Where Is Alyssa Pladl Now? Life After the Incest, Pregnancy and Tragic Murders

Alyssa Pladl’s life was thrust into the spotlight after a decades-long relationship that began online culminated in a series of shocking and tragic events. The story involves allegations of abuse, an illegal incestuous relationship between a father and his biological daughter, the birth of a child, criminal charges and a deadly shooting spree that left three people dead in April 2018. This article summarizes the case, the timeline of events and what is publicly known about Alyssa today.

How It Began

Alyssa and Steven Pladl first connected online in 1995 when Alyssa was 15 and Steven was 20. A few years later the couple had a daughter they named Denise. Alyssa has said she was groomed by Steven and that the family experienced financial strain and domestic violence. She has alleged that Steven physically abused the infant Denise; distressed, Alyssa gave Denise up for adoption when the baby was about eight months old.

Reunion and Escalation

Denise was adopted by Kelly and Tony Fusco in Dover, New York, and renamed Katie. When Katie turned 18 in January 2016 she contacted her birth parents and moved into Alyssa and Steven’s home later that year. By then Alyssa and Steven were separated.

In May 2017, Alyssa discovered through a child's journal that Steven and Katie were sexually involved and that Katie was pregnant. Alyssa reported the relationship to police. Despite the investigation, Steven and Katie were married in Maryland on July 20, 2017 — a marriage many outlets described as illegal — and their son, Bennett Kieron Pladl, was born on September 1, 2017.

Charges and the April 2018 Murders

Authorities charged Steven and Katie with incest with an adult, adultery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor on January 27, 2018. They were released on bail with court orders barring contact; custody of Bennett was placed with Steven’s mother. Katie moved back in with her adoptive parents and told Steven the relationship was over.

On April 11, 2018, Steven allegedly killed seven-month-old Bennett, then drove to the Fusco home in New Milford, Connecticut, and fatally shot Katie and her adoptive father, Tony Fusco. Hours later he was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reports include a 911-recorded interaction in which Steven allegedly confessed to the killings.

Alyssa’s Response and Aftermath

Alyssa did not attend the April 21, 2018 funerals, instead sending flowers to limit media attention. In interviews afterward she expressed grief and said she wanted to use her platform to warn about the dangers of incest and the impact of grooming and abuse. She urged authorities to be especially cautious when a child’s welfare is at stake.

“I’m grieving. I’m sad. I’m upset. But I also want to have something good come out of this. If it’s to get truth out there, to open people’s eyes to incest,” Alyssa told the Associated Press.

Media, Drama and Current Life

The case has been the subject of extensive news coverage and dramatizations. A Lifetime film, Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story (2024), portrayed the events for television audiences. Media reports also noted the film reached broader viewers via streaming in later windows.

Public records and reputable reporting indicate that after the murders Alyssa withdrew from public life. She and her two remaining daughters have kept a low profile and live privately. Alyssa has continued speaking in interviews about abuse, grooming and the need for vigilance where children’s safety is concerned.

Key Takeaway

This is a tragic, complex story involving alleged long-term grooming and abuse, a subsequent incestuous relationship that produced a child, criminal charges and a violent ending that claimed three lives. Alyssa Pladl has sought to raise awareness in the wake of the tragedy and currently leads a private life.