Gayle Botelho 1988 Solved 2015
On October 27, 1988 Gayle Botelho (32) disappeared from her home in Fall River.
In 2000 Daniel Tavares Jr, while serving a prison sentence for killing his mother in 1991, told investigators where to find the body of Gayle Botelho, but denied killing her. Botelho's remains were unearthed from a shallow grave in the yard of 314 June Street where Daniel lived before moving to Somerset where he ultimately killed his mother.
Daniel told investigators that two acquaintances killed her after a night of "wild partying." Many were questioned, but authorities didn't have enough evidence to charge anyone at that time. Gayle resided across the street from 314 June Street.
In 2012 Daniel claimed Gayle was killed over a cocaine debt, and later confessed to killing Gayle to investigators. Daniel told investigators he laid out a line of cocaine in the bedroom of his home for Botelho, as she bent to inhale it, he pulled a gun that he tried, unsuccessfully, to fire. Gayle was grabbed by the hair, and stabbed repeatedly. Daniel even went as far to describe the thickness of the blood, the smell of the blood and the noises she made as she tried to breathe. Daniel dropped Gayle's body off a second-floor porch and buried her under a tree in his backyard. Daniel admitted to acting alone.
In April 2013 Daniel was charged with killing Gayle Botelho when he was indicted by a Bristol County Grand Jury. In September 2013 Daniel was returned to Massachusetts to face charges in connection to the case. On December 2, 2015, Daniel was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Tavares passed a Massachusetts State Police polygraph in relation to this case.
Daniel Tavares Jr.
Daniel is not a stranger to law enforcement. On July 10, 1991, Daniel stabbed his mother, Ann Marie Tavares inside the home she shared with her fiancé Norman Sirois and friend Richard Pires on Wilson Avenue in Somerset Mass. Ann Marie was stabbed at least fifteen (15) times and didn't survive. Pires was also stabbed but survived.
Daniel admitted to police he stabbed his mother. He relates a lot of reasons as to why it took place, and that some of the reasons show mental instability and the use of drugs. On June 19, 1992, at age 26, Daniel pled guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 to 20 years in state prison.
In June 2007, after serving sixteen (16) years, Daniel was released on personal recognizance by Judge Kathe Tuttman. Daniel agreed to to get a job, live with his sister and check in with his probation officer three times a week. Tavares checked in twice and then fled to Washington to marry a woman, Jennifer Freitas, who he met on an internet pen pal site for inmates. They were married July 30, 2007, they have since divorced.
Washington State Murders 2007
On November 17, 2007, Daniel went to the of Brian (30) and Beverly (28) Mauck to collect $50 he believed was owed him for a tattoo he was inking onto Brian Mauck’s back. According to Daniel, Brian called him a name. Daniel then pulled out a .22-caliber handgun, covered the muzzle with a towel and shot him in the face. Beverly Mauck tried to flee, but he caught her by the hair and shot her in the head. Each was shot three times. Daniel dragged her body to where her husband was lying, placed her body over his and covered them both with a blanket.
Daniel was arrested shortly afterward. Daniel at first denied any involvement, but when police confronted him with evidence of a bloody palm print and shoe markings that matched his, Tavares confessed. Daniel's wife, Jennifer Tavares, (37), was charged with one misdemeanor count of rendering criminal assistance for lying to authorities to protect her husband and was freed on bail. In March 2008 Jennifer was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty.
In February 2010 Daniel pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to two counts of aggravated first-degree murder for killing the Mauks. Daniel was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Daniel agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him in exchange for the Pierce County prosecutor’s agreement to take the death penalty off the table as a punishment for the slayings. As part of the plea agreement Tavares agreed to waive all of his rights to appeal. Daniel is serving all three (3) life sentences consecutively in a Washington prison.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Appeal Jan 2020
Daniel Tavares Jr. has gone before the state’s highest court to try to get his conviction in Gayle Bothelo's murder reduced to manslaughter.
