Maria Dimasi found dead in suspected murder at Findon
The 85-year-old woman was found dead late Saturday and police say they expect to charge her husband with murder.
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A woman has been found dead, and her husband has been arrested after police were called out to an incident at a Findon home.
Emergency services were called to Thornton St about 11.20pm on Saturday where they located the 85-year-old woman’s body.
She has been identified as Maria Dimasi, a loving grandmother and great-grand mother known for her Italian cuisine and recipes she would share with the neighbourhood.
Her 91-year-old husband Frank was arrested at the scene and is expected to be charged with murder, according to police.
Mr Dimasi is understood to be in hospital for treatment with a police spokeswoman saying he is expected to be charged with murder later.
Neighbours say Mrs Dimasi appeared to be in good health, and was often seen using a scooter along the street.
She was known for her cooking and Italian cuisine, sharing meals with neighbours and volunteering her time in her grandson’s kitchen, Nonna Cucina.
It comes after four other women and one man were allegedly murdered by men known to them in the past few weeks.
The bodies of women were discovered on November 15 at Felixstow, November 16 near Port Augusta, November 19 in Morphett Vale and November 21 in Modbury North.
And a man was killed in what police say was a murder-suicide at Glenelg North on November 28.
In a 2021 interview, Mrs Dimasi’s grandson Stefan said the matriarch would every Monday to help him cook and “make biscuits” which had “given the kitchen a great vibe”.
“It’s given her another life, too - she loves it,” he told InDaily.
Major Crime Investigators are currently on scene with detectives from Western District and the Forensic Response Section.
Neighbours have painted the picture of a happy couple living for decades in the home they built together in a quiet street where they were well-known.
Good neighbours and looking to be happy and healthy for their age, neighbours say they are shocked at what has unfolded.
Mrs Dimasi was known to be a proud parent, grandparent and great great grandparent.
“They were really close neighbours; we had some parties together and it’s just a shock for us last night,” a neighbour and friend said.
“I can say they are very good neighbours. I think they were a happy couple.”
He said Mrs Dimasi was teaching his wife how to cook Italian cuisine.
“It was like she was going to pass the recipes to her,” he said.
He said his neighbour would use a scooter, often seeing her up and down the quiet Thornton St area.
“I think for her age she was quite fit,” he said.
He said Mr Dimasi was “a good neighbour as well”.
“He was always helpful and always had chats here at the front,” he said.
“Always talking about his past life, a tough life, his migration process.”
Police remain at the property with the sidewalk taped off and investigations continue.
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