Jeannette native killed in Phoenix; police charge husband with homicide

Police in Arizona arrested the husband of a Westmoreland County native, accusing him of fatally shooting her at their Phoenix home last month, according to police and news accounts.

Investigators said family members of Amy Jo Jacobelli Malobicky, 54, reported she and Paul A. Fratella, 43, had been involved in unreported incidents of domestic violence and that she grew fearful of him before the March 24 shooting, according to a report from KPNX, a Phoenix-based television station.

Police arrested Fratella and charged him with homicide. The station reported that the pair were married.

Malobicky was born in Jeannette, grew up in the Harrison Park area and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked as a pharmacist, according to her obituary. She was the daughter of Arlene Jacobelli and the late James Jacobelli, who died two weeks before his daughter. His obituary listed her as Amy Fratella.

Police reported being called to a Phoenix home for a report of gunshots. Witnesses told investigators they saw a man standing over a woman outside the house, according to Phoenix-based KTVK/KPHO news. Police said they found Malobicky outside dead and spent three hours trying to communicate with Fratella, who had barricaded himself inside.

He eventually came out and was injured by a police dog, according to a report from Fox10, based in Phoenix.

Fratella’s criminal history revealed he was arrested in 2018 in California in connection with a violation of a protection order Malobicky had filed, investigators said. Neighbors told reporters the pair had moved into the Phoenix home a few months earlier.

Malobicky had three children, according to her obituary. A celebration of life service is planned from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Friday at Bella Terra Vineyards, near Hunker. Her family suggested donations be made in Malobicky’s honor to the Blackburn Center, a Greensburg-based anti-violence organization. Family members could not be reached.