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Guilty Plea Ends Victim's Wait

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By TODD LESKANIC

tleskanic@tampatrib.com

Published: October 23, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The people who answer the phone at Land O' Lakes Jail know Donnalee Johnston's voice.

Every few days, Johnston calls to make sure her former boyfriend, Nicholas Altamuro Jr., remains locked away. The calls often come early in the morning, after Johnston wakes from nightmares replaying the events of Aug. 24, 2005.

That's the day Altamuro showed up at her home and stabbed her 51 times in a fit of rage. Johnston has been waiting since then for Altamuro's comeuppance.

That came Wednesday.

Johnston was in court as Altamuro, 49, pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and armed burglary. It means her waiting - as Altamuro switched attorneys numerous times to delay the case - is almost over.

"The arrogance of him to make me wait this long," Johnston said outside the courtroom. "And all along knowing this was what he was going to do anyway."

Johnston has one more step to go. She'll appear at Altamuro's sentencing Nov. 26 and plans to make a statement before Judge Thane Covert. Altamuro faces between seven and 30 years in prison. His appointed attorney, Dennis Watson, plans to present evidence of Altamuro's long history of mental illness in hopes of getting a sentence on the lower end of the range.

Johnston, 52, just wants him locked up, so he can't hurt her or anyone else.

Shortly before the attack, she secretly left New Jersey to get away from Altamuro and his abusive ways. Johnston drove until she reached New Port Richey and decided to make her new home there.

Altamuro tracked her down by calling the moving company. The day he attacked her, Altamuro called and threatened her repeatedly. Johnston kept looking outside her mobile home, fearing he would show up. When he did, she dialed 911.

He barged into the house with a large knife, knocked her to the floor and began stabbing her. After the knife broke, he punched her in the face. Then he went into the kitchen, found another knife and returned to continue the attack. That's when sheriff's deputies banged on the door. Altamuro answered, with his clothes covered in blood.

The entire attack was captured on a 911 tape. Altamuro can be heard telling Johnston, "I'm gonna kill you."

"I'm dying," she cries. "Help me. Help me."

"Die. Die. Die," Altamuro says.

In court Wednesday, Assistant State Attorney Mary Handsel said Johnston likely would have died had she not called authorities the second she saw Altamuro outside her home. It took 75 stitches to repair the wounds Altamuro inflicted.

The stabbing wasn't the first time Johnston had been assaulted. When she was 38, her husband of 10 years doused her with citronella and lit her on fire. Johnston was burned over half of her body. Doctors performed more than 150 surgeries to restore her face.

Her husband was later acquitted of attempted murder and aggravated assault. He died in 2003.

During her recovery, Johnston became addicted to pain killers. Her daughter checked her into a rehabilitation center. That's where she met Altamuro, who was there dealing with mental illness and substance abuse. He gained Johnston's trust and promised to protect her.

"I was the perfect victim," she said Wednesday.

Reporter Todd Leskanic can be reached at (727) 815-1084.

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