N.J. woman convicted of fatally stabbing mom after their relationship had been ‘steadily deteriorating’

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (TCD) — A 27-year-old woman has been convicted of fatally stabbing her 56-year-old mother multiple times in their shared home in 2019.

Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw announced that a judge handed down the ruling against Marisa Rivera on Jan. 12 at her bench trial, convicting her of first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the 2019 stabbing death of her mom, Denise DeNapoli.

According to the prosecutor’s office, on the morning of Sept. 6, 2019, Mount Laurel Police officers conducted a welfare check on DeNapoli after co-workers hadn’t heard from her. She was reportedly scheduled to work from home that day but never logged on. Inside the apartment, officers found DeNapoli’s body, and an autopsy determined she died due to multiple stab wounds.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that DeNapoli and Rivera’s relationship had been “steadily deteriorating.”

Further investigation revealed Rivera killed her mother at around 3:30 a.m., and then fled the scene, the prosecutor’s office said. Officers found Rivera several hours later at a hotel.

According to NJ.com, Rivera told police she woke up with blood-covered clothes and hands, but she didn’t remember what had happened. Officers took Rivera into custody without incident.

One of DeNapoli’s co-workers reportedly said the victim was “having problems with her daughter,” who suffered from schizophrenia and had allegedly stopped taking her medications for treatment.

According to NJ.com, Rivera told officers the medications made her feel “funny,” so she stopped taking them the month prior. She also reportedly said she hears voices and believes the government is surveilling her.

Rivera will be sentenced March 8.

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