My fiancé died on the day of our wedding – then I discovered his dark secret that left me feeling totally trapped
A WOMAN whose fiancé died on the morning of their wedding was shocked to find out he’d been dating someone else at the same time.
Kaitlin Palmieri, 38, was left distraught when her husband-to-be Eric suffered a heart attack on their wedding day.
The couple had been together for two years after meeting on a dating app.
But years after Eric’s death, on what would have been his 37th birthday, Kaitlin discovered that her partner had been cheating on her.
Speaking to the New York Post, she said: “It felt like I’d been emotionally trapped and I couldn’t run anywhere.
“I had so much frustration and nowhere to put it. He was gone.
“I was desperate for someone to tell me it wasn’t true but in my heart I knew that it was and I wanted to burst.”
Kaitlin uncovered the affair after coming across an Instagram tribute to someone who had the same name and birthday as her late partner.
She reached out to the woman who had made the post and discovered that they had both been dating Eric at the same time.
The unnamed woman had met Eric on a dating app in 2019 and shared screenshots of their flirty conversations with Kaitlin.
The messages dated back to seven months before Eric had proposed to Kaitlin.
Kaitlin said the messages were lewd and Eric had sent sexual messages to the other woman a week before their wedding day in August 2020.
It’s not the first time that Kaitlin has suffered the loss of a partner.
Back in 2015, her previous boyfriend Mike died in a freak accident.
He fell unconscious after slipping into water whilst they were celebrating her 30th birthday and died six days later.
Kaitlin said Eric was very supportive in helping her come to terms with Mike’s death.
However, after years of grieving the loss of Eric, her feelings towards him have now turned to anger.
Kaitlin now suffers with PTSD, anxiety and depression as a result of Eric’s infidelity.
Along with support from her parents, she is seeking therapy to help her cope.
By opening up, Kaitlin hopes to help other women facing similar difficult situations.
She said: “Sadly, a lot of people go through this.
“You’re allowed to be angry and hurt.
“Don’t feel like you have to automatically forgive someone because they died.”
Where to seek grief support
Need professional help with grief?
- Child Bereavement UK Childbereavementuk.org
- Cruse Bereavement Cruse.org.uk
- Relate Relate.org.uk
- The Good Grief Trust Thegoodgrieftrust.org
- You can also always speak to your GP if you’re struggling.
You’re Not Alone
Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief…
- Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast.
- The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism.
- Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they’re really feeling.
- Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who’ve suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums.
- Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips.
- How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death.
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