‘I have to fight for her’: Mom of Saugus native who died during first date with AZ cop speaks out

SAUGUS, Mass. — The mother of a Saugus native who died one month ago during a first date with an off-duty Phoenix Police officer is speaking out for the first time.

Angela Tramonte’s body was found near a home off a trail on Camelback Mountain on a 104-degree sweltering day. Nancy Tramonte told Boston 25 News she still has many suspicions about what happened despite a preliminary autopsy report that was released over the weekend.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s has ruled Angela Tramonte’s death to be accidental. The primary cause of death is listed as environmental heat exposure.

Angela’s mother doesn’t believe that reveals anything and is vowing to continue fighting for more answers.

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“This should have not happened to her, so I have to fight for her,” said Nancy Tramonte in her first sit down interview since her daughter’s death. “I’m empty…I’m missing my child.”

She wishes she could’ve stopped her daughter from flying to Arizona to connect with a man she’d met on Instagram. Less than 24 hours after touching down in Phoenix, Angela and the off-duty Phoenix cop went hiking on the Echo Canyon Trail.

That officer, an experienced desert hiker, reportedly told investigators that Angela got overheated halfway up the trail and turned around.

According to authorities, the officer said he continued hiking up the mountain to take a picture for Tramonte. A police report states that he could not find her when he returned to the bottom, so he called 911.

Police said neither the pfficer nor Tramonte had water with them during the hike.

“If anybody knows my Angela, she carried a gallon of water with her 24/7,” said Angela’s mother. “It’s not the first trip my daughter has taken, and I felt safe with her, but she got fooled by one person who wears a uniform and a badge.”

Other relatives and Angela’s friends from high school told Boston 25 News they do not trust the officer’s account of what happened.

They said one of the reasons is that he was among a group of more than 100 Phoenix officers who were included in the Maricopa County Attorney Office’s “Brady List” last year. The list tracks law enforcement officials with alleged integrity concerns.

According to an internal affairs document, the officer was disciplined for lying in September of 2009. The document states that he was being questioned at a lounge by a Glendale Police officer about a friend who had allegedly been assaulted. Dizdar reportedly gave the officer a false name and date of birth. He also allegedly gave the officer the wrong number for the alleged victim.

“We’re not going to stop until this story makes sense. Until we get the answers, we’re not going to stop,” said cousin Gabriella Mattuchio.

Family members told Boston 25 News they have access to Angela’s Instagram account and have read her exchanges with the officer prior to the Arizona trip. They said the direct messages between the two have given them chills.

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“He said, not only is he a police officer and he’s absolutely handsome, he can get away with anything,” Nancy Tramonte said. “When she met this person online, she felt safe with him because he was a police officer.”

That officer, a 14-year veteran of the department, is still employed with the Phoenix Police Department. Boston 25 News’ attempts to reach him for comment have been unsuccessful.

The Phoenix Police Department said it has no plans of treating the investigation as a criminal one and is treating the officer as a witness in Tramonte’s death.

Phoenix Police Sergeant Ann Justus released the following statement to Boston 25 News on Monday night:

“The Phoenix Police Department is saddened by the death of Angela Tramonte. The investigation into this case has been extensive, consisting of, but not limited to, interviews, reviews of physical evidence, and an examination into cellular phone-related data. No criminal activity has been discovered, and all evidence points to this being a tragic accident. In addition to the investigation done by the Phoenix Police Department, the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner has ruled this death as accidental as a result of environmental heat exposure. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Angela Tramonte during this difficult time.

“The investigation is in the final stages and I expect it to be finalized next week. Until an investigation has been completed, evidence is not typically available for release.”

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