A Queens dad suspected of killing his wife in a gruesome murder-suicide came from a family with a dark, violent past — with his brother fatally shooting their father half a decade ago, The Post can reveal.
Joseph Azzaretto, 33, was found hanging from a tree in Astoria Park early Tuesday, hours after he allegedly stabbed Mary Kate Golding, 34, to death in their nearby home, police and sources said.
The still-under-investigation potential murder-suicide came six years after Azzaretto’s younger brother Nicholas Azzaretto stood accused of slaughtering another family member.
Joseph Azzaretto was found hanging from a tree in Astoria Park. Instagram/Joseph Azzaretto
Mary Golding was found stabbed to death in her Astoria home Tuesday. Instagram/Mary Golding
During a heated argument in February 2020 inside the family’s Monroe County, Pa. home, then-20-year-old Nicholas Azzaretto picked up a shotgun and blasted his father Frank Azzaretto in the chest, killing him.
The younger Azzaretto brother faced charges of third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, but revelations quickly surfaced that showed it wasn’t a cold-blooded crime.
A dramatic court hearing later that month revealed that Frank Azzaretto had a history of abusive behavior, the Pocono Record reported.
The 58-year-old Azzaretto patriarch allegedly came home on Feb. 13, 2020 from his movie production job in The Bronx and blew up at his wife over a telephone bill, according to the report.
Nicholas Azzaretto leaving his preliminary hearing in handcuffs in Stroudsburg, Pa. on Feb. 28, 2020. Joe McDonald-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Nicholas Azzaretto’s booking photo after he shot and killed his father during a family dispute in February 2020. Monroe County
He angrily paced around the home, threw plants and pictures and threatened to punch his wife, the report stated.
“You’re playing f–king games again,” he thundered at his wife, according to the report.
Nicholas Azzaretto allegedly emerged from his basement bedroom amid the chaos, asking “What’s he screaming about?”
“I really don’t know,” his mother said she told him, according to the report.
Nicholas Azzaretto seen with his father Frank Azzaretto in a photo posted to Facebook in 2015. Facebook/Frank Azzaretto
Nicholas Azzaretto seen shooting a gun in a photo posted to Facebook in 2017. Facebook/Frank Azzaretto
The young man later returned from his bedroom with a 12-gauge shotgun, leading to the fatal shooting, the Pocono Record reported.
Court records show that Nicholas Azzaretto eventually pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in November 2021.
He received 10 years of probation, of which two years would be under electronic monitoring, the records show.
His older brother Joseph Azzaretto and Golding had moved to Astoria from Pennsylvania about two months ago, neighbors said.
Surveillance footage of Joseph Azzaretto leaving his Queens apartment after allegedly killing Golding. Obtained by NY Post
NYPD officers at Astoria Park after Golding’s husband’s body was found hanging from a tree on July 21, 2026. Stephen Yang for NY Post
The Queens basement apartment where police believe Golding was stabbed in the back around 12:30 a.m. Stephen Yang for NY Post
A woman seen getting emotional at the scene of the fatal stabbing in Astoria. Robert Mecea for New York Post
Azzaretto, among other disturbing alleged incidents during his short time in Queens, had once physically fought repo men over his car, a nearby worker told The Post.
“He was mentally disturbed. We knew that since he got here,” the worker said Tuesday.
Golding studied at NYU and was working as an assistant set decorator for shows like the “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Goosebumps” at the time of her death, according to her IMDB page and other online profiles.
Police tape seen outside of Azzaretto and Golding’s Queens apartment on July 22, 2026 during the investigation into her murder. Brigitte Stelzer for NY Post
A bage from the set of the TV series “Goosebumps” seen in the trunk of a car at the murder scene. Golding worked as an assistant set decorator for the show before her passing. Brigitte Stelzer
Mary Kate Golding seen in an undated photo from her social media profile. Facebook/Mary Golding
Azzaretto also worked in the film industry, a neighbor, who requested anonymity, said.
A Golding family member declined to comment.
— Additional reporting by Jordan Donegan