Adilson Neves 2021 Solved
On June 2, 2021, New Bedford Police responded to area of 67 David Street for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Adilson Neves (36) laying in road suffering from a gunshot wound to his back. He was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Neves was laying in the roadway next to a Toyota Camry that had a shattered front driver's side window. The passenger door opened, and a gold iPhone was found a few feet away. According to police, Neves had $820 in his pocket at the time of his death.
Investigation Summary
Investigators obtained surveillance video showing that the Toyota Camry followed a silver SUV to the area of the shooting. After the shooting, a witness took a cell phone video of the silver SUV leaving David Street and Neves laying in the roadway. At the intersection of Coggeshall Street and Acushnet Avenue, a surveillance camera captured the license plate of the silver SUV, which was registered to Cheyanne Miranda (31) of Fall River.
Miranda's Fall River apartment was placed under police surveillance. Miranda was seen operating the silver SUV and was stopped by police. An empty handgun holster was recovered in the center console. Her vehicle and cellphone were then seized until search warrants were approved by the court. Miranda was interviewed regarding her movements on June 2. She confirmed she was operating her vehicle all day, however was never on David Street.
Miranda also admitted to knowing Neves and that he contacted her for Percocet pills but denied seeing him that day or having any knowledge of the shooting. Miranda told the police that she was only with her friend all day and 4:00 P.M. they picked up Miranda’s children from two different day care centers in New Bedford and then return to her apartment.
Miranda lived in an apartment with her three (3) children and her boyfriend, Daquan Blanchard (26).
A forensic analysis of the the gold Iphone found near Neves and confirmed that he was the owner. Investigators located data that indicated that earlier in the day on June 2, 2021, Miranda’s phone contacted Neves’s phone. The subject of the communications showed that Miranda was attempting to sell Neves prescription drugs.
Investigators also interviewed the friend was Amanda stated was with her all day on June 2. The friend stated to police that she was riding with Miranda when they picked up Blanchard. The friend reported that the SUV stopped on David Street, and Blanchard got out of the vehicle. She saw and heard Blanchard arguing with another man (identified as Adilson Neves) and then heard gunshots. Blanchard got back into the vehicle and they drove the the day care centers to pickup the children. After retrieving the children, Miranda dropped off Blanchard somewhere in New Bedford.
Suspects Arrested & Conviction
On June 4, 2021 Cheyanne Miranda, was arrested and charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact. After her arrest, another witness reported to police that the day after the shooting, Miranda confessed about the shooting,
An arrest warrant was issued for Daquan Blanchard of for murder, and carrying an illegal firearm.
On June 15 2021 Daquan Blanchard was arrested by U.S. Marshals on the outstanding warrant. Blanchard was located hiding inside a closet of a house in Greenville, North Carolina. The investigation revealed that Blanchard’s fingerprints were on the Toyota Camry driven by Neves. Blanchard’s fingerprints could only have been put on the Camry during the shooting and robbery.
On November 10, 2023 Daquan Blanchard pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court to second degree murder and armed assault with intent to rob. He was sentenced to life in prison, with possibility of parole in 20 years.
Cheyenne Miranda also pled guilty to manslaughter and armed assault with intent to rob. She was sentence to 5-10 years in prison.
On June 2, 2021, New Bedford Police responded to area of 67 David Street for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Adilson Neves (36) laying in road suffering from a gunshot wound to his back. He was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Neves was laying in the roadway next to a Toyota Camry that had a shattered front driver's side window. The passenger door opened, and a gold iPhone was found a few feet away. According to police, Neves had $820 in his pocket at the time of his death.
Investigation Summary
Investigators obtained surveillance video showing that the Toyota Camry followed a silver SUV to the area of the shooting. After the shooting, a witness took a cell phone video of the silver SUV leaving David Street and Neves laying in the roadway. At the intersection of Coggeshall Street and Acushnet Avenue, a surveillance camera captured the license plate of the silver SUV, which was registered to Cheyanne Miranda (31) of Fall River.
Miranda's Fall River apartment was placed under police surveillance. Miranda was seen operating the silver SUV and was stopped by police. An empty handgun holster was recovered in the center console. Her vehicle and cellphone were then seized until search warrants were approved by the court. Miranda was interviewed regarding her movements on June 2. She confirmed she was operating her vehicle all day, however was never on David Street.
