Pennsylvania – In a harrowing incident in Pennsylvania, a 57‑year‑old mother, identified as Diane G. has been charged with the deadly stabbing of her 23‑year‑old daughter, Daniele G., and the wounding of the family’s dog. The attack took place in the early morning hours just days before Christmas inside the family’s home, and authorities say the scene that greeted them was horrific.
Diane now faces a string of serious criminal charges, including first‑degree murder, third‑degree murder, criminal homicide, possession of an instrument of crime, and aggravated cruelty to animals, law enforcement said. She is being held without bail at the correctional facility and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 6 as the case moves forward.
Police say the events came to light after a 911 call placed at 6:38 a.m. by Daniele’s father, identified as John G., who had just returned home from an overnight shift at the airport. John told dispatchers that he had stopped to pick up breakfast for his family and had no idea what awaited him inside his own house. When John entered the home, he was met first by the family dog, which ran to him and left a bloody trail. The dog had cuts on its abdomen and appeared injured, witnesses later told police. As he walked further inside, John saw his wife sitting on the living room couch holding what would soon be identified as the murder weapon. The first words out of her mouth made the moment chillingly clear about what had happened: “I stabbed our daughter.”
Diane also acknowledged injuring the dog, according to the criminal complaint. John immediately ran to his daughter’s bedroom, where he found Daniele lying on her back, unresponsive, with her eyes open. He called her name, but she did not respond. Frantic, he returned to the living room and dialed 911 to report the attack. During the call, John told the dispatcher that his wife had begun stabbing herself in the chest and had expressed a desire to die. The 911 operator instructed him to get out of the home for his safety. As he fled, he saw Diane throw the knife toward the television and heard her begin to strip off her clothes and break items in the kitchen.
When police arrived, they found Diane naked and covered in blood. She had suffered superficial stab wounds to her own body, which appeared to be self‑inflicted. Officers reported she resisted their commands before she was finally secured with restraints. While being taken into custody, Diane reportedly told officers she “should have stabbed herself first.” Emergency medical personnel turned their attention to Daniele, but despite efforts to save her life, she was pronounced dead at 7:07 a.m. The young woman had sustained multiple lacerations to her face, chest, legs, and back—injuries consistent with a violent attack. The family dog survived and was taken to a nearby veterinary clinic for treatment, police said.
During the search of the home, investigators found a large stainless steel kitchen knife with a black handle lodged in the living room wall. The knife was covered in what appeared to be blood. Authorities have not yet released a clear motive for the killing, and it remains unknown exactly how much time passed between John leaving for work and discovering the attack. Diane has not provided a definitive explanation for her actions, and there has been no public record of prior violence in the family.
Neighbors and community members expressed disbelief that such a violent act could take place in a quiet residential area, especially so close to the holiday season. Daniele, just 23 years old, lost her life in the place where she should have felt safest—her own home. Now, as the legal process progresses, Daniele’s father is left grappling with unimaginable loss. He must mourn his daughter and come to terms with the fact that the person charged with her death is his wife. Diane faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life behind bars if convicted of the severe charges brought against her, while the community watches closely as justice unfolds for a life taken far too soon.
