Burlington, MA: 'Remorseful robber' indicted in killing of his ex-girlfriend

WOBURN — A Middlesex County grand jury has indicted a Methuen man on a first-degree murder charge in last month's stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend in her Burlington home.

Christopher Piantedosi, 39, was also indicted on a charge of malicious destruction of property over $250. He is due to be arraigned next Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court.

Investigators say the fatal stabbing of Kristen Pulisciano, 38. of 23 Forbes Ave., Burlington, was witnessed by a friend of the victim's teenage daughter, who had been video chatting with the girl on an iPad.

Piantedosi chased Pulisciano into their daughter's bedroom and stabbed her 34 times, according to investigators. They say that the person the daughter had been video chatting with saw and heard parts of the attack, including Pulisciano pleading, "Chris, please stop, I love you," and Piantedosi saying, "You're going to die."

On the evening of May 3, Burlington police responded to Pulisciano's home for a report of a stabbing after receiving a 911 call from the teenage daughter. Pulisciano was pronounced dead at the scene.

Burlington Police and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office launched an investigation of the stabbing and a search for Piantedosi, who had a long-standing relationship with Pulisciano.

The victim and murder suspect were not living together recently, according to police. They also said Piantedosi had tried to commit suicide in the days before the attack. Piantedosi turned himself in at the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Weston on the day after the killing.

Piantedosi is known to police throughout the region. Last year, he earned the nickname "remorseful robber" after turning himself in for stealing a GPS and cash from a Hampstead woman's purse at the Plaistow Market Basket. He returned the items to the woman's home with a note.

In the note, Piantedosi wrote "To the lady I have victimized, I sincerely apologize." He went on to say "I can't get this out of my head so I am returning your GPS with an extra charger and also giving you back $90 plus $10." He signed the letter "Sorry and Thank You, Stupid." Piantedosi contacted police weeks later and was arrested after admitting to the theft.