Miranda also admitted to knowing Neves and that he contacted her for Percocet pills but denied seeing him that day or having any knowledge of the shooting. Miranda told the police that she was only with her friend all day and 4:00 P.M. they picked up Miranda’s children from two different day care centers in New Bedford and then return to her apartment.
Miranda lived in an apartment with her three (3) children and her boyfriend, Daquan Blanchard (26).
A forensic analysis of the the gold Iphone found near Neves and confirmed that he was the owner. Investigators located data that indicated that earlier in the day on June 2, 2021, Miranda’s phone contacted Neves’s phone. The subject of the communications showed that Miranda was attempting to sell Neves prescription drugs.
Investigators also interviewed the friend was Amanda stated was with her all day on June 2. The friend stated to police that she was riding with Miranda when they picked up Blanchard. The friend reported that the SUV stopped on David Street, and Blanchard got out of the vehicle. She saw and heard Blanchard arguing with another man (identified as Adilson Neves) and then heard gunshots. Blanchard got back into the vehicle and they drove the the day care centers to pickup the children. After retrieving the children, Miranda dropped off Blanchard somewhere in New Bedford.
Suspects Arrested & Conviction
On June 4, 2021 Cheyanne Miranda, was arrested and charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact. After her arrest, another witness reported to police that the day after the shooting, Miranda confessed about the shooting,
An arrest warrant was issued for Daquan Blanchard of for murder, and carrying an illegal firearm.
On June 15 2021 Daquan Blanchard was arrested by U.S. Marshals on the outstanding warrant. Blanchard was located hiding inside a closet of a house in Greenville, North Carolina. The investigation revealed that Blanchard’s fingerprints were on the Toyota Camry driven by Neves. Blanchard’s fingerprints could only have been put on the Camry during the shooting and robbery.
On November 10, 2023 Daquan Blanchard pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court to second degree murder and armed assault with intent to rob. He was sentenced to life in prison, with possibility of parole in 20 years.
Cheyenne Miranda also pled guilty to manslaughter and armed assault with intent to rob. She was sentence to 5-10 years in prison.
Justin Downey 2014 Solved 2022 On April 15 2014 New Bedford Fire Department responded to 55 Rounds Street for a fire inside the residence. When the fire was extinguished the body of Justin Downey (29) was discovered. Downey's body was discovered bound with duct tape, gagged and severely beaten.
Downey had inherited more than $100,000 after the deaths of his grandparents and used some of this money to establish a marijuana growing operation. The marijuana operation wasn't producing the wanted results. Longtime friend, Sayyid Coggins (44) of Pawtucket R.I. and Downey came up with a new concept. Using Downey's money, Coggins would purchase $15,000 worth of drugs then resell the drugs for a higher profit. Instead, Coggins spent most of the money at Twin Rivers Casino.
Downey wanted the $15,000 to be paid back since Coggins didn't follow-thru on the plan. Coggins entered Downey's residence, killed him and stole the remaining marijuana plants, a watch, and a lockbox containing a significant amount of cash. After killing Downey, Coggins lit the bedroom on fire and fled to Georgia. Coggins was taken into custody on April 24 2014 in Stone Mountain Georgia.
Trials
Sayyid Coggins was initially charged with first degree murder and arson, but a hung jury resulted in a mistrial in 2016. On March 28 2022, after a second trial, Coggins was found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Downey had inherited more than $100,000 after the deaths of his grandparents and used some of this money to establish a marijuana growing operation. The marijuana operation wasn't producing the wanted results. Longtime friend, Sayyid Coggins (44) of Pawtucket R.I. and Downey came up with a new concept. Using Downey's money, Coggins would purchase $15,000 worth of drugs then resell the drugs for a higher profit. Instead, Coggins spent most of the money at Twin Rivers Casino.
Downey wanted the $15,000 to be paid back since Coggins didn't follow-thru on the plan. Coggins entered Downey's residence, killed him and stole the remaining marijuana plants, a watch, and a lockbox containing a significant amount of cash. After killing Downey, Coggins lit the bedroom on fire and fled to Georgia. Coggins was taken into custody on April 24 2014 in Stone Mountain Georgia.
