Shirley Fontanez and Frederick “Fred” Maselli Tragic Murder-Suicide
In 2007, Washington Heights, New York, was shaken by a harrowing murder-suicide involving 19-year-old Shirley Fontanez and police officer Frederick “Fred” Maselli. Their story of tragedy is recounted in the Investigation Discovery series ‘Forbidden: Dying for Love: Broken Trust.’
Shirley Fontanez was a 16-year-old aspiring young woman who lived in Washington Heights. She was a young mother to her baby daughter, Sasha, and aspired to complete her education and join the police force. Shirley’s life was challenging due to her responsibilities and complex relationship with her daughter’s biological father, Angel. Her dreams were marred by frequent arguments and the weight of the responsibilities placed on her shoulders. In September 2004, the police were called to check on the couple during a domestic dispute. However, Shirley did not press charges, and the officers left.
Shirley’s life took a different turn when she met Police Officer Frederick “Fred” Maselli. Although their initial contact was about her interest in joining the police academy and Fred offering guidance, it turned into a romantic relationship. Shirley and Fred had a sexual relationship, which was not only unlawful due to Shirley’s age but also a violation of police conduct.
Fred Maselli’s relationship with Shirley progressed even after she turned 17, at which point she informed her mother about the relationship. Shirley’s mother, Maria Espinoza, was alarmed and threatened to report Fred. She had a history of disputes with the police due to her street vending activities. She had reported her concerns about Fred and Shirley’s relationship to the 34th Precinct, but no action was taken.
Shirley’s relationship with Fred became problematic as he allegedly manipulated her into cashing fraudulent checks. Shirley dropped out of her studies and started working part-time to support herself and her daughter. In November 2006, Shirley tried to end the relationship when she learned of Fred’s alleged drug addiction. He stalked her using police resources, and when Shirley attempted to break up, he assaulted her.
Keyla Gonzalez, Angel’s sister, noticed the injuries on Shirley and decided to report Fred to the authorities. Maria had grown distrustful of the police force over the years. She considered Shirley dating someone else in July 2007 but was coerced into meeting Fred at his apartment on July 23. Tragically, Fred, consumed by jealousy, fatally shot Shirley five times with his police-issued handgun before taking his own life.
Fred Maselli’s co-workers discovered the bodies when he did not show up for work. They found an old suicide note dating back to 2004 where Fred had contemplated taking Shirley’s life after discovering she was seeing someone else. He had also considered taking the life of her lover. Fred had two sons from previous marriages and appeared as a “laid-back guy.”
After the tragic incident, Maria filed a lawsuit against the NYPD in 2008 and won a settlement of $1.15 million. The case highlighted concerns about the police’s inaction and the dangers of officers abusing their authority in personal relationships.
read more:Officer Jorge Pastore Shot Dead: Texas Police Officer
The heart-wrenching story of Shirley Fontanez and Fred Maselli serves as a cautionary tale about the tragic consequences of an abusive and manipulative relationship, compounded by the failure of the police to take appropriate action.
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