His lawyer, again, claims that his confession was a lie and that he confessed because his life was at risk. In 2012 "Mortal Danger and Other True Crimes", by Anne Rule was published. The author outed the deal that Tavares received for his "secret" information, thus portraying him as a "rat". Tavares’ lawyer claims that Tavares had no choice but to confess to the murder himself, even though he says he didn’t do it. In order for him to deflect from being an informant, he admitted to the crime himself. Tavares’ lawyer told the SJC that the jury should have been given more information about the nature of the confession and that it could have raised reasonable doubt. He is asking the court to throw out the murder conviction and order a new trial.
Connection to Dorothy Danielson Unsolved Homicide 1986
Gayle Botelho at one point was roommates with Dorothy "Darcy" Danielson in Fall River. Dorothy had a history of drugs and prostitution.
On July 16, 1986, the body of Dorothy Danielson (20) was discovered along the railroad tracks on Herman Melville Blvd in New Bedford. She was sexually assaulted with a foreign object, beaten, and strangled. Her body was discovered 600 feet from the site where Shirley Partin's body was discovered in 1985. She was last seen at Alfie's Place on Ashley Blvd in New Bedford.
On October 27, 1988 Gayle Botelho (32) disappeared from her home in Fall River.
In 2000 Daniel Tavares Jr, while serving a prison sentence for killing his mother in 1991, told investigators where to find the body of Gayle Botelho, but denied killing her. Botelho's remains were unearthed from a shallow grave in the yard of 314 June Street where Daniel lived before moving to Somerset where he ultimately killed his mother.
Daniel told investigators that two acquaintances killed her after a night of "wild partying." Many were questioned, but authorities didn't have enough evidence to charge anyone at that time. Gayle resided across the street from 314 June Street.
In 2012 Daniel claimed Gayle was killed over a cocaine debt, and later confessed to killing Gayle to investigators. Daniel told investigators he laid out a line of cocaine in the bedroom of his home for Botelho, as she bent to inhale it, he pulled a gun that he tried, unsuccessfully, to fire. Gayle was grabbed by the hair, and stabbed repeatedly. Daniel even went as far to describe the thickness of the blood, the smell of the blood and the noises she made as she tried to breathe. Daniel dropped Gayle's body off a second-floor porch and buried her under a tree in his backyard. Daniel admitted to acting alone.
In April 2013 Daniel was charged with killing Gayle Botelho when he was indicted by a Bristol County Grand Jury. In September 2013 Daniel was returned to Massachusetts to face charges in connection to the case. On December 2, 2015, Daniel was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Tavares passed a Massachusetts State Police polygraph in relation to this case.
Daniel Tavares Jr.
Daniel is not a stranger to law enforcement. On July 10, 1991, Daniel stabbed his mother, Ann Marie Tavares inside the home she shared with her fiancé Norman Sirois and friend Richard Pires on Wilson Avenue in Somerset Mass. Ann Marie was stabbed at least fifteen (15) times and didn't survive. Pires was also stabbed but survived.
Daniel admitted to police he stabbed his mother. He relates a lot of reasons as to why it took place, and that some of the reasons show mental instability and the use of drugs. On June 19, 1992, at age 26, Daniel pled guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 to 20 years in state prison.
In June 2007, after serving sixteen (16) years, Daniel was released on personal recognizance by Judge Kathe Tuttman. Daniel agreed to to get a job, live with his sister and check in with his probation officer three times a week. Tavares checked in twice and then fled to Washington to marry a woman, Jennifer Freitas, who he met on an internet pen pal site for inmates. They were married July 30, 2007, they have since divorced.
Washington State Murders 2007
On November 17, 2007, Daniel went to the of Brian (30) and Beverly (28) Mauck to collect $50 he believed was owed him for a tattoo he was inking onto Brian Mauck’s back. According to Daniel, Brian called him a name. Daniel then pulled out a .22-caliber handgun, covered the muzzle with a towel and shot him in the face. Beverly Mauck tried to flee, but he caught her by the hair and shot her in the head. Each was shot three times. Daniel dragged her body to where her husband was lying, placed her body over his and covered them both with a blanket.
