Authorities: Peabody man arraigned for allegedly killing his wife

A 46-year-old Peabody man was arraigned Monday on charges he bludgeoned his estranged wife to death.

Essex County prosecutors allege Joseph Buonanduci killed Donna Buonanduci, 45, of Marblehead when she came to his home Friday to retrieve personal items. The couple’s son, after not hearing from his mother for a while, went to his father’s Putnam Street home with his grandfather. When the two noticed signs of a violent struggle in the home, they left and called police.

Police found Donna Buonanduci’s body in an upstairs room around 9 p.m. Friday.

Joseph Buonanduci was arrested following a high speed chase Saturday morning that ended with him crashing his car on Rte. 495 in Amesbury just before 10 a.m. Buonanduci suffered minor injuries from the crash. He was arraigned for murder Monday at Anna Jacques Hospital and held without bail.

He is due in Peabody District Court on April 28 for a probable cause hearing.