Rintala case is the first of its kind

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The murder case is the first of its kind in the state, one involving a married same-sex couple.

On Thursday, 47 year old Cara Rintala entered a not guilty plea in the death of her wife, 37 year old Annamarie Rintala.

Police say it was an incidence of domestic violence that turned to murder, with Rintala allegedly beating and strangling Annamarie in the basement of their Granby home at 18 Barton Street in March of last year.

A week later, Rintala moved to Rhode Island, where she's been living since she was arrested this week.

This was a long investigation by the Northwestern District Attorney's Office; one that Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan said left no stone unturned. “Without a doubt, there was only one course that our office would take: that Cara Rintala is reponsible for the death of her partner, Annamarie,” Sullivan said.

It is interesting to note that both of these women worked in the field of public safety; Cara was a firefighter for the Ludlow Fire Department, while Annamarie was a paramedic.

Cara Rintala will be back in court on Monday for a bail hearing.