Nicole Addimando
Nicole "Nikki" Addimando is an American woman who shot and killed her domestic partner in Poughkeepsie, New York, in September 2017. Originally sentenced to 19 years to life, Addimando's term of imprisonment was reduced on appeal to 7.5 years. Released in January 2024. She was incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women.
Addimando said that her partner, Christopher Grover, had beat and raped her for years, and she provided photographs and other materials she said documented this abuse. She further claimed that she shot Grover while he sat on their couch after he had threatened her with the gun. Grover's family disputed Addimando's abuse claims, and prosecutors argued that Grover had been shot while he was asleep. A medical examiner found no proof that Grover had been asleep when he was shot.
Addimando was ultimately convicted of second degree murder and second degree criminal possession of a handgun.
Background
The couple met in 2008, when Nicole was 19 and Christopher 21, at a gym where they were both employed as gymnastics teachers. In 2012, after Nicole became pregnant, they moved in together in Salt Point, New York. In 2013, Nicole alleges, Christopher began to force Nicole to have sex with him, and if she refused, he would attack her violently. A second child was born in February 2015, and according to Nicole, Christopher continued to violently abuse her. He also filmed the abuse and uploaded the videos to PornHub without her consent. In November 2015, Family Services contacted Jason Ruscillo, a detective from Hyde Park. In preparation for the meeting, Sarah Caprioli of Family Services prepared an affidavit describing the abuse Addimando had told Caprioli about, but Addimando was too afraid of retaliation to sign it.In September 2017, Addimando told a police officer that she tried to run away from Grover, but he threatened to kill her. There had been a fight, and Addimando shot and killed Grover.