Husband Charged with Murder 7 Years After Wife's Death on Amtrak Train
Nov 06, 2023, 11:00 AM
Angelo Mantych, aged 41, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, 28-year-old Marina Placensia, who passed away on an Amtrak train journey from Milwaukee to Denver in 2016. The Denver District Attorney’s office announced this following Mantych's arrest on Monday.
On August 30, 2016, the family was traveling to their new home in Denver when the tragedy unfolded. Marina Placensia was found "unresponsive" on the train on September 1, just before it arrived in Denver. A doctor on board declared her dead after her husband, Angelo Mantych, notified authorities. An arrest affidavit, reviewed by PEOPLE, stated that Mantych was visibly distressed, vomiting, and crying when officers arrived.
The arrest affidavit revealed a disturbing discovery: a "large number" of injuries and bruises on Marina Placensia's body, including her face, mouth, abdomen, and legs. An autopsy report eventually documented 35 injuries, indicating signs of assault or struggle, though her cause of death was not immediately obvious.
Angelo Mantych initially claimed that the injuries occurred during their move from Racine, Wisconsin, to Denver. However, suspicions had been raised by friends and family members, who alleged that Mantych had a history of abusing Placensia. They maintained that he should be considered a suspect.
Further investigation uncovered allegations of repeated abuse. People familiar with the couple, including friends and neighbors, reported instances of name-calling, punching, and Mantych forcing Placensia to move furniture alone while he watched during their relocation. In September 2023, Dr. Bill Smock, an expert in strangulation and suffocation, issued a report suggesting that suffocation may have been the cause of Placensia's death.
The arrest affidavit also detailed Mantych's efforts to hinder Placensia from leaving the allegedly abusive relationship. One neighbor, who claimed to have seen Placensia with bruises, reported that Mantych threatened her after finding text messages advising Placensia to leave. Despite the threats, a judge denied the neighbor's request for a protective order against Mantych.
Additionally, it was revealed that Mantych had allegedly forced Placensia to put her phone on speaker during discussions with her family members about leaving the relationship, effectively eavesdropping on their conversations.
Angelo Mantych is currently in custody at the Downtown Detention Center without bond, according to jail records. His plea status and legal representation remain unclear at this time. A court appearance for Mantych has been scheduled for November 16, where further developments in this long-awaited case may unfold.
This arrest and the troubling details surrounding Marina Placensia's death serve as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing domestic violence and protecting those who may be at risk in abusive relationships.
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On August 30, 2016, the family was traveling to their new home in Denver when the tragedy unfolded. Marina Placensia was found "unresponsive" on the train on September 1, just before it arrived in Denver. A doctor on board declared her dead after her husband, Angelo Mantych, notified authorities. An arrest affidavit, reviewed by PEOPLE, stated that Mantych was visibly distressed, vomiting, and crying when officers arrived.
The arrest affidavit revealed a disturbing discovery: a "large number" of injuries and bruises on Marina Placensia's body, including her face, mouth, abdomen, and legs. An autopsy report eventually documented 35 injuries, indicating signs of assault or struggle, though her cause of death was not immediately obvious.
Angelo Mantych initially claimed that the injuries occurred during their move from Racine, Wisconsin, to Denver. However, suspicions had been raised by friends and family members, who alleged that Mantych had a history of abusing Placensia. They maintained that he should be considered a suspect.
Further investigation uncovered allegations of repeated abuse. People familiar with the couple, including friends and neighbors, reported instances of name-calling, punching, and Mantych forcing Placensia to move furniture alone while he watched during their relocation. In September 2023, Dr. Bill Smock, an expert in strangulation and suffocation, issued a report suggesting that suffocation may have been the cause of Placensia's death.
The arrest affidavit also detailed Mantych's efforts to hinder Placensia from leaving the allegedly abusive relationship. One neighbor, who claimed to have seen Placensia with bruises, reported that Mantych threatened her after finding text messages advising Placensia to leave. Despite the threats, a judge denied the neighbor's request for a protective order against Mantych.
Additionally, it was revealed that Mantych had allegedly forced Placensia to put her phone on speaker during discussions with her family members about leaving the relationship, effectively eavesdropping on their conversations.
Angelo Mantych is currently in custody at the Downtown Detention Center without bond, according to jail records. His plea status and legal representation remain unclear at this time. A court appearance for Mantych has been scheduled for November 16, where further developments in this long-awaited case may unfold.
This arrest and the troubling details surrounding Marina Placensia's death serve as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing domestic violence and protecting those who may be at risk in abusive relationships.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com