Who is Cara Rintala? Massachusetts woman on fourth murder trial for strangling wife to death
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Cara Rintala, a name synonymous with a decade-long legal war topped the headlines for being the first Massachusetts woman to face murder charges in the death of her wife in 2010.
Rintala has returned to the spotlight as she now prepares for her fourth murder trial on the first-degree murder charges that were twice called a mistrial, reported Law and Crime.
Who was Cara Rintala's wife?
Rintala's wife Annamarie Cochrane-Rintala's body was discovered at the bottom of their basement staircase.
First responders found her blood-soaked and beaten-up body which was covered in paint.
At the time, a medical examiner determined that the 37-year-old woman was strangled to death.
On March 29, 2010, Rintala was found cradling her dead wife in the basement of the home she shared with Annamarie. Both the women were found covered in fresh white paint.
There were also signs of manual strangulation on the victim's body.
Why was Cara Rintala's conviction overturned?
Rintala who has consistently maintained innocence was indicted for her wife's murder on October 19, 2011.
After several legal twists in the case, the 56-year-old woman's 2016 conviction was overturned by the state’s Supreme Judicial Court citing erroneous evidence.
Rintala initially told investigators that the night before the responders found the dead body, she had been arguing with her wife and also acknowledged her status as the "number one suspect."
However, the investigation took a different turn when surveillance footage from a McDonald's restaurant showed Rintala disposing of items in a trash can.
Among the items recovered from the trash were three rags. One of the items appeared to have a faint bloodstain.
However, the bloodstain could not be linked to Annamarie.
When is Carla Rintala's fourth murder trial?
A decade after the tragic incident unfolded and her conviction was overturned, the decision cast doubt on the validity of the previous trials which necessitated a new one.
Rintala's fourth murder trial began on Wednesday, September 13. She was living with her teenage daughter and her elderly parents in the Plantation State following the murder.
The trial is expected to be conducted for three to four weeks.
Hampshire Superior Court Judge Richard Carey ordered to release her without objection from the state and she was released on $50,000 personal surety and &50,000 cash bail, according to Law and Crime.
The prosecution in the case will be led by Steven E George, the Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney while Rintala is being represented by Boston attorney Rosemary Scapicchio.
