Father-of-two kills wife of five months, then confesses to priest

John P Grazioli, 44, is accused of murdering his wife of five months 

A Pennsylvania father-of-two was arrested after he allegedly confessed to a priest that he shot and killed his new wife.

John P Grazioli, 44, allegedly told Rev Michael Polinek at St Peter Cathedral in Eerie on Thursday that he murdered his wife, Amanda Grazioli, 31.

The couple wed in September 2017. 

Rev Polinek told police that Grazioli showed up to the cathedral’s rectory around 3pm on March 8 asking to speak to a priest. 

Polinek said he sat down with Grazioli in the rectory’s office and the 44-year-old confessed to shooting and killing his wife and said he was going to kill himself.

Polinek said it was not a sacramental confession, which means he was allowed to alert police to the situation. 

Police said Grazioli, a financial manager, allegedly killed Amanda Grazioli in their home on March 8 and then went to a Catholic church in Eerie, Pennsylvania to confess. The couple is pictured on their wedding day in September 2017 

Police said Grazioli, a financial manager, allegedly killed Amanda Grazioli in their home on March 8 and then went to a Catholic church in Eerie, Pennsylvania to confess. The couple is pictured on their wedding day in September 2017 

Rev Michael Polinek told police that Grazioli, pictured above with Amanda, threatened to kill himself but he was able to get Grazioli to let him call the police 

Rev Michael Polinek told police that Grazioli, pictured above with Amanda, threatened to kill himself but he was able to get Grazioli to let him call the police 

Grazioli was arrested outside St Peter Cathedral without incident, Polinek said 

Grazioli was arrested outside St Peter Cathedral without incident, Polinek said 

The 39-year-old priest told Go Eerie that after Grazioli confessed, he convinced him that it would be best to call police. Polinek was the one who made the call to 911. 

‘He was a little distraught and, after a moment, he pretty much just said I need to tell you that I killed my wife and I am going to go home and kill myself,’ Polinek said. ‘After a while, I was able to convince him for the sake of the rest of his family and other people that it would be a good idea to call the police – 911.’

Polinek said Grazioli was armed and told him that he had a gun in his coat pocket. The priest was able to get the coat away from Grazioli. Police later determined that the weapon was the same one used to kill Amanda Grazioli. 

Polinek said Grazioli remained calm and was taken into custody without incident.   

‘The police came and they did what they needed to do and it ended very peacefully,’ he said. ‘(Grazioli) was emotional and sad. He was crying and emotional.’

Authorities discovered Amanda Grazioli’s body in a first-floor master bedroom at the couple’s Whispering Woods home. Police said the 31-year-old died from a single gunshot to the back of the head. 

The couple had been married for roughly five months, public records reveal.

Coroner Lyell Cook said it was impossible to determine how long Amanda Grazioli had been dead but police believe she was killed hours before Grazioli fled to the church to confess. 

Before admitting to the murder to Rev Polinek, police said Grazioli wrote a handwritten confession and left it near his wife’s body. In the note he expressed how ‘profoundly sorry’ he was and said he was going to commit suicide. 

He also called his ex-wife, Erica Grazioli, to tell her what he had done.

Rev Polinek, 39, said Grazioli was crying and appeared very emotional as he confessed to the crime 

Rev Polinek, 39, said Grazioli was crying and appeared very emotional as he confessed to the crime 

Before confessing to Rev Polinek, Grazioli had called his ex-wife to tell her what he had done

Before confessing to Rev Polinek, Grazioli had called his ex-wife to tell her what he had done

Police also said Grazioli left a confession note next to his wife's body saying how sorry he was for the murder 

Police also said Grazioli left a confession note next to his wife’s body saying how sorry he was for the murder 

Authorities learned that Grazioli and his ex-wife were involved in a bitter custody battle over their two kids and Amanda Grazioli (pictured above) had gotten dragged into the dispute 

Authorities learned that Grazioli and his ex-wife were involved in a bitter custody battle over their two kids and Amanda Grazioli (pictured above) had gotten dragged into the dispute 

Erica called police shortly before Rev Polinek called 911.

According to Go Eerie, Grazioli was in the middle of a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, whom he shares two kids with. The outlet reports that Amanda Grazioli had been dragged into the couple’s dispute and was subpoenaed to testify in a March 19 trial.

Police said they still don’t have a motive for the crime. 

Grazioli, a financial manager and CEO of Grazioli Asset Management, was arraigned on charges including criminal homicide, first-degree murder, aggravated assault and firearm not to be carried without a license. 

He is being held at the Eerier County Jail without bond.  



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