Crime & Safety
So. Bay Man Accused Of Killing Daughter Dies In Custody: SCC D.A.
Anthony Aiello was indicted by a Grand Jury Aug. 7 following suspicious circumstances surrounding his daughter's death, prosecutors said.
SAN JOSE, CA — The 91-year-old man charged with killing his 67-year-old stepdaughter in San Jose last year has died in custody, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office indicated.
Anthony Aiello was arrested after a police investigation of the death of Karen Navarra indicated that her death was staged as a suicide, prosecutors were convinced. The investigation included an autopsy, security video, blood and DNA evidence, as well as an analysis of the victim’s Fitbit - which showed the approximate time of her death. The Fitbit data did not line up with the alibi.
The case against Aiello will be dismissed, as is the protocol when a defendant dies before the
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disposition of their criminal case.
"The case is over, but our thoughts remain with Ms. Navarro," Chief trial Deputy Angela
Bernhard said.
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Navarra’s body was discovered Sept. 13, 2018, when a co-worker stopped by her house after
she failed to show up for work at the Regional Medical Center pharmacy. A knife had been
placed in her hand to make it appear to be a suicide, prosecutors contend.
Evidence showed that Navarra had died from injuries to her head from another, heavier,
weapon. According to police reports, when confronted by evidence that contradicted his version of where he was around the time of her death, Aiello repeatedly said: "I’m done."
Aiello was indicted by the Grand Jury on Aug. 7.
His family had expressed concerns over his well-being in custody given his age.
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