Bio

Eric Ernest Napoletano Jr. was born on May 2, 1965, in the Bronx, New York. His mother, Carolyn Hankinson, raised him after a brief relationship with his father, a man who would not be a part of Eric's life. Carolyn told Eric that his father had died, which meant Eric grew up without knowing him.

Eric's childhood was difficult. He often fought with his mother and faced challenges in their relationship. At times, he was sent to mental health facilities for problems he faced as a young boy. Around the age of 11, he returned home to live with his mother for a short period. After that, he moved in with a man who was 48 years old and had befriended him. Carolyn seemed to trust this man to take care of Eric, shifting much of her responsibility to him.

Despite these challenges, Carolyn had high hopes for Eric. She wanted him to become a New York City police officer. When Eric dropped out of the Marines at 18, Carolyn became upset. She often communicated her expectations through letters, urging him to reconsider his choices.

In the years that followed, Eric had several relationships, each with a certain pattern. His romantic interests often included young women from minority backgrounds, which his mother disapproved of. According to different accounts, during these relationships, Eric showed signs of abusive behavior that later became concerning.

Murder Story

Eric Ernest Napoletano Jr. committed his first murder in 1984 when he was 19 years old. His victim was Marilyn Coludro, a 15-year-old girl who was his girlfriend. He killed her in her Queens apartment, then disposed of her body in Pennsylvania. It took about two years before her remains were identified.

In 1985, Napoletano became a suspect in the murder of Gladys Matos, who was his former mother-in-law. She was shot dead in the Bronx. During the investigation, there were no charges filed against Napoletano for this crime, and it remains unsolved.

His second wife, Myra Acevedo, became his next victim in June 1990. Napoletano strangled her in Clifton, New Jersey. Their two young sons were present when this occurred. After her death, Napoletano buried her body in Delaware. She had been reported missing three weeks before her remains were found.

Napoletano was arrested on March 27, 1991, after law enforcement gathered enough evidence against him. He was later convicted for the murder of Myra Acevedo and pleaded guilty to the murder of Marilyn Coludro. In total, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in New Jersey on June 25, 1993.