Daniel was arrested shortly afterward. Daniel at first denied any involvement, but when police confronted him with evidence of a bloody palm print and shoe markings that matched his, Tavares confessed. Daniel's wife, Jennifer Tavares, (37), was charged with one misdemeanor count of rendering criminal assistance for lying to authorities to protect her husband and was freed on bail. In March 2008 Jennifer was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty.
In February 2010 Daniel pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to two counts of aggravated first-degree murder for killing the Mauks. Daniel was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Daniel agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him in exchange for the Pierce County prosecutor’s agreement to take the death penalty off the table as a punishment for the slayings. As part of the plea agreement Tavares agreed to waive all of his rights to appeal. Daniel is serving all three (3) life sentences consecutively in a Washington prison.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Appeal Jan 2020
Daniel Tavares Jr. has gone before the state’s highest court to try to get his conviction in Gayle Bothelo's murder reduced to manslaughter.
His lawyer, again, claims that his confession was a lie and that he confessed because his life was at risk. In 2012 "Mortal Danger and Other True Crimes", by Anne Rule was published. The author outed the deal that Tavares received for his "secret" information, thus portraying him as a "rat". Tavares’ lawyer claims that Tavares had no choice but to confess to the murder himself, even though he says he didn’t do it. In order for him to deflect from being an informant, he admitted to the crime himself. Tavares’ lawyer told the SJC that the jury should have been given more information about the nature of the confession and that it could have raised reasonable doubt. He is asking the court to throw out the murder conviction and order a new trial.
Connection to Dorothy Danielson Unsolved Homicide 1986
Gayle Botelho at one point was roommates with Dorothy "Darcy" Danielson in Fall River. Dorothy had a history of drugs and prostitution.
On July 16, 1986, the body of Dorothy Danielson (20) was discovered along the railroad tracks on Herman Melville Blvd in New Bedford. She was sexually assaulted with a foreign object, beaten, and strangled. Her body was discovered 600 feet from the site where Shirley Partin's body was discovered in 1985. She was last seen at Alfie's Place on Ashley Blvd in New Bedford.
Bertha A. Manchester 1893 Solved
On May 31 1893 Bertha Manchester (22) was hacked to death in the afternoon at her family's farm on Meridan Street. Bertha was seen alive by her father, Stephen Manchester (1831-1897) as he was leaving with his son Frederick (1811-1953), and a local hired farm hand, to go into the city to sell milk
At 2 P.M. Fredrick arrived back at the farm and entered the home and discovered Bertha laying on the kitchen floor. Frederick ran back to the barn to get his father, who then called the police. The Fall River Police arrived on scene an during the investigation recovered a bloody axe in the wood pile behind the house.
Bertha had significant injuries, several cuts to her face and four (4) long cuts on the back of her head. In addition her skull was crushed. Autopsy report determines time of death around 9:30 A.M.
A search was the house was conducted and discovered Bertha's room had been ransacked, this lead investigators to believe robbery was the motive.
On June 4 1893 Jose Correa deMello (18), a Portuguese immigrant was arrested for Bertha's murder. deMello was had entered a shoe store in the southern end of the city to purchase shoes. From his pocket he pulled out a silver trade dollar coin, which appeared to be new. He also pulled out a shiny silver dollar coin which has a small hole drilled through it. Investigators were able to determine that Berta's father had given Bertha trade coins and silver dollar coins which was kept in her bedroom bureau drawer. deMello denied he offered the silver dollars to the shoe salesman or that he had any conversation about the coins with the hole though them. A witness in the shoe store however confirmed he heard the conversation. deMello also had in his possession a lady's pocketbook with a clasp, the item was later identified as belonging to Bertha, and was taken from her bedroom.
On June 6 1893 deMello lead investigators to a field on Highland Avenue, less than a mile from the Manchester Farm, where he turned over a watch that belonged to Bertha. deMello later admitted he went to the farm to commit robbery. He explained he entered the home and gathered items, the watch, and money then come downstairs where Bertha confronted him with an axe. A struggle began, deMello gaining control of the axe and kills her with it, then escapes.
