PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Gladys Coriano was described by her sisters and four children Friday as a devoted, faithful mother who lived to serve others. She started her life in poverty but worked hard to get a college degree, build a career, buy a house and save for retirement. But all of that was ripped away three years ago by her ex-husband Adriano Coriano.
In January 2021, Gladys was coming home from church when Adriano came to her house and shot and killed her.
Gladys had filed a protection from abuse order a week prior, telling police she “[feared] for her life.” A warrant for Adriano’s arrest for stalking and harassment charges was in limbo. As her family puts it, he wasn’t arrested in time.
Adriano pleaded guilty in April to third-degree murder, stalking, and several other related charges.
He told the court he was good to Gladys and thinks of her every day. When given the chance for allocution, he said he should receive the death penalty, adding the family should forgive him, or else “their bitterness and resentment” will consume them.
His Attorney David Bahuriak Jr. said Adriano pleaded guilty against counsel’s advice. He argued Adriano suffered severe physical abuse as a kid and had a drug problem, along with multiple mental health illnesses, and that it seems all that could have contributed to what unfolded.
Judge Giovanni Campbell told Adriano that Gladys did everything she could to survive, calling him a “grave danger” to society, especially women.
She sentenced him to 50-100 years in jail. But because he’s 59 years old it’s unlikely he’ll walk the streets again.