotgun with ammunition, knives and billy clubs. It was unclear where Cotto obtained the shotgun he used in the slaying.
The house where the shooting took place is a gray two-story structure with locked shutters. It is sandwiched between an antique shop and a funeral parlor in the town’s small business district.
The victim once ran a video store out of her home, according to a neighbor. Teri Styles lives in an apartment across Main Street from the scene of the murder.
Although Styles said she didn’t know the victim well, two things were obvious: She had a lot of dogs and she frequently had fights with her estranged husband. “Oh yeah, in the middle of the night,” Styles said.
Her only surprise, Styles said, was she did not hear the gunshot that ended those fights.
MARBLETOWN — A retired state trooper shot and killed his estranged wife before killing himself early Wednesday morning, state police said.
On Wednesday, police were called to 3657 Main St. at 3:58 a.m. for a report of a man with a gun.
When they arrived, family members told them that William Cotto, 53, entered the house armed with a shotgun and shot his estranged wife, Isol Cotto, 49.
Police found Isol Cotto in a bedroom, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
Police then searched the surrounding area and found William Cotto in the parking lot of a nearby Mobil gas station on Main Street, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
William Cotto was a trooper for about 20 years, spending about half that time with the Troop T barracks in Kingston, according to a trooper. He retired earlier this year.
William Cotto filed for divorce from Isol Cotto in 2005 in Ulster County Court. The case was withdrawn and closed on July 20, 2006.
William Cotto had been arrested on Tuesday on misdemeanor unlawful imprisonment, menacing and harassment charges. He posted the $5,000 bail himself and left the Kingston jail at 12:38 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.
State police said they had confiscated all weapons known to be possessed by him, including a shotgun with ammunition, knives and billy clubs. It was unclear where Cotto obtained the shotgun he used in the slaying.
The house where the shooting took place is a gray two-story structure with locked shutters. It is sandwiched between an antique shop and a funeral parlor in the town’s small business district.
The victim once ran a video store out of her home, according to a neighbor. Teri Styles lives in an apartment across Main Street from the scene of the murder.
Although Styles said she didn’t know the victim well, two things were obvious: She had a lot of dogs and she frequently had fights with her estranged husband. “Oh yeah, in the middle of the night,” Styles said.
Her only surprise, Styles said, was she did not hear the gunshot that ended those fights.