In a chilling case that has left a family shattered, Navy veteran Anthony Dibella has been sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for the brutal murder of his sister, Wanda Paoli. The shocking incident occurred on April 28, 2022, in their home in the town of Lyme, New York.

Dibella, 53, claimed that his actions were driven by his belief that Paoli, 67, was planning to kill their elderly mother. According to court documents, Dibella reported the murder to 911 dispatchers, stating that Paoli was being killed with a bayonet blade and awl and that her lifeless body could be found on the porch.

When first responders arrived at the scene, they discovered Paoli's lifeless body with multiple stab wounds to her head, neck, and face. Dibella was found inside the house, and police located his 89-year-old mother unharmed. He was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder, assault with intent to cause serious injury, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

During his sentencing hearing in September, Dibella revealed that he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective and bipolar disorders back in 1994, after his service in operation Desert Storm. He expressed hope that he would receive treatment from a veterans' hospital instead of being sent to prison. However, his attempt to present his mental health as a mitigating factor did not sway the court.

In an impact statement read during the hearing, Paoli's sons, Shawn and Josh, expressed their anguish over the loss of their mother and their strong desire for justice. They stated that they hoped Dibella "rots in prison with no chance of ever getting out" and declared that he was "nothing to [them] now." The heartbreaking statement conveyed the devastating impact of their mother's absence on their entire family.

However, instead of expressing remorse during his sentencing, Dibella attempted to justify his actions. Court documents revealed that he pointed to Paoli's fascination with true-crime content and her recent purchase of a battery-powered chainsaw as evidence that she posed a threat to their mother's life. Dibella also claimed that a minor bruise on his mother's hand solidified his conviction that his sister intended to harm her.

Dibella further revealed that he had stopped taking his psychotropic medications after attending a healing church service in 2019. This decision heightened his paranoia and fueled his delusions, leading him to firmly believe that he had saved his mother's life by killing Paoli.

Prosecutors objected to Dibella's attempts to justify his actions, emphasizing that the sentencing was not the appropriate platform to disparage the victim. Judge David Renzi echoed this sentiment, admonishing Dibella and reminding him that he had intentionally caused Paoli's death.

As the courtroom drama unfolded, Wendy Paoli's sons watched, their pain and anger evident. They held firm in their belief that justice had been served with the sentencing of Dibella. Their plea for their beloved mother's memory to be honored was heard, and they expressed their hope that Dibella would remain behind bars, forever paying for the senseless tragedy he had inflicted upon their family.