Angelina Napolitano was born around 1883 in Italy, likely in a small town near Naples. Her family name is not recorded. In about 1898, she married Pietro Napolitano. Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to America. They settled in New York City, where they lived for seven years. In 1909, they decided to move to Canada. They first went to Thessalon, Ontario, and later relocated to Sault Ste. Marie. This area had a large Italian immigrant community. Angelina and Pietro had four children together.

The marriage between Angelina and Pietro was troubled. Pietro was abusive. He often beat and threatened Angelina. In November 1910, he launched a severe attack on her. He used a pocket knife and stabbed her nine times in various places on her body, including her face and chest. Even though he faced charges for this attack, he received a suspended sentence.

Angelina Napolitano murdered her husband, Pietro, on April 16, 1911, Easter Sunday. At that time, she was six months pregnant. Pietro had pressured Angelina to earn money through prostitution. He threatened her that if she did not bring home money, he would kill her or their unborn child.

That afternoon, while Pietro slept in their apartment, Angelina took an axe and hit him four times in the neck and head. This caused his death. Afterward, she went to a neighbor and confessed, stating, "I just killed a pig." When the police arrived, they found her holding her youngest child and charged her with murder.

The trial for her murder began on May 8, 1911. The judge was Byron Moffatt Britton, and the crown attorney was Edmund Meredith. Angelina did not have a lawyer initially, so the trial was paused to appoint one for her. When the trial resumed, the crown called nine witnesses to testify against her. Angelina's lawyer only called her to the stand. He argued that her husband had abused her, which pushed her to murder him. However, the judge ruled that evidence of past abuse was not relevant.

The jury found Angelina guilty after a brief trial that lasted only three hours. Although they recommended clemency, the judge sentenced her to death because it was mandatory for murder convictions. The execution was set for August 9, 1911, shortly after her due date.

News of her sentencing attracted significant media attention. There was a public outcry for her life to be spared. Many people sent letters and signed petitions asking for her sentence to be changed. Supporters argued that her actions were a result of the abuse she suffered. On July 14, 1911, the federal cabinet decided to change her sentence to life imprisonment.

Angelina gave birth while in prison, but her baby died within a few weeks. Her older children were placed in foster care. After serving 11 years, she was paroled on December 30, 1922. Angelina Napolitano died on September 4, 1932, in a hospital in Ontario.