John Battaglia (1955-2018)

Convicted murderer who was executed by the state of Texas for killing his two daughters in 2001 in an act of revenge against his estranged wife.[34]

What is John Battaglia (1955-2018) known for?

John David Battaglia Jr. was a notable alumnus of Dumont High School in Dumont, New Jersey. He was born on a military base in Enterprise, Alabama, on August 2, 1955, before moving across the country and abroad. Battaglia ended up graduating from Dumont High School, making a significant mark on the school's history.

Battaglia was an individual of Italian descent, and led an interesting life, characterized by both notable achievements and grave misdeeds. After high school, he attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and intended to major in pre-med, before switching to accounting. Due to legal troubles related to drug use, he joined the Marines and later became a sergeant. Upon leaving the Marines, he resided in Dallas, Texas, and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA); he also did some modeling during this time.

Battaglia was married twice and had three children. His first marriage to Michelle Ghetti resulted in a daughter named Christie. His second marriage to Mary Jean Pearle yielded two daughters, Mary Faith and Liberty Mae Battaglia.

Unfortunately, John Battaglia is most infamously known for his heinous act of filicide. On May 2, 2001, in a tragic act of revenge against his estranged wife, he murdered their two young daughters, Mary Faith and Liberty Mae. This act resulted in his conviction for capital murder, a sentence of death in Texas, and his subsequent execution by lethal injection on February 1, 2018.

John Battaglia lived a life that was characterized by a drastic escalation of violence, garnering national attention. His actions are a reminder of the destructive potential of domestic violence and the ultimate toll it can take on innocent lives. While it is important to remember the contributions of Dumont High School's alumni, Battaglia's legacy serves as a tragic example of a path gone horribly wrong.