Trials
Sayyid Coggins was initially charged with first degree murder and arson, but a hung jury resulted in a mistrial in 2016. On March 28 2022, after a second trial, Coggins was found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Malcolm Gracia 2012 Solved Malcolm Gracia (15) was the son of Joseph Ramos who was shot and killed by Dartmouth Police on August 11, 2009, on Milton Street. Malcolm had been living on his own since his father's death. His mother and father both have documented struggles with mental illness. Malcolm had an appointed guardian, who refused to participate in the investigation and had run away from the guardians' home on May 7, 2012. No police report was ever filed.
In February 2011 Malcolm had threatened to kill a police officer while at school after an argument.
"Meet and Greet" Goes Wrong
On May 17, 2012, around 8:30 pm Malcolm and a companion were walking north on Cedar Street on their way to a store. They were approached by four (4) New Bedford Police Gang Unit detectives after been viewed on surveillance camera at police headquarters giving an alleged gang handshake to another individual at the basketball court at Lewis Temple Landing (formerly United Front). This area has a history of violence and gang activity.
The "meet and greet" program was created to get police officers into the neighborhoods to meet with people and learn who they are and the affiliations to people in the neighborhood. Malcolm was already known by three (3) of the four (4) detectives due to his involvement as a witness in another case five (5) months prior.
The youths were walking on Cedar Street when an altercation with police occurred, resulting in the stabbing of Detective Barnes and Malcolm being shot four (4) (or possibly six (6) times resulting in his death. After being stabbed, Detective Barnes was transported by New Bedford EMS to Rhode Island Hospital. He was treated for stab wounds to his chest, abdomen and arm and released the same night. Malcolm was transported to St Lukes Hospital and pronounced dead at 9:21 PM
Autopsy Report
The autopsy on Malcolm was performed on May 18 2012. The final report produced by Medical Examiner Dr. Peter Cummings determined that Malcolm was shot four (4) times. All of the wounds were from a distance and not close contact. Toxicology report also indicated the presence of Marijuana.
New Bedford Police & Massachusetts State Police Investigations
The New Bedford Police along with the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office immediately commenced separate investigations of the incident. Two civilian witnesses were identified, one being the companion of Malcolm and the other was an individual standing outside his residence on Cedar Street. Evidence from the scene was taken, including two (2) knives. Surveillance video of Temple Landing was also preserved. This surveillance video includes the video of the basketball court that was being viewed earlier in the evening by detectives as well as video from the sixteen (16) other cameras in Temple Landing. None of the recorded video includes the area of the incident on Cedar Street because that area was not covered by video surveillance.
The Bristol County District Attorney released a detailed report of their investigation, and determined the officers use of force was justified and no criminal charges against the officers would be filed.
The New Bedford Police never released the report of their internal investigation to the public, but cleared the detectives from any wrong-doing.
Discrepancies in District Attorney's Final Report
While the youths were walking on Cedar Street, Detective Barnes called out "Hey guy's, what's going on tonight. I just want to talk". The Cedar Street witness claimed he didn't hear the officers attempt to engage the two (2) youths pleasantly, but heard the detective instruct the them to "Stop and put their hands up". Malcolm's companion told investigators the detective who approached them didn't engage them in conversation, but instructed them to put their "hands behind their back". The DA's report indicates only three (3) shell casings were recovered from the scene; it was not possible to determine which bullets were fired by which detective. The Medical Examiners report indicated four (4) shots struck Malcolm, there are two (2) bullets unaccounted for.
"Illegal Stop" Judge's Ruling 2019
In May 2019 Superior Court Judge Thomas F. McGuire Jr. ruled the initial stop of Malcolm and his companion by police was illegal. The ruling was based upon the police reports filed by the detectives which had failed to provide reasonable suspicion (probable cause) that Malcolm and the teen companion were armed and dangerous since they were simply walking away. The police report also indicated neither youth were suspects of a crime.
City of New Bedford Settles Case 2020
On Feb 25, 2020, After nearly eight (8) years after the death of Malcolm Garcia, The City of New Bedford settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Malcolm's sister one day before the trial was to begin. Under the terms of the settlement, the city agreed to make a one-time payment of $500,000 in cash to Christina Gracia. The city nor its police officers admitted to any wrongdoing.
