truecrimecrystals: Katie Fusco (pictured on the left) was adopted as an infant and raised by her ado
truecrimecrystals: Katie Fusco (pictured on the left) was adopted as an infant and raised by her adoptive parents in Dutchess County, New York. By time she was 18 years old, she had established herself as a talented artist with a bright future ahead of her. She graduated from high school in June 2016 and had plans to enroll in the local community college, and then eventually transfer to SUNY Purchase to study digital advertising. However, a short time later, Katie’s plans changed. Like many adoptees, Katie had grown curious about her biological family. She had recently tracked down her birth parents, Alyssa Pladl (37), and Steven Pladl (42, pictured above on the right) through social media and began to correspond with them. In August 2016, Katie decided not to enroll in college. Instead, she opted to move to Henrico, Virginia to live with Steven, Alyssa, and their two other daughters.Some time after moving to Virginia, Steven and Katie began engaging in a sexual relationship–despite the fact that they were biologically father and daughter. About a month after their relationship began, Alyssa Pladl moved out of the home. Steven instructed his two younger daughters to stop calling Katie their sister, and to instead refer to her as their stepmom. In July 2017, the couple got married. Their marriage was official; they were able to “legally” wed because they did not disclose their father-daughter relationship. Their wedding ceremony was complete with guests, including Steven’s parents and Katie’s adoptive parents. In September 2017, Katie gave birth to her biological father’s baby. By that time, the couple had moved to North Carolina and Katie had taken Pladl as her surname. Four months later, in January 2018, both Steven and Katie were arrested and charged with incest and adultery. The two were released on bond, and Katie moved back to New York to live with her adoptive parents. Steven’s mother gained custody of their son. In early April 2018, while their charges were still pending, Katie decided to end her romantic relationship with her birth father. Despite being barred from contacting each other, Katie reportedly called Steven from New York to end their relationship. The events that followed brought this already disturbing tale to a heartbreaking end. Fuming from their breakup, Steven apparently traveled to his mother’s house and killed his and Katie’s infant son. Afterwards, he drove over 500 miles to Wingdale, New York where he waited outside of Katie’s adoptive parents home. He watched as Katie and her adoptive father left together in a vehicle. He followed the two as they drove from Wingdale to New Milford. While stopped at a stop sign between routes 7 and 55, Steven shot Katie and her adoptive father, killing them both, before turning the gun on himself. A chief police officer who was working their case described the overall grim incident, stating “We may never understand the mindset or motives of Steven Pladl, but we do know his actions have shattered the lives of countless people.” -- source link