“Alessia Mesquita: Tragic Victim of Domestic Violence | American Monster: Angels and Demons”

In 2021, Alessia Mesquita was tragically shot in the morning while walking on the street. Despite being a beloved member of her community and surrounded by the love and support of her family, including her two children, it was soon revealed by the police that she had been the victim of domestic violence. The person responsible for this heinous act was identified as her boyfriend, Rashod Newton, who took her life and fled from the scene. The harrowing details of Alessia’s story and the subsequent apprehension of Newton are explored in the gripping documentary ‘American Monster: Angels and Demons’.

How Did Alessia Mesquita Die?

Alessia Maria Mesquita, born on the 20th of June, 1992, in New Haven, was the second oldest among her eight siblings. A lifelong resident of New Haven, she completed her education at East Haven Adult Education. Alessia worked at Home Depot for several years before deciding to pursue a career in the medical field. She graduated as a Medical Assistant from Branford Hall and, by 2022, was employed at Endocrine Associates in Branford. Alessia had previously been married to Joseph Martinez, Jr., with whom she had a son named Joseph Rey Martinez. However, the couple had separated, and divorce proceedings were underway.

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Alessia Mesquita was involved in a relationship with a man named Rashod Newton, and they had a daughter named Alaia Grace Newton together. On the morning of the 22nd of March, 2021, Alessia was shot four times outside, near a parked car on Clifton St. in New Haven. The perpetrator fled the scene, and upon the police’s arrival, Alessia was pronounced dead, having succumbed to her gunshot wounds.

Who Killed Alessia Mesquita?

After speaking with neighbors and gathering evidence, the police determined that Alessia Mesquita’s boyfriend, Rashod Newton, was responsible for shooting her. Surveillance footage revealed that Alessia had exited the car, and Newton, with their 1-year-old daughter Alaia Grace Newton still in the vehicle, began to drive away. Alessia chased after the car, prompting Newton to stop and shoot her four times before fleeing the scene with their daughter.

The police swiftly located Rashod Newton in the same car just a few hours later on Eastern Street, and thankfully, the child was found unharmed. However, as a precautionary measure, the police took the child to the hospital for a thorough examination. Subsequently, Alessia’s mother, Sandy Mesquita, assumed care of Alaia Grace Newton. Newton was promptly arrested on a first-degree assault charge, which had been filed against him on the 23rd of January, 2020. This charge stemmed from an incident in which Newton shot and injured a housemate who had tried to intervene and stop a fight between Newton and Alessia. An arrest warrant had been issued against Newton at that time but had not been executed until now.

Shortly after the incident, Alessia’s mother, Sandy, informed the police that Newton had been abusive towards her daughter, subjecting her to emotional, physical, and financial abuse throughout their relationship. Despite facing such abuse, Alessia, like many other victims of domestic violence, found it difficult to break free from the cycle. It is alleged that Newton struggled with drug addiction, and Alessia believed that she could help him overcome his issues, hoping that he would change and become the partner she desired.

A few days before the incident, Alessia had visited her mother’s house with her daughter, taking a stand and expressing her intention to leave Newton. However, on the day before the incident, when Sandy returned home from work, she discovered that Alessia had packed her bags along with her daughter’s belongings and mentioned that she was going to meet Newton at Target. Alessia assured her mother that she would return soon, but unfortunately, she never did. Instead, she went with Newton to his house and was shot the following morning.

Newton, on the other hand, had a criminal background even before meeting Alessia. In 2012, he faced narcotics charges and received a 5-year sentence. In the same year, he was given an additional 22-month sentence after pleading guilty to a felony charge of carrying a pistol without a permit. In 2016, he was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to a third-degree assault charge. Additionally, in that year, he received a six-year sentence on narcotics charges, which was later suspended after 15 months.

Where is Rashod Newton Now?