A day after he got out of jail, a 36-year-old Toms River man killed his former fiancée before committing suicide in the home the couple had once planned to share, authorities said yesterday.
Investigators said Frank Frisco killed 30-year-old Letizia Zindell, also of Toms River, at her King George Layne residence early yesterday afternoon, then returned to the home they once shared on Lafayette Avenue and hanged himself in a garage detached from the home.
A family friend hoping to borrow cleaning supplies from Zindell discovered her body in the back seat of her 2005 Acura around 2:30 p.m., Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said.
The chief was not sure how Zindell was killed and that remained unknown as of last night, pending an autopsy by the Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office.
After Zindell's friend informed police of her grim discovery, authorities began a frantic search for Frisco, said Mastronardy. Police discovered his body around 4 p.m.
The couple apparently broke off their wedding plans two months ago, sparking a series of events that saw Zindell file a restraining order against her ex-beau and caused police to force Frisco to check in to a mental facility, Mastronardy said.
Zindell and Frisco had been romantically involved for two years, according to police.
Over the past three weeks, police had responded to several calls from Zindell, who alleged her ex-fiancé was constantly harassing her and violating a restraining order she had obtained against him in June, when the pair severed their engagement.
Frisco, who has an ex-wife and two children, had been jailed on charges of domestic violence and violation of the restraining order until late Wednesday afternoon, Mastronardy said.
Police immediately notified Zindell of Frisco's release, the chief said.
Zindell told police Frisco had contacted her several times in the last two weeks, Mastronardy said. He first threatened her, on July 30, with a lawsuit regarding the property they once shared in the 500 block of Lafayette Avenue and sent her several e-mails, according to Mastronardy, who did not know the exact nature of the lawsuit.
On Aug. 2 and Aug. 6, Frisco continually tried to get in touch with his former fiancée, Mastronardy said. He contacted her by e-mail 24 times on Aug. 2 and proceeded to send her a bouquet of flowers on Aug. 6 while she was at work. Both actions were considered a violation of the restraining order.
Following those incidents, police forced Frisco to spend a week at a local mental facility. At the end of his stay, he was jailed on an outstanding warrant from the domestic violence charge before being released Wednesday.
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