Naman Shrestha
After spending 18 years away from her biological parents, Katie Fusco decided to reunite with them in 2016. However, things took an unexpected turn when she was allegedly manipulated by her father, Steven, into getting romantically involved with him. One thing led to another, and the incestuous relationship resulted in the birth of their son. Meanwhile, her adoptive father, Anthony Fusco, felt helpless and reluctantly supported her throughout. In the end, Katie’s relationship with Steven cost her her life and that of Anthony’s. The entire ordeal is dramatized in the Elizabeth Röhm directorial, Lifetime’s ‘Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story.’
Katie Fusco Was Raised With Love and Care by Anthony and Kelly Fusco
Born on September 18, 1961, to Lucille Marino Fusco and Mario Fusco in Waterbury, Connecticut, Anthony Charles “Tony” Fusco was a successful professional, having worked with the United States Coast Guard and as a correctional officer at Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury. He also completed his dream of completing the Fire Training Academy in the later phases of his career. Besides finding success in his career, he was also known for being a family man. His life revolved around his wife, Kelly Ann Gould, whom he married on September 24, 1983, in Syracuse, New York. Soon after their union, they welcomed their daughter, Nicole Anne Fusco, into the world.
Tony also served as an integral part of the community, being the board member of the Town of Dover Zoning Board of Appeals, the Music Boosters of the Dover Union Free School District, and American Legion Post #1949. In 1998, the lives of Tony and his wife changed for the better after they adopted Denise Pladl from her biological parents, Alyssa and Steven Pladl. Born on January 29, 1998, in Austin, Texas, Denis was given up for adoption out of concern from Alyssa, who alleged that Steven’s abusive and torturous behavior towards their daughter made it unsafe to stay with them. Thus, when she was just eight months old, Denise was adopted by Tony and Kelly, who officially renamed her Katie Rose Fusco and welcomed her with open arms.
Growing up, she formed a close bond with her adoptive sister, Nicole. The self-employed freelance artist was also religious, as she and Tony were parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Dover Plains. In 2016, Katie graduated from Dover High School and decided to get in touch with her biological parents, unaware of what it would eventually lead to. Around the same time, Tony had hung up his boots and began working as a part-time security guard for Securitas at the Cricket Valley Energy Center in Dover Plains. Not long after graduation, Katie reunited with Alyssa and Steven and moved in with them in Henrico County, Virginia.
Steven Pladl Went on a Killing Spree Before Taking His Own Life
When Katie moved in with her biological parents, she realized that she also had two younger sisters. Meanwhile, Alyssa and Steven were on the verge of separating as their marriage remained unstable. In November 2016, Alyssa moved out of the property and shared custody of their two younger daughters. In the following months, Steven and Katie formed an incestuous relationship, and the latter even became pregnant with her father’s child. The two took things even further by getting married on July 20, 2017, in Wake County, North Carolina, just a couple of months after Steven’s divorce from Alyssa finalized.
Although Tom and Kelly attended the illegal union of their adoptive daughter and her father, they were far from pleased with the situation. On September 1, Katie gave birth to Bennett Kieron Pladl. However, a few months later, in January 2018, she and Steven were arrested on incest charges. After getting out on bond, she went to live with Tony and Kelly and informed Steven that she could not maintain a relationship with him anymore. This did not bode well with him as he went on a murder frenzy, starting with killing their seven-month-old son, Bennett, on April 11, 2018. The following day, he intercepted Katie and Tony in New Milford while they were driving to the latter’s mother’s house in Waterbury, and shot them both to death. Later, he took his own life as he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Dover.
Read More: Alyssa Pladl: Where is Steven Pladl’s Ex-Wife Now?
