A Mother Snatched Away by Jealousy
Andrea Carnevale, the former football star who once played alongside Diego Maradona, has shared a deeply personal and tragic story, revealing the brutal murder of his mother at the hands of his own father. He hopes the story will serve as a powerful reminder that domestic violence must end.
He was just 14 years old when his world turned upside down. He was by the river with his sister Romana who was washing clothes with their mother.
“I heard a scream and saw my mother dead in the river. It was sudden, violent, and I’ll never forget it,” he said.
“My father killed her with an axe. I remember my sister screaming and running away. She yelled for me to do the same, and I ran. My father was sick with jealousy, but the woman does not belong to the man.”
The tragedy unfolded in the shadow of stigma.
“Back then, in the village, there was a reluctance to involve the police. We felt shame, both my sister and I,” Carnevale recounted.
Determined to have his mother’s death acknowledged, 14-year-old Andrea knew he had to take action.
“I went into the river, collected the blood flowing from his axe, and took it to the police. ‘You wanted blood,’ I said to the police, ‘Here it is, the proof, can’t you see now?,’” he said.
His father turned himself in for the crime and was confined to the Aversa criminal asylum. After five years, he was released and returned home.
The two often clashed, memories of the violence forever lingering.
“When I returned from Reggio Emilia for Christmas, my father wanted to control me. I mentioned a doctor’s meeting, and he nearly punched me,” said Carnevale, “My brother jumped in to protect me.”
Haunted by the ghosts of his past, his father chose to end his life shortly after this confrontation, jumping from a window.
Five decades have passed since this unimaginable horror, yet the scars left by the brutalizaci are as vivid as ever.
“I’m proud to speak publicly about this on television. After 50 years, it’s time. I want to shed light on this act, and to men who are inflicting violence on their partners, to tell them it has to stop.”
How can communities and support organizations work together to break the silence surrounding domestic violence and provide more resources and advocacy for victims?
## A Mother Stolen: An Interview with Andrea Carnevale
**Interviewer:** Andrea, thank you for joining us today to talk about your incredibly brave decision to share your family’s tragedy.
**Andrea Carnevale:** Thank you for having me. It’s not easy to relive these memories, but it’s important for me to speak out.
**Interviewer:** Your mother’s murder at the hands of your father is a heartbreaking story. Can you tell us a little about what happened and the impact it had on your life at such a young age?
**Andrea Carnevale:** It was a brutal act fueled by jealousy. I was only 14. Seeing the person who was supposed to love and protect me, take the life of the woman who gave me life…it shattered everything. It’s a wound that never truly heals.
**Interviewer:** Your story highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence. What message do you hope to send by sharing your experience?
**Andrea Carnevale:** I want people to understand the real cost of domestic violence. It’s not just bruises or arguments; it can escalate to unimaginable tragedy. We need to break the silence, support victims, and hold abusers accountable.
**Interviewer:** According to resources like the National Institute of Justice, specialized interview techniques are crucial when dealing with cases of domestic violence, particularly when children are involved. [[1](https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/victim-interviewing-cases-domestic-violence-techniques-police)]. Looking back, do you think there was anything that could have been done differently to prevent this tragedy?
**Andrea Carnevale:** It’s hard to say. Domestic violence is a complex issue, often hidden behind closed doors. There were signs, of course, but I was young and didn’t fully grasp the danger. Perhaps if there was more awareness, more support for my mother…things could have been different.
**Interviewer:** What advice would you give to someone who is experiencing domestic violence, or knows someone who is?
**Andrea Carnevale:** Don’t stay silent. Reach out for help. There are resources available, people who care and want to help break the cycle. You are not alone.
**Interviewer:** Andrea, thank you for sharing your story. It’s a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in ending domestic violence.
**Andrea Carnevale:** Thank you.