The settlement was by approved Judge Thomas F. McGuire Jr.
In February 2011 Malcolm had threatened to kill a police officer while at school after an argument.
"Meet and Greet" Goes Wrong
On May 17, 2012, around 8:30 pm Malcolm and a companion were walking north on Cedar Street on their way to a store. They were approached by four (4) New Bedford Police Gang Unit detectives after been viewed on surveillance camera at police headquarters giving an alleged gang handshake to another individual at the basketball court at Lewis Temple Landing (formerly United Front). This area has a history of violence and gang activity.
The "meet and greet" program was created to get police officers into the neighborhoods to meet with people and learn who they are and the affiliations to people in the neighborhood. Malcolm was already known by three (3) of the four (4) detectives due to his involvement as a witness in another case five (5) months prior.
The youths were walking on Cedar Street when an altercation with police occurred, resulting in the stabbing of Detective Barnes and Malcolm being shot four (4) (or possibly six (6) times resulting in his death. After being stabbed, Detective Barnes was transported by New Bedford EMS to Rhode Island Hospital. He was treated for stab wounds to his chest, abdomen and arm and released the same night. Malcolm was transported to St Lukes Hospital and pronounced dead at 9:21 PM
Autopsy Report
The autopsy on Malcolm was performed on May 18 2012. The final report produced by Medical Examiner Dr. Peter Cummings determined that Malcolm was shot four (4) times. All of the wounds were from a distance and not close contact. Toxicology report also indicated the presence of Marijuana.
New Bedford Police & Massachusetts State Police Investigations
The New Bedford Police along with the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office immediately commenced separate investigations of the incident. Two civilian witnesses were identified, one being the companion of Malcolm and the other was an individual standing outside his residence on Cedar Street. Evidence from the scene was taken, including two (2) knives. Surveillance video of Temple Landing was also preserved. This surveillance video includes the video of the basketball court that was being viewed earlier in the evening by detectives as well as video from the sixteen (16) other cameras in Temple Landing. None of the recorded video includes the area of the incident on Cedar Street because that area was not covered by video surveillance.
The Bristol County District Attorney released a detailed report of their investigation, and determined the officers use of force was justified and no criminal charges against the officers would be filed.
The New Bedford Police never released the report of their internal investigation to the public, but cleared the detectives from any wrong-doing.
Discrepancies in District Attorney's Final Report
While the youths were walking on Cedar Street, Detective Barnes called out "Hey guy's, what's going on tonight. I just want to talk". The Cedar Street witness claimed he didn't hear the officers attempt to engage the two (2) youths pleasantly, but heard the detective instruct the them to "Stop and put their hands up". Malcolm's companion told investigators the detective who approached them didn't engage them in conversation, but instructed them to put their "hands behind their back". The DA's report indicates only three (3) shell casings were recovered from the scene; it was not possible to determine which bullets were fired by which detective. The Medical Examiners report indicated four (4) shots struck Malcolm, there are two (2) bullets unaccounted for.
"Illegal Stop" Judge's Ruling 2019
In May 2019 Superior Court Judge Thomas F. McGuire Jr. ruled the initial stop of Malcolm and his companion by police was illegal. The ruling was based upon the police reports filed by the detectives which had failed to provide reasonable suspicion (probable cause) that Malcolm and the teen companion were armed and dangerous since they were simply walking away. The police report also indicated neither youth were suspects of a crime.
City of New Bedford Settles Case 2020
On Feb 25, 2020, After nearly eight (8) years after the death of Malcolm Garcia, The City of New Bedford settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Malcolm's sister one day before the trial was to begin. Under the terms of the settlement, the city agreed to make a one-time payment of $500,000 in cash to Christina Gracia. The city nor its police officers admitted to any wrongdoing.
The settlement was by approved Judge Thomas F. McGuire Jr.
Puzzles Lounge Attack 2006 Solved On February 1, 2006, at 11:40 PM a stranger walked into the Puzzles Lounge at 426 North Front Street. The stranger presents a fake ID, although later identified as Jason Robida (18) and orders a Captain Morgan. According to the bar tender, Phillip Daggett, Robida guzzled down the first drink and began a conversation about whether the bar is a gay bar.