Outcome
On January 8 1894 Jose Correa deMello was convicted of 2nd degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On December 31 1913, 20 years later, deMello was pardoned from any further imprisonment under the condition that he not commit any further crimes, or he would return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. Upon release deMello was deported back to the Azores and never returned.
On May 31 1893 Bertha Manchester (22) was hacked to death in the afternoon at her family's farm on Meridan Street. Bertha was seen alive by her father, Stephen Manchester (1831-1897) as he was leaving with his son Frederick (1811-1953), and a local hired farm hand, to go into the city to sell milk
At 2 P.M. Fredrick arrived back at the farm and entered the home and discovered Bertha laying on the kitchen floor. Frederick ran back to the barn to get his father, who then called the police. The Fall River Police arrived on scene an during the investigation recovered a bloody axe in the wood pile behind the house.
Bertha had significant injuries, several cuts to her face and four (4) long cuts on the back of her head. In addition her skull was crushed. Autopsy report determines time of death around 9:30 A.M.
A search was the house was conducted and discovered Bertha's room had been ransacked, this lead investigators to believe robbery was the motive.
On June 4 1893 Jose Correa deMello (18), a Portuguese immigrant was arrested for Bertha's murder. deMello was had entered a shoe store in the southern end of the city to purchase shoes. From his pocket he pulled out a silver trade dollar coin, which appeared to be new. He also pulled out a shiny silver dollar coin which has a small hole drilled through it. Investigators were able to determine that Berta's father had given Bertha trade coins and silver dollar coins which was kept in her bedroom bureau drawer. deMello denied he offered the silver dollars to the shoe salesman or that he had any conversation about the coins with the hole though them. A witness in the shoe store however confirmed he heard the conversation. deMello also had in his possession a lady's pocketbook with a clasp, the item was later identified as belonging to Bertha, and was taken from her bedroom.
On June 6 1893 deMello lead investigators to a field on Highland Avenue, less than a mile from the Manchester Farm, where he turned over a watch that belonged to Bertha. deMello later admitted he went to the farm to commit robbery. He explained he entered the home and gathered items, the watch, and money then come downstairs where Bertha confronted him with an axe. A struggle began, deMello gaining control of the axe and kills her with it, then escapes.
Outcome
On January 8 1894 Jose Correa deMello was convicted of 2nd degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On December 31 1913, 20 years later, deMello was pardoned from any further imprisonment under the condition that he not commit any further crimes, or he would return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. Upon release deMello was deported back to the Azores and never returned.
Holder & Eliza Borden 1848 Solved
On May 4 1848 Eliza Borden, the second wife of Lodowick Borden (uncle to Andrew J. Borden) took her two (2) youngest children to the cellar and drowned them in the cistern at 68 Second St., then she walked behind the chimney and sliced her own throat, and died instantly. One one child was spared, Maria Borden (Hinckley) who lived till 1909. Days prior to the incident Mrs Borden had shown mental instability. Using today's medical assessment, she would be suffering from postpartum depression.
These murders occurred in the house next to 92 Second St, where in 1892 Andrew and Abby Borden were hacked to death. The Borden's lived in a small cape-cod style home next door to the Charles Trafton House in 1848. The Charles Tafton House would later be purchased by Andrew Borden in 1872.
On May 4 1848 Eliza Borden, the second wife of Lodowick Borden (uncle to Andrew J. Borden) took her two (2) youngest children to the cellar and drowned them in the cistern at 68 Second St., then she walked behind the chimney and sliced her own throat, and died instantly. One one child was spared, Maria Borden (Hinckley) who lived till 1909. Days prior to the incident Mrs Borden had shown mental instability. Using today's medical assessment, she would be suffering from postpartum depression.
These murders occurred in the house next to 92 Second St, where in 1892 Andrew and Abby Borden were hacked to death. The Borden's lived in a small cape-cod style home next door to the Charles Trafton House in 1848. The Charles Tafton House would later be purchased by Andrew Borden in 1872.