Auburn woman charged with murdering husband appears in court

Family members of Julie Ianniciello filled the first two rows of the courtroom, only to learn a hearing would not happen.

Instead, the prosecutor's office moved forward and filed charges for first-degree murder.

Prosecutors allege Julie Ianniciello was having an affair which her husband, Tom Ianniciello, had just discovered. But instead of leaving him, she allegedly executed him while he was asleep in their bed and their two teen daughters were waiting in the car back in April of 2016.

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Though Julie's family declined to comment in court Wednesday, KIRO 7 spoke to her father, Gene Shuffelen, yesterday.

“I think they got it all wrong. I know she is innocent,” Shuffelen said.

Detectives say Julie's affair with a co-worker at Seattle Gourmet Foods had been going on for several months. Documents show they exchanged a series of emails, which revealed her hatred for her husband.

One of the emails, dated March 28, 2016, said: "I hate him so much and just cannot figure out why I stay. I love you so much"

On April 2, 2016, just four hours before Tom Ianniciello was killed she wrote “Love of mine, I am being safe. I am hoping to be at work Monday. I will know more later and I will let you know. I love you”

Shuffelen told KIRO 7’s he thinks the investigation was botched from the beginning.

“From all indications they thought she was it right from the start,” Shuffelen added.

Detectives said she claimed the home was burglarized, but nothing was missing. A spent casing found next to Tom, matched multiple unfired bullets found in the house, suggesting the gun used in the murder came from inside he home and wasn’t brought in from outside.

The night Tom Ianniciello was killed, detectives noted that "Julie never seemed upset, crying nor did she seem to be in shock." And over the course of the next three years, detectives said she never once followed up on the case.

Tom Ianniciello's family sent this statement:

"These circumstances have divided our family over the last 3 years. The recent arrest has left us all with mixed emotions but ultimately we are happy that an arrest has been made."

Prosecutors are requesting a $5 million bail. Although Julie Ianniciello does not have a criminal history, charging documents show the calculation and coldness of the murder demonstrates her risk to others. When she was arrested, detectives also said they found tens of thousands of dollars in cash in a bag in her bedroom. Family members said she’d been stashing it in case of an emergency.

Her next court hearing is scheduled for April 8.

Cox Media Group