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Police find couple shot to death in North Babylon
Woman and abusive ex-boyfriend are found shot to death inside his home but cops aren't sure if he killed her.
BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO
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April 23, 2007, 9:48 PM EDT
It seemed Erika Delia had every reason not to return to the basement apartment she shared with her ex-boyfriend.
David Balsamo, a one-time car dealer, had pushed her so hard last month that she broke through a closet door, her family said. When she tried to move out, he oiled the steps so she couldn't carry out belongings and he threatened her over the phone.
"If you go back to the house to get your things, you won't come out alive," he told her, according to a harassment complaint she filed against him.
Monday, that frightful forewarning came true, police and family members said.
Delia, 27, and Balsamo, 24, were found shot to death in the basement bedroom of 69 Foster Blvd. in Babylon about 7:20 a.m., Suffolk police said. Detectives believe both were killed with a shotgun that was recovered from the scene. They had not yet determined, however, whether Balsamo shot Delia, then killed himself, or, if in a suicide pact, she turned the gun on herself.
Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of the Homicide Squad, said Balsamo's parents, who live in the upper portion of the well-kept white-and-green-shuttered home, heard the final shot ring out from outside the bedroom door.
Delia was discovered lying on the floor, Balsamo on his bed, Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said police found some writing left behind, but it was unclear whether it was written by Delia or Balsamo and whether it constituted a suicide note.
Delia's family arrived at the scene shortly after the killings. Gina Marie Nettuno, 33, of West Babylon, said she drove to the house after hearing that her sister hadn't returned Sunday evening to the home of a relative with whom she was staying and never arrived Monday morning at the radiology office in Lindenhurst where she worked.
"It's not like her not to call anybody," Nettuno said, her voice cracking. "I just came here and this is what I saw."
As detectives entered and exited the home cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape, Nettuno recalled how her sister had struggled over the past month to free herself of Balsamo. They had been dating for about a year, she said, and lived together for the past nine months. Delia was pursuing a master's degree in education from the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, Nettuno said, while also working full time at Zwanger Perisi Radiology, where she scheduled appointments, friends said.
Then came the altercation in March. Nettuno said Delia went to the police station where officers took photographs of her bruises. She tried to move out on her own, but Balsamo had oiled the steps.
"They were slipping and sliding everywhere," Nettuno said.
Delia came back with police shortly after to remove her belongings. Balsamo was charged with aggravated harassment for threatening Delia on the phone on March 17. Two days later, Delia filed for an order of protection against Balsamo at First District Court in Central Islip.
Balsamo was ordered to stay away from Delia's home, school, business, or place of employment; to refrain from communication with her, and to surrender all weapons.
"There was an order of protection involved," Fitzpatrick confirmed Monday. "But apparently she has been coming back to the house since then."
What prompted Delia to visit Balsamo's home Sunday evening is still under investigation, Fitzpatrick said. And it's the question Delia's family kept asking Monday.
"I can't imagine why she came back," Nettuno said.
Woman and abusive ex-boyfriend are found shot to death inside his home but cops aren't sure if he killed her.
BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO
[email protected]
April 23, 2007, 9:48 PM EDT
It seemed Erika Delia had every reason not to return to the basement apartment she shared with her ex-boyfriend.
David Balsamo, a one-time car dealer, had pushed her so hard last month that she broke through a closet door, her family said. When she tried to move out, he oiled the steps so she couldn't carry out belongings and he threatened her over the phone.
"If you go back to the house to get your things, you won't come out alive," he told her, according to a harassment complaint she filed against him.
Monday, that frightful forewarning came true, police and family members said.
Delia, 27, and Balsamo, 24, were found shot to death in the basement bedroom of 69 Foster Blvd. in Babylon about 7:20 a.m., Suffolk police said. Detectives believe both were killed with a shotgun that was recovered from the scene. They had not yet determined, however, whether Balsamo shot Delia, then killed himself, or, if in a suicide pact, she turned the gun on herself.
Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of the Homicide Squad, said Balsamo's parents, who live in the upper portion of the well-kept white-and-green-shuttered home, heard the final shot ring out from outside the bedroom door.
Delia was discovered lying on the floor, Balsamo on his bed, Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said police found some writing left behind, but it was unclear whether it was written by Delia or Balsamo and whether it constituted a suicide note.
Delia's family arrived at the scene shortly after the killings. Gina Marie Nettuno, 33, of West Babylon, said she drove to the house after hearing that her sister hadn't returned Sunday evening to the home of a relative with whom she was staying and never arrived Monday morning at the radiology office in Lindenhurst where she worked.
"It's not like her not to call anybody," Nettuno said, her voice cracking. "I just came here and this is what I saw."
As detectives entered and exited the home cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape, Nettuno recalled how her sister had struggled over the past month to free herself of Balsamo. They had been dating for about a year, she said, and lived together for the past nine months. Delia was pursuing a master's degree in education from the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, Nettuno said, while also working full time at Zwanger Perisi Radiology, where she scheduled appointments, friends said.
Then came the altercation in March. Nettuno said Delia went to the police station where officers took photographs of her bruises. She tried to move out on her own, but Balsamo had oiled the steps.
"They were slipping and sliding everywhere," Nettuno said.
Delia came back with police shortly after to remove her belongings. Balsamo was charged with aggravated harassment for threatening Delia on the phone on March 17. Two days later, Delia filed for an order of protection against Balsamo at First District Court in Central Islip.
Balsamo was ordered to stay away from Delia's home, school, business, or place of employment; to refrain from communication with her, and to surrender all weapons.
"There was an order of protection involved," Fitzpatrick confirmed Monday. "But apparently she has been coming back to the house since then."
What prompted Delia to visit Balsamo's home Sunday evening is still under investigation, Fitzpatrick said. And it's the question Delia's family kept asking Monday.
"I can't imagine why she came back," Nettuno said.