CRANSTON, RI – A quiet neighborhood street turned into the scene of a homicide investigation after a 21-year-old woman was found dead inside a first-floor apartment, with her mother now charged in the killing and held without bail, authorities said. Police responding to the home on Kingwood Avenue discovered the victim in a bedroom and her mother suffering from what were described as self-inflicted injuries, alongside a handwritten note and medications found during a search of the residence.

Anna Maria Angelosanto, 62, is being held at the Gloria McDonald Women’s Facility in Cranston following her arrest in connection with the death of her daughter, Alexandra Straccia, according to jail records. The charge stems from what investigators believe was a fatal act followed by an attempted suicide inside the home the two shared.

Officers were dispatched to the apartment on the morning of July 27. Upon arrival, they located Angelosanto injured and Straccia deceased in a separate bedroom. Angelosanto was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Investigation details and evidence recovered

According to investigators, a search of the apartment uncovered a handwritten note along with both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Police said Straccia had been diagnosed with autism and relied on her mother for “around-the-clock care.”

Authorities have not publicly confirmed the exact cause of death. However, investigators believe Angelosanto killed her daughter before attempting to take her own life.

“This is an extraordinarily tragic case that has deeply affected our community and everyone involved in the investigation,” Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to Alexandra’s family and loved ones as they continue to cope with this devastating loss.”

Community reaction to the incident

Neighbors described shock and disbelief in the aftermath of the incident, noting the family’s presence in the neighborhood and their interactions over the years.

“It’s a tragedy,” Frank Oster, a longtime resident of the area, said. “The mother will never be the same again in her life.”

Another neighbor, Richard Jennings, echoed that sentiment, saying, “I can’t believe that happened over there. You know, not with these people. … They were all very friendly people and took care of each other.”

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the death inside the Cranston home.

Cranston Rhode Island homicide, Anna Maria Angelosanto, Alexandra Straccia death, Kingwood Avenue investigation, Rhode Island mother charged murder

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