Fazzino murder trial should go to the jury Monday

Barring unexpected development, a jury selected from nine Winneshiek County men and six Winneshiek County women (three will be announced as alternate jurors) will be asked to begin deliberations in the Alex Fazzino case some time Monday.

Testimony in the case wrapped up at 1:45 p.m. Friday, with one more witness scheduled to take the stand at 9:00 a.m. Monday, followed by closing arguments from both prosecutors and defense attorneys.

The body of Fazzino's wife, Emily, was found in the bathtub of the family's home in Boone on January 29th, 2012.  Police originally ruled the death a suicide, but Fazzino was arrested on first degree murder charges in April of 2013.  The trial was moved to Winneshiek County on a change of venue because of pretrial publicity in Boone.

Friday afternoon's court proceedings wrapped up with testimony from Boone resident Angela Lang, who was a teacher for one of the Fazzino's children.  The Fazzinos had a meeting with Lang scheduled for Thursday, January 26th--three days before Emily's body was found in the bathtub of a bathroom at her home.  Lang testified that Alex Fazzino showed up at his son's school unannounced that morning and told her Emily had a prescription drug addiction and said Emily was trying to kill herself.

Lang testified that Emily Fazzino called her at 1:00 p.m. that day and "sounded normal."  Emily told Lang, "I'm not taking prescription drugs--he's trying to claim that in order to get custody of the children." 

Lang held a meeting with Alex Fazzino, his mother and his aunt after school on January 26th, but Emily did not attend.  Lang said Emily told her she did not feel safe around Alex.