A set decorator whose credits included “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” was found fatally stabbed inside her Queens apartment last week. Mary Kate Golding‘s husband was discovered dead several hours later in what authorities reportedly suspect was a murder-suicide.
Reports now claim Joseph Azzaretto confessed to killing his wife in phone calls before a friend rushed to the home, found Golding’s body, and alerted police.
Mary Kate Golding, whose set decoration work helped bring “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and several other hit productions to life, was found dead at 34 last Tuesday. Police arrived shortly after midnight following a 911 call and discovered the artist with a stab wound to her back. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Roughly six hours later, her husband, Joseph Azzaretto, was found hanging in Astoria Park and was also pronounced dead. Multiple reports indicate that authorities are investigating the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide.
The couple’s infant son was found inside their home unharmed, per Variety.
How Police Say The Night Played Out
According to details that have emerged since the discovery, the grim sequence of events reportedly began with a series of phone calls allegedly made by Azzaretto after Golding was stabbed.
Law enforcement sources reportedly say he called one of Golding’s friends and a family member, claiming he had killed his wife. The friend immediately rushed to the couple’s Astoria apartment, where she allegedly discovered Golding’s body and carried the couple’s 11-month-old son to safety before calling 911.
Neighbors told the outlet they heard the woman screaming after making the horrific discovery. About half a day later, officers responding to a separate 911 call found Azzaretto hanging several blocks from the apartment.
Mary Kate Golding Was Preparing For Her Next Film
Before her death, Golding had been preparing to continue her work behind the scenes on Sean Durkin’s upcoming film, “Deep Cuts.”
The project would have added another major credit to a career that had steadily grown across film and television. After studying at NYU, Golding began as an assistant on “The Big Sick” before moving through productions such as “Gotham,” “The Flight Attendant,” “Lisey’s Story,” and “Hawkeye.”
She later established herself as a set decorator on projects including “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Goosebumps,” “Marry Me,” and “Extrapolations.” Her work placed her among the many behind-the-scenes creatives responsible for shaping the visual identity of some of Hollywood’s most recognizable productions. “Deep Cuts” was expected to mark the next chapter in that rise, making her death at 34 an especially devastating loss for the film and television community.
Mary Kate Golding’s Death Sparks Domestic Violence Awareness
Golding’s tragic demise has also prompted domestic violence organizations to speak out about the wider impact of cases like hers. The Urban Resource Institute (URI), a New York nonprofit, shared a statement on social media describing the tragedy as a stark reminder that domestic violence leaves lasting scars far beyond those directly involved.
“Domestic violence is never just between two people,” the organization wrote. “It leaves children without parents, families grieving unimaginable loss, and communities forever changed,” URI added that preventing domestic violence requires action before tragedy strikes, while extending its condolences to Golding’s loved ones.
The nonprofit also encouraged anyone experiencing abuse to seek help through available support services.
‘Mrs. Maisel’ Suffered Another Catastrophic Loss In 2025
Tragically, Golding’s death is not the first fatal calamity that has hit the “Mrs. Maisel” family in recent times.
On December 8, 2025, actress Wenne Alton Davis died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a Manhattan street, as The Blast reported. Police said the 60-year-old had the right of way when a Cadillac turning left hit her near Rockefeller Center.
Davis was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with severe head injuries but later died.
The North Carolina-born performer, who also appeared in “Blindspot” and “New Amsterdam,” was remembered by friends as a kind, vibrant, and compassionate person whose acting career had been gaining momentum. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes, while some members of the public also questioned why the driver, who remained at the scene, had not been charged.