Lake Superior Judge Natalie Bokota set a June 13 trial date for a Merrillville woman accused of claiming her boyfriend’s 2017 death was a suicide.
Alycia Caparelli, 37, was charged in the Dec. 1, 2017, murder of Timothy Riley, 35.
She was released on a $5,000 bond in December 2018.
Her defense attorney, J. Michael Woods, and prosecutors are still in the process of negotiating a potential plea agreement.
Police responded Dec. 1, 2017, to Caparelli’s family’s home in the 700 block of West 73rd Avenue where Caparelli was “adamant” that Riley had shot himself in the head, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Riley’s family questioned his death to police, the affidavit states. While Riley “had a history of making calls for help with past nonviolent threats of suicide,” his family didn’t believe he would have shot himself, according to the affidavit.
Caparelli’s mother and stepfather told police they were in the Merrillville home the evening of Dec. 1 when they “suddenly heard a scream” and “ran to see what happened,” the affidavit states. Riley was on the ground and Caparelli was on her knees crying, according to the affidavit.
Caparelli told investigators “that it all started” Nov. 30, the affidavit states, when Riley was having “issues” about family and credit cards.
Caparelli claimed Riley came home Dec. 1 and “immediately began accusing her of cheating,” according to the affidavit. The two began arguing, and Riley “kept asking her if she wanted him to leave and she finally told him yes,” the affidavit states.
Caparelli said she thought Riley “was grabbing his keys to leave but grabbed the loaded handgun that was left on the dresser,” according to the affidavit. Riley “did not say anything” as he “tried to rack a round into the chamber,” and Caparelli said she told Riley to put the gun down, the affidavit states.
Caparelli said Riley then shot himself in the head and Riley fell with the gun in his hand, according to the affidavit. Caparelli said “she heard a soft pop from the gun” and “screamed for help,” the affidavit states.
When police arrived, an officer found the gun on a couch, which Caparelli said she had grabbed and thrown there, according to the affidavit.
An autopsy determined that there were “no obvious signs” of stippling or gunpowder residue on Riley and that the shot “would have come from further than two feet away,” the affidavit states. Riley also had “fresh bruises” to his side and thigh, according to the affidavit.
The doctor performing the autopsy said “he would not rule the death a suicide,” and Riley’s manner of death was listed a homicide, the affidavit states.
Family and close friends of Riley described his relationship with Caparelli as “volatile” and “tumultuous,” the affidavit states. Riley had made comments that if he ever left Caparelli “she would kill him,” according to the affidavit.
Riley’s friend, who was with Riley before his death, said Riley talked about leaving Caparelli “because they were having so many problems,” the affidavit states. Riley “was not depressed or upset” and was making plans to move out of Caparelli’s parents’ house, according to the affidavit.
Michelle L. Quinn and Rob Earnshaw contributed.