At 11:52 PM Robida orders a second drink and walks over to the pool table where he suddenly, pushes one of the pool players, Alex Taylor, to the ground, pulls a hatchet out of his sweatshirt and struck Taylor repeatedly in the face and head. At the same time, another patron Adam Marczak, strikes Robida with a pool cue. Robert Perry, another patron, tried to tackle Robida, he was struck in the face, then the back with the hatchet.
Eventually, the group managed to knock the suspect off his feet. He then drew a gun, firing once into the air and once at the floor. He then shot Taylor in the face and Perry in the head. Robida then shot Luis Rosado in the chest as he was exiting the restroom.
At 11:55 PM New Bedford Police receive the first of five (5) 911 calls from inside the bar.
At 11:58 PM Robida flees the bar. At 11:59 PM New Bedford Police arrive and begin to render aid to the three (3) victims, all three (3) were transported to a Boston Hospital for wounds.
Robida Flees New Bedford to West Virginia
At 1:00 AM Robida returns home, bleeding from a head wound and quickly leaves the home. New Bedford Police issues an alert for Robida and his 1999 Green Pontiac Grand AM with Massachusetts Plate 85E-C58.
Robida left a note behind addressed to his mother "I love you. Sorry for whatever I caused you. If I had to go out, I had to do it by my own means." Then headed to Charleston, West Virginia.
Robida Picks Up Jennifer Bailey
While in Charleston, West Virginia, Robida contacts an ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Bailey (33) the mother of three (3) children. Robida and Bailey had lived together from February 2004 to February 2005, before moving back to Massachusetts. She was a lifelong resident of West Virginia a divorced homemaker and devoted mother. On February 4, 2006, Jennifer withdrew $500 from a bank account and dropped her children off with her mother and left with Robida. It remains unclear if Bailey went willingly with Robida, or if she had knowledge of what had occurred in Massachusetts.
Robida Stopped, Kills Arkansas Police Officer James Sell
On February 4, 2006, at 2:33 PM Gassville Arkansas Police Officer James Sell (63) conducts a motor vehicle stop with a Green Pontiac Grand AM with Kentucky license plates for a traffic violation. The video from Sell’s cruiser tells the rest: Officer Sell approaches the driver’s side window. The window rolls down and the driver hands Sell what appears to be a license. While Sell is looking at it, a gun peeks out and fires twice. Sell’s head snaps back, then he falls to the ground. The Grand-Am backs up, crashing into the patrol car, before driving out of the camera’s view. A few moments later, the Pontiac is back. Robida gets out and leans over the officer’s body. He picks something up off the ground, gets back in his car, and speeds away.
A local motel manager provided police with a detailed description of the suspect's vehicle.
Pursuit, Shots Fired, Bailey Killed, Robida Commits Suicide
At 2:43 PM Robida heads south toward Norfolk along Route 201 and a high-speed pursuit begins with Arkansas State Police and Baxter County Sherriff's Department. Officers deployed stop-sticks in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle struck the strips and Robida lost control of the vehicle crashing into a parked vehicle. Robida embraces Bailey then leans back and shoots her in the head, killing her instantly. Officers then fire upon the damaged vehicle, shooting Robida in the head. Robida is then transported by helicopter to Cox Health Systems Hospital in Springfield Missouri where three (3) days later is pronounced dead. Autopsy results Robida died from self-inflicted gun shots, not shot by law enforcement. Jason Robida is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in New Bedford.
Phillip Daggett Now Phillip Brunelle
In researching Phillip Brunelle (formally Daggett) and interesting pattern develops. In 2004 Brunelle hired an attorney, filed a complaint and sought compensation after saying he became sick from McDonald's on President Avenue, Fall River. Brunelle claimed McDonald’s made him sick by putting pickles on his burger, even though he’s allergic and had asked them not to include them. McDonald’s, according to Brunelle paid his medical bills.
In November 2004 Brunelle was driving on Route 24 in Freetown when he came upon a motor vehicle crash in which two little girls were killed. Brunelle claimed to have pulled an infant out of the damaged vehicle, however the girl's aunt, who was the driver, confirmed Brunelle was at the scene but never assisted anyone or pulled anyone out of the vehicle. More disturbing, months later Brunelle sent the girls' grieving mother a photo of the accident scene in which he alleged you could see the image of a ghost - suggesting it was the dead children. The photo was later determined to have been photoshopped.
