A Virginia man admits to fatally hitting his estranged wife with a hammer at her apartment while on a GPS monitor awaiting prosecution in a prior domestic violence attack against her.
Peter J. Lollobrigido, 52, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, violating a protection order, abduction by force, and assault and battery on a family member. He is charged of fatally attacking Regina Elizabeth Redman, 44, in 2021.
“The primary consideration for us was, first and foremost, community safety,” Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County Nicole Wittman told reporters outside court, according to WRC, an NBC Washington station. “This sentence accomplishes that, but it also balances the need of this family after three years for this issue to be resolved. They don’t have to go to court and hear the gory facts, nor do they have to hear autopsy results, and they may have closure.”
According to Law&Crime, the fatal attack occurred on September 19, 2021.
Later, he called 911 to report it.
“When asked if his wife was still alive when he called 911, [Lollobrigido] stated he had no idea, then stated, ‘don’t see how she could be,'” Loudon Now reported, citing court documents.
According to the complaint, when police arrived at the home, Lollobrigido told them he grabbed a hammer from under a sink, kissed her, “looked her square in the eyes,” told her he loved her, and then hit her with the hammer.
He was furious that a man was living in the apartment, according to a detective who spoke with him, Loudon Now reports.
“He indicated that he knew that he was going to go to jail for the rest of his life when he went there,” wrote the investigator, Larry Robert Reed, according to the newspaper.
He was free on bond on an ankle monitor at the time of the fatal incident and was subject to a protection order coming from an attack on her in July 2021, in which he was charged with kidnapping, domestic assault and battery, and strangling, according to prosecutors.
When she died seven days after the incident, Lollobrigido’s charges were increased from attempted murder to murder, authorities stated.
Redman died four days before her 45th birthday from “a senseless act of domestic violence by her husband,” according to her obituary. According to the obituary, she had previously sought help as a victim of domestic abuse throughout her marriage several times.
She was regarded as a caring, spirited, and loving mother, daughter, sister, friend, and coworker.
“Her death has left a deep void in many hearts and she will be forever missed,” according to the notice. Regina was liked. “Truly and deeply loved.”
“We ask everyone who reads Regina’s tale to remember her as we do and to think about the events that led to her untimely demise. We can all help to ensure that this does not happen to anyone else. We hope that raising awareness may prevent other families from facing such sorrow.”
Lollobrigido faces up to 42 years in jail when he is sentenced on October 24.