A family of 5 was found dead in Abington. What we know about the ‘unfathomable’ tragedy.
The five members of the Zaccardi family—a mother, father, and their three young children—were found dead of apparent gunshot wounds on Monday morning.
Authorities and the entire Abington community are searching for answers a day after a family of five, including three young children, were found dead in their condo.The bodies of the five members of the Zaccardi family — 40-year-old Deirdre, 43-year-old Joseph, and their children, 11-year-old Alexis and 9-year-old twins Nathaniel and Kathryn — were discovered Monday morning. Both the parents and their children appear to have died from gunshot wounds, according to authorities, who have called the circumstances a “horrific” tragedy.“When something unimaginable like this happens there’s always going to be more questions than answers,” Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz said during a press conference on Monday.Citing the ongoing “active” investigation, Cruz declined Monday to say whether the deaths were a murder-suicide, but said there was no danger to the public and it was believed to be an isolated, but “incredibly terrible,” incident.“This is a horrible, horrible event here for the town of Abington and for the children in the schools that reside here,” he said.Ahead, what we know about the tragedy.
What authorities say happened
District Attorney Timothy Cruz leaves Monday’s press conference.
Police and emergency responders were called to the Zaccardi family’s condo at 135 Center Ave. around 7:30 a.m. on Monday. Cruz said a relative, who’d gone to the home to pick up the three children for school, called 911 after discovering one of the adults bleeding on a couch on the first floor.
Authorities say first responders at the scene discovered Deirdre’s body first, then found her children and husband. One of the adults was found on the first floor, but authorities have not specified which parent it was.
During Monday’s press conference, both Cruz and Abington Police Chief David Majenski said authorities were not aware of any ongoing domestic issues at the home.
Police had never been called to the condo for any reason, Majenski said.
“It’s horrific circumstances, and it’s a tragedy all the way around, for the first responders, for the fire, for the police, for everyone responding,” the chief said. “It’s just a horrific event that nobody should ever see.”
On Monday, Cruz said investigators were still working to determine when the shooting happened and expected a gun would be found at the scene. Authorities, he said, would also be speaking with relatives with the hope of getting a “clearer picture about what and why it happened.”
The state’s medical examiner was also expected to determine an official cause and manner of death for the five family members.
“It is a crime, a crime occurred in that building and three little children are gone forever as a result of this,” Cruz said.
A next door neighbor, Heather McNulty, told WHDH she heard strange noises overnight into Monday, including four loud bangs around 1 a.m. She and her fiance both rushed downstairs, she said.
“I ended up opening the door,” she told the station. “We saw our dumpster, the door swinging, so we thought it was maybe just that with the banging on the dumpster. Obviously, that was not what it was.”
What we know about the Zaccardi family
Abington Police Chief David Majenski lifts the police tape as a body is taken out of the scene.
Those who knew the family have reacted with shock to the deaths, and a memorial has grown outside the Center Avenue condo.
Debbie Welling told Boston 25 News the family of five was “normal” and there were “no signs of trouble.”
“It just proves that anything can happen at any time,” the family friend said.
On Monday afternoon, the DA’s office released the following statement from relatives of the Zaccardi family:
“Today our family has suffered an unfathomable loss. As we attempt to make sense of the enormity of this event, we respectfully ask that the media respect our family’s wishes to be left alone as we grieve our tremendous losses in private.”
Deirdre Zaccardi was a longtime employee at EMI Strategic Marketing in Boston, according to a statement posted by the company on Facebook.“A ready smile, optimism in the face of the most daunting of projects, a raft of recipes for her beloved holiday Cookie Swap, a happy story about one or all of her three children–these memories and more will remain,” the company wrote of the 40-year-old. “In her nearly 20 years at EMI, she brought kindness, friendship, caring and a can-do spirit to our community. May we all honor her memory by embracing those values every day.”
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According to his Facebook page, Joseph Zaccardi was a native of Foxborough and attended the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
He listed his employment as “Unemployed and Going Crazy,” but shared on his timeline that he had authored three children’s books since 2016. His latest book, “All Mixed Up” published in April 2017.
“Thank you for everybody’s support and encouragement with each book I do!” he wrote announcing the publishing of the book. “Without the support of family and friends, an individuals hopes or dreams can only go so far.”
“I’m so proud of you,” his wife responded in a comment.
The couple’s three children were students in the Abington School District.
According to Deirdre’s Facebook page, 9-year-old Nathaniel played flag football in 2018. The two girls took classes at a local dance studio, according to Boston 25 News.
“They were sweet little girls, and they were a pleasure to have in class,” Terri Trunfio, owner of Nancy Bradford Dance Studio, told the station. “We’ll always remember them.”
How the community is reacting
An aerial view of the scene.
Even as it grapples with questions about how and why the tragedy occurred, the Abington community is drawing together in solidarity and memory of the Zaccardi family.
“People are horrified, there are truly no answers,” the family friend, Welling, told Boston 25 News.
By Tuesday morning, green ribbons, the school district’s colors, took over the Facebook profile pictures for members of the Abington community. Some pictures read “1 Town 1 Family” in green and white lettering.
A green heart was displayed outside the town offices and library, and students at the schools are being encouraged to wear the hue in solidarity with the community.
The color green will blanket the Abington community today as they honor the Zaccardi family, found shot to death in their home yesterday morning. @ksullivannews reports ⬇️https://t.co/Oo62SBFN3l pic.twitter.com/o2bDm66pET
— Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) October 8, 2019
In a statement Monday, Peter Schafer, the district’s superintendent, said the tragedy will “affect the entire Abington community.”
“Their presence touched so many lives and there are no words to express the sadness we feel,” the superintendent said in an email to the school community, according to NECN.
Jonathan Hawes, principal of the district’s Woodsdale School, said in a letter to the community that a “conversation with all students” would be held at the school Tuesday.
“Our plan for [Tuesday] will be to acknowledge that there was a death of two of our students and to recognize the immense sadness surrounding this event,” Hawes wrote. “Students will be meeting with staff members in both classroom meetings and if needed, in small groups. We will validate any and all feelings that may be elicited and we will reinforce the message that they are safe here at school and there is no danger. All information and discussions will be done with sensitivity and age-appropriate responses.”
Counselors were available at all the schools Tuesday to support students dealing with the shocking loss, Schafer said.
“As the DA said, this is a crime as well as a tragedy,” Abington Town Manager Richard Lafond said in a statement to WHDH. “We are very grateful to our first responders, police, and fire, as well as our school administration who are trying to deal effectively with parents and students. It’s a real community effort dealing with this matter.”
Donna Rizzi Peavey wrote on Facebook that learning her friend Deirdre was dead made Monday one of the “toughest days of her life.”
“My first Mom friend who I met at the first PTO meeting in Abington and stuck by me for 2 years,” she wrote. “PTO’s and School Committee meetings and Town Elections to help me get through and learn a new town. Deirdre I liked to call you my Abington Rock. I will miss you.”
“Abington Stay Strong,” she added.