In November 2006, Brunelle filed charges with Fall River Police claiming a Fall River Taco Bell restaurant might have put cocaine in his soft-shell taco. Taco Bell thought Brunelle’s story was sketchy and according to reports published at the time, the company threatened to sue him if it turned out his claims were unsubstantiated. Fall River Police began an investigation, Brunelle suddenly stopped cooperating with their investigation.
In January 2008 Brunelle emailed WBZ-4 Boston claiming he saved a Brockton baby who was choking on a light bulb at an intersection in that city. No record of this incident could be found. In September 2008 Brockton Police charged Brunelle with making a false report. At the time someone pretending to be an off-duty police officer dialed 911 to report that a male had been shot and killed near Reservoir Street. According to the report, the State Police traced the cellphone call to Brunelle's cellphone additionally Brunelle resided on Reservoir Street at the time.
In early 2009, Brunelle later opened a wedding photography business. Brunelle was quickly accused of taking money and not delivering photos of weddings.
In July 2009 Brunelle claimed to have won a thousand dollars – and then a million dollars — on two lottery scratch tickets in one day.
Brunelle told the media he cashed a winning $1,000 scratch ticket in the summer of 2009. But when asked about his subsequent million-dollar win, the story gets retracted. Brunelle blamed the media and claimed the journalists “should have done their homework” before reporting he had won the million-dollar jackpot, even though he himself gave interviews talking about his win and detailing how he planned to spend the windfall. Massachusetts state lottery officials reported all the winning tickets from the game Brunelle says he won have been claimed, none by Brunelle or anyone representing him.
In March 2012, Brunelle was arrested by Brockton Police for impersonating a police officer. According to the police report Brunelle was arrested for trying to pull people over in his personal vehicle – which happens to be a decommissioned State Police cruiser he purchased at auction.
In March 2014 Brunelle reappears in the public eye, this time as a paranormal investigator, who was given permission, and provided a tour of the Middleborough Town Hall by Middleborough Board of Selectman Allin Fawley after hours. Brunelle and his team had unsupervised access to the building while Fawley worked in an office. Fawley learned of Brunelles' colorful past after the fact. “He was never privy to any confidential records at all, he never had access to any of the areas where our records are kept. I think in the future we’ll be a little more stringent in letting just anybody come into town hall,”
In October 2015, Brunelle contacts the Brockton Enterprise reporting his niece was sexually assaulted on a school bus on the way to school by a group of five (5) boys. The version he told the newspaper differs from the actual version of events. The Downey School along with Brockton School Police investigated the incident and determined but no sexual assault or touching occurred.
At 11:52 PM Robida orders a second drink and walks over to the pool table where he suddenly, pushes one of the pool players, Alex Taylor, to the ground, pulls a hatchet out of his sweatshirt and struck Taylor repeatedly in the face and head. At the same time, another patron Adam Marczak, strikes Robida with a pool cue. Robert Perry, another patron, tried to tackle Robida, he was struck in the face, then the back with the hatchet.
Eventually, the group managed to knock the suspect off his feet. He then drew a gun, firing once into the air and once at the floor. He then shot Taylor in the face and Perry in the head. Robida then shot Luis Rosado in the chest as he was exiting the restroom.
At 11:55 PM New Bedford Police receive the first of five (5) 911 calls from inside the bar.
At 11:58 PM Robida flees the bar. At 11:59 PM New Bedford Police arrive and begin to render aid to the three (3) victims, all three (3) were transported to a Boston Hospital for wounds.
Robida Flees New Bedford to West Virginia
At 1:00 AM Robida returns home, bleeding from a head wound and quickly leaves the home. New Bedford Police issues an alert for Robida and his 1999 Green Pontiac Grand AM with Massachusetts Plate 85E-C58.
Robida left a note behind addressed to his mother "I love you. Sorry for whatever I caused you. If I had to go out, I had to do it by my own means." Then headed to Charleston, West Virginia.
Robida Picks Up Jennifer Bailey
While in Charleston, West Virginia, Robida contacts an ