Family of woman murdered in Jackson Township remembers her as happy, bubbly
Tina Torquato said she was on a business trip in San Francisco when she received the call her older sister had been murdered in Jackson Township.
Torquato didn’t believe her younger sister when she said their oldest sister, Gina DePietro, was murdered in her Creekside Manor apartment, but a call from her mother confirmed the worst.
Her personality would enter a room before her, Torquato said about her sister, who was three years older than her. Torquato said some days are better than others, and she’s holding up as well as she can.
“Everybody says time heals, and that’s what I’m hoping for,” she said.
DePietro, 47, was found around 1 p.m. Wednesday in her Creekside Manor apartment with three gunshot wounds, following a welfare check that was requested when she didn’t show up for work, according to chief deputy coroner John C. Hanovick.
She was shot by Daniel Platt, 31, of Zelienople, before he drove to Beaver County and died by suicide, police said.
Torquato said she and her sister were very close growing up, and she was always happy, bubbly and ready for a conversation with anyone. She said DePietro’s childhood friends didn’t always want her younger sister around, but their bond was strong enough to keep Torquato around anyway.
“Gina always wanted me around,” Torquato said.
Torquato said DePietro was asleep when Platt entered her apartment and shot her once in the temple and twice in the back of her head. Torquato said the coroner told her DePietro showed no signs of exhibiting self-defense and was likely unaware Platt was in her home.
She said DePietro and Platt had been in a relationship on and off since 2019, which started as a lighthearted friendship before growing into more. Torquato said Platt was 16 years younger than DePietro, but it never bothered her sister.
She said Platt struggled at times with his mental health, but she didn’t recall any history of Platt hurting DePietro.
Platt was spending most of his time at DePietro’s apartment after he bought a “fixer-upper,” Torquato said. He planned to stay with DePietro during the cold months while contributing to bills until it was warm enough to return to his home, then he would only come to use the shower.
Torquato said their relationship began deteriorating when Platt stopped helping with bills and started demanding more regarding his space in the apartment. Only DePietro’s name was on the lease, Torquato said.
At the time, things were looking up for DePietro. Torquato said she had recently left a message for their younger sister about her excitement regarding a successful interview. Torquato said DePietro already had two jobs as an administrative assistant and a night custodian cleaning schools, so she didn’t think her sister would keep all three.
Torquato said DePietro also had a new relationship and was preparing to move to another apartment. She said her sister had always taken Platt back, but this time was different.
“I think it set (Platt) off in a tailspin,” Torquato speculated about her sister’s new relationship.
She said there was a lot of speculation surrounding the circumstances of her death. She said she was told DePietro hadn’t changed her apartment’s locks since the relationship with Platt ended, which led police to believe he entered the home while DePietro was sleeping.
“Anything I can do to make Gina peaceful and happy is what I want to do,” Torquato said.
