For the past few years, Maryalice Cash has been dealing with loss and grief while caring for her ailing mother, Cynthia Domini.
After a Christmas Eve filled with excessive drinking at their north Phoenix home, Cash's boyfriend David Dennitt fired an AR-15-style semi-automatic gun at two women, widow of former Maricopa County Attorney Alistair Adell. killed himself with the same gun. rifle.
“I never imagined something like this would happen,” Keith Domini, Cynthia Domini's son and Cash's brother, told The Arizona Republic about the murder-suicide.
Cash, a 47-year-old Phoenix real estate agent and mother, saw her mother, Cynthia Domini, 83, diagnosed with dementia in 2021, the same year her father, 82, was diagnosed with dementia. died in A few years later, her eldest son, Lisa Domini, did the same. One of five children in the Domini family, he died of cancer at the age of 55.
Maria Alice, known as Molly, accepted the role of her mother's caregiver, known as Cindy. Without hesitation, she moved into her mother's townhouse in the mountains of Phoenix.
Keith, 54, said his sister “made a huge sacrifice” in rebuilding her life for their mother.
Phoenix Police:County Attorney's Widow Drinks Heavy Before Christmas Eve Shooting
family growth
Cindy Smith moved from St. Louis to attend Arizona State University.She planned to become a teacher at a Maricopa County residential school..
Lenny Domini, the son of Italian immigrants and a former U.S. Army officer, came to the Valley from Pennsylvania to work as an engineer at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Cindy and Renee he married in 1967 and started a family. She took a leave of absence as a teacher, returned to her profession a few years later, and retired. Eventually, her parents moved to Arizona.
Domini's children would give their parents eight grandchildren, the oldest of whom was Cash's 26-year-old son Winfield. This young man grew up spending a lot of time with his maternal grandmother, who doted on him.
Cindy and Renee divorced in the early 1990s, but remained close for the sake of their children and even spent Christmas together. Cindy was an Arizona Diamondbacks fan and rediscovered his passion for baseball in the Valley in his later years. That passion of hers was something she developed as a St. Louis Cardinals fan in her youth. However, her mobility issues ultimately made it difficult for her to cheer on her team from the stands at Chase Field.
Meanwhile, Ms. Cash was filled with love for her son, parents, siblings and state.
“Arizona never had a greater cheerleader than Molly,” Keith said.
In between Winfield, a large family, and an active social life, Cash stayed busy as a real estate agent with KB Group. Then came the losses. In the short time that her father and her sister died, Cash's best friend also died, her boss Phil Tibi told The Republic.
“Family meant everything to her.”Mother and daughter murdered in Phoenix on Christmas Eve remembered as family
serious relationship
The three Domini brothers believed that their sister would do her best for their mother. While Keith took in an elderly Papillon and rat terrier who could no longer care for their mother, Cash volunteered to take care of their daily chores.
Domini gave up many of the activities she loved, including walking her two dogs around the neighborhood and attending weekly Catholic Mass. Still, Ms. Cash took her mother to Mackenzie's Midtown Tavern near Seventh Avenue and the Grand Canal Channel so she could enjoy watching sports among her fellow fans.
Even though he was focused on taking care of his mother's needs, such as taking her to doctor's appointments, the responsibility was heavy.
Keith Domini said Cash's decision to care for his mother “makes your whole life like that.” “It certainly changed her.”
Cash began spending less time with friends. But then a person whom she had known since her youth took root in her life.
Cash and Dennit met in high school, where she attended Xavier College Prep and he attended Brophy College Prep.
Cash had been divorced several years earlier. Mr Dennit, a financial advisor, lost his wife due to “health complications”. Alistair Adel, 45, died shortly after resigning as county attorney over concerns about her drinking.
Cash and Dennitt, once close-minded college friends who are now divorced and widowed, were in a serious relationship, Keith said. And she spent a lot of time at his house with his two sons.
drunken anger
A police report obtained by The Republic details the moments leading up to the Dec. 24 shooting. Among those who gathered at DeNittore's home near Bethany Home Road and Seventh Avenue were his two young sons. Cash; Cindy Domini. ; and Winfield and his girlfriend. Domini's other son left before the massacre occurred. Denit became hostile and began shaking the chair Domini was sitting on.
Keith said Domini's caregiver, Cash, bore the brunt of her mother's dementia. Keith points out that dementia has made him childish in his thinking and temperament. Keith explained that although Cash would try to manage Domini's outburst, it would be perceived as a regular altercation between the two.
According to the police report, witnesses and relatives said Domini and Denit had a troubled relationship after drinking late that night.
After ordering everyone to leave the house, Dennit attacked Cash. Winfield fired back at him before driving away with his girlfriend. Winfield drove back to pick up Dennitt's sons when his father opened fire on his semi-automatic vehicle. Dennit fired a total of 25 shots.
Winfield and his girlfriend called 911 and returned to retrieve his mother and grandmother, but the couple found Dennitt dead and two women injured.
Cash and Domini died in hospital early on Christmas morning.
“It's really senseless,” Keith said of their deaths.
A joint funeral service for mother and daughter will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 27 at St. Patrick Catholic Community, 10815 N. 84th St., Scottsdale..
Contact breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez. jose.gonzalez@gannett.com Or on X (formerly Twitter): @jrgzztx.
