Frank Ripoli Jr. is a name that many people might not recognize, but his crime is one that shocked the nation in 1999. He was the man who shot and killed his wife, Brenda Ripoli, in their home in Medford, New Jersey, in front of their 6-year-old daughter, Sarah. He was arrested and charged with murder, but later pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter. He claimed that he was addicted to Xanax and not in his right mind when he pulled the trigger. But what really drove him to commit such a heinous act? And where is he now, after serving 15 years in prison?
A Troubled Marriage
Frank and Brenda Ripoli met at work in the Burlington County Health Department in New Jersey. Frank was already married to his first wife, Lorene, but he cheated on her with Brenda and eventually divorced her. He and Brenda married in 1986 and had a daughter, Sarah, in 1993. They seemed to have a perfect life, living in a large house in a wealthy suburb. But behind closed doors, Frank was a controlling and abusive husband. He forced Brenda to buy groceries every day, because he would not eat leftovers. He made her perform sexual acts that she was uncomfortable with, and took pictures and videos of them. He threatened to send those images to her family and the court if she ever tried to leave him. He also threatened to kill her with the guns he owned.
Brenda endured years of abuse and fear, but she never told anyone. She kept a journal and wrote letters to express her feelings. She wrote, “Maybe I was stupid for not leaving him … but I really believed that he would hurt or kill all of us. I have therefore sacrificed my life to save [my daughter’s] life and the lives of my family members.” She also worked as a marketing executive for a company in Pennsylvania, where she met a man named John Long, who became her friend and confidant. He encouraged her to leave Frank and offered to help her. Brenda finally decided to end her marriage and filed for divorce in March 1999. She also obtained a restraining order against Frank and gained custody of Sarah.
A Fatal Day
On April 8, 1999, Brenda went to the Medford home to pick up some of her belongings. She took Sarah with her, and Frank’s father, who was hard of hearing, was also there. Frank was not supposed to be there, but he showed up anyway. He confronted Brenda in the upstairs bedroom and shot her twice, once in the head and once in the chest. Sarah heard her mother scream “Frank, no!” and then a loud bang. She was downstairs with her grandfather, who did not hear anything. She was confused and scared, but she did not know what had happened. Frank then called 911 and confessed to the shooting. He said, “I just killed my wife. I don’t know why I did it. I’m sorry.” He also said that he had taken Xanax and that he was not thinking clearly.
The police arrived and found Brenda’s body in the bedroom. She was 40 years old. They also found a gun and a note that Frank had written, saying that he loved Brenda and Sarah and that he was sorry. They arrested Frank and charged him with murder. Sarah was taken to a hospital and then to a foster home. She was traumatized by the incident and had nightmares for years. She later moved in with her maternal grandparents, who raised her and gave her love and support.
A Controversial Sentence
Frank Ripoli Jr. faced trial in 2001. He pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, but he claimed that he was not responsible for his actions because of his Xanax addiction. He said that he had been taking the drug for anxiety and depression, and that he had increased his dosage without consulting his doctor. He said that he was irrational and impulsive when he shot Brenda, and that he did not mean to kill her. He also said that he loved Brenda and Sarah and that he regretted what he did. He asked for forgiveness from Brenda’s family and from Sarah.
The prosecution argued that Frank was a cold-blooded killer who planned and executed the murder. They said that he was jealous and angry that Brenda had left him and that he wanted to punish her. They said that he knew what he was doing and that he showed no remorse. They also said that he had a history of domestic violence and that he had terrorized Brenda for years. They presented evidence from Brenda’s journal, letters, and friends, as well as from the crime scene and the 911 call. They asked for the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The judge sentenced Frank to 18 years in prison, with no parole eligibility for 15 years. He said that he considered Frank’s Xanax addiction as a mitigating factor, but also his history of abuse as an aggravating factor. He said that he hoped that Frank would get treatment and rehabilitation in prison. He also said that he hoped that Sarah would heal and move on with her life.
The sentence sparked outrage from Brenda’s family and friends, who felt that it was too lenient and that it did not do justice to Brenda’s memory. They said that Frank deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison for what he did. They also said that they feared for Sarah’s safety and well-being, in case Frank ever tried to contact her or harm her.
A New Beginning
Frank Ripoli Jr. was released from prison in 2016, after serving 15 years. He was 64 years old. He has not spoken to the media or to his daughter since his release. He has not revealed where he lives or what he does. He has not apologized or expressed any remorse for his crime. He has not shown any signs of change or improvement. He has remained silent and invisible.
Sarah Ripoli, on the other hand, has grown up to be a strong and successful woman. She is now 27 years old and lives in Long Island, New York. She works as a marketing manager for a cosmetics company and runs her own blog and podcast. She is also an advocate for domestic violence awareness and prevention. She has founded a nonprofit organization called Angel Energy, which provides support and resources to survivors of domestic violence and their children. She has also written a book about her experience, called “Dear Sarah: Letters Home from a New Mother to Her Daughter,” which is a tribute to her mother and a message of hope to others.
Sarah has said that she has forgiven her father, but she has not forgotten what he did. She has said that she does not want to have any contact with him or to know anything about him. She has said that she has moved on with her life and that she is happy and grateful. She has said that she has inherited her mother’s strength and spirit, and that she honors her legacy every day. She has said that she loves her mother and that she misses her terribly. She has said that she hopes that her mother is proud of her and that she is watching over her. She has said that she is her mother’s daughter, and that she always will be.