Police: Love triangle led to Md. double murder

LOTHIAN, Md. - A love triangle has turned deadly as authorities say a 42-year-old woman plotted with her 13-year-old daughter and the girl's boyfriend to kill her husband and another woman who lived in their home.

Investigators believe this all had to do with a sexual relationship between the married couple and the woman who was living with them in their basement.

On closed circuit television in court Friday afternoon, Ann Anastasi appeared calm and almost business-like. The judge ordered her to be held without bond.

Anastasi is charged with first-degree murder of her husband, 40-year-old Anthony Anastasi Jr., and 25-year-old Jacqueline Riggs.

Riggs was found stabbed to death in the basement of the couple's home along West Bay Front Road in Lothian on October 5.

Anthony Anastasi was found shot and killed in the master bedroom of the home. His wife called police to say he had committed suicide, but investigators say the gun found at his hand didn't match the one that killed him.

"She was instrumental, based on the investigation, in setting the .45-caliber (handgun) near the victim's head and that .45 did not match the .380 round that we later determined had killed the victim," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams.

Investigators say Ann Anastasi didn't do it alone. They say she conspired with one of her children, a 13-year-old daughter who is now facing murder charges as a juvenile, along with the girl's boyfriend, 18-year-old Gabriel Struss.

He was arrested at his home in Annapolis Friday morning. According to charging documents, text messages between the three suspects discussed him bringing a weapon to the Anastasi's home to "harm two people."

"As far as I know, I don't know what happened down there," said Bobby Snodgrass, Struss's grandfather. "I can't believe it and it's crazy. It's absolutely crazy."

"It's kind of hard to believe that they are accusing him of doing something like this," said Struss's brother, Michael. "They're little kids. She's 13 years old. What kind of 13-year-old has the mindset of murdering people or even trying to get somebody to do it?"

Family members were arriving at the Anastasi's home on Friday. They say they are now caring for the couple's four other children ranging from the ages of 8 to 17.

Ann Anastasi is due back in court for a preliminary hearing within the next 30 days.

Gabriel Struss will have a bond hearing Monday morning.

So far, no murder weapon has been found in this case. According to charging documents, Ann Anastasi did have gunpowder residue on her and her clothing.