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12-year-old Girl Murdered After She Saw Her Mother Get Raped
As the police investigated more, they discovered a disturbing truth about the murderer.
Joanne Presti was a single mother with three children from different men. She had a daughter named Alyssa, and two sons, Justin, 10, and John Presti, 2. In early 2003, Joanne relocated to Woburn, Massachusetts, to offer a better future for her children. Little could she imagine the deadly curveball life would hurl at her and her family after New Year’s Eve 2004.
Settles Into Her New Home
It was a cold, windy evening when a family of four arrived at their new house in Woburn. Joanne, 34, had taken this decision after much deliberation. One of the reasons for the change was to escape John’s father, Todd Peters.
Joanne had told her friends that she was terrified of Todd. He was previously abusive, hitting Joanne while she was pregnant with John. It was a tough fight, but she was glad she was in Woburn now.
Alyssa was only 12 years old, yet she helped her mother with her siblings and was mature for her age. Annette Presti, Joanne’s mother, described Alyssa as “her light”. The neighbor across the street, Barbara James, welcomed Joanne, and the two quickly became friends.
