THE PHONE CONFESSION: 33-year-old husband calls friend to confess stabbing his wife to death, leaving 11-month-old baby alone with the corpse.
A tragic domestic murder-suicide has left a New York neighborhood in complete shock following a chilling sequence of events in Queens. Authorities responded to a residence near 41st Street and 19th Avenue in Astoria after 34-year-old Mary Kate Golding was discovered stabbed to death inside her home.
Shocking investigative details reveal that her husband, 33-year-old Joseph Azzaretto, made a desperate phone call to a family friend confessing to the violent killing before fleeing the property. In a harrowing turn, Azzaretto left the couple’s defenseless 11-month-old baby boy, Nolan, alone in the residence alongside his deceased mother until a family friend rushed to the scene to rescue the infant.
The Chilling Phone Call and Emergency Discovery
The horrific incident unfolded during the early morning hours when Joseph Azzaretto reached out via telephone to a trusted family acquaintance. During the brief conversation, Azzaretto confessed that he had stabbed his wife following a heated dispute.
Alarmed by the confession, the friend immediately alerted emergency services and rushed over to the couple’s home. Upon entering the residence at approximately 12:30 a.m., responders and the friend discovered Golding unresponsive with multiple knife wounds to her back. Paramedics evaluated Golding at the scene, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival due to severe trauma.
Rescue of 11-Month-Old Nolan
Amidst the gruesome crime scene, first responders found the couple’s 11-month-old son, Nolan, unharmed inside the home. The defenseless infant had been left completely unattended in the apartment in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
EMS personnel evaluated the child at the scene before transferring him for medical checks as a precautionary measure. Local child protective services and family members have stepped in to ensure the infant is cared for following the sudden loss of both parents.
Manhunt and Suicide in Astoria Park
Following the stabbing, New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers launched a search to locate Azzaretto, who had fled the home. Detectives tracked his potential movements through surrounding neighborhood surveillance feeds and mobile signal logs.
Approximately six hours after Golding’s body was discovered, police officers searching nearby Astoria Park made a tragic discovery. Azzaretto was found hanging from a tree inside the park grounds. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, concluding the multi-agency dragnet.
Community Outrage and Support Resources
Neighbors and community members expressed deep sadness as NYPD crime scene investigators cordoned off the block with yellow police tape to collect forensic evidence. Friends described Golding as a loving mother whose primary focus was her young son.
The tragedy highlights the ongoing impact of intimate partner violence. Local advocates urge anyone experiencing domestic distress or safety concerns to reach out for assistance.
