PHOENIX — A tragic incident unfolded on Christmas Eve in 2023, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including the shooter, during what was supposed to be a festive gathering. David De Nitto, the widower of former Maricopa County attorney Allister Adel, shot his girlfriend, Maryalice “Molly” Cash, and her mother, Cynthia Domini, before taking his own life.
The shooting took place at De Nitto’s residence near Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Newly released 911 calls have provided a harrowing glimpse into the chaotic moments that led up to the violence. In one call, a frantic family member reported that De Nitto had brandished a firearm after allegedly consuming a significant amount of alcohol. She expressed urgency, urging dispatchers for immediate assistance.
During the nearly five-minute call, the caller described a terrifying scene, revealing that family members had fled the area to escape the escalating situation. In her plea to dispatchers, she indicated that her mother was being held at gunpoint inside the home, stating, “Please hurry!” When asked for more details, she disclosed that her grandmother was lying face down in the garage, pleading for help.
According to neighbors, the sound of gunfire prompted several calls to 911, with witnesses expressing fears for their own safety. Bystanders informed family members waiting outside that they had heard shots fired and that someone had been injured inside. The urgency of the situation escalated when a caller identifying himself as the boys’ grandfather sought information on his grandchildren’s safety, anxiously noting his concerns about De Nitto’s volatile behavior.
Sources close to the family indicated that the Christmas gathering had been marked by excessive drinking, with guests reportedly consuming shots of peanut butter whiskey. Witness accounts suggest that tensions escalated into a physical confrontation when an argument erupted between Cash and Domini, leading to De Nitto allegedly slamming Cash’s head against a wall. During the chaotic exchange, Cash’s son intervened, which incited further aggression from De Nitto.
As members of the family attempted to leave, Cash’s son and his girlfriend encountered De Nitto, who allegedly aimed an AR-15 rifle at them, forcing them to flee. In a dire situation marked by violence and chaos, police ultimately found Cash and Domini dead inside the garage, with De Nitto also having taken his own life nearby.
The community mourns the loss of these individuals, reflecting on how a holiday meant for celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy stemming from moments of unchecked anger and intoxication. The investigation continues as authorities seek to piece together the events surrounding that fateful evening and the circumstances that led to such devastating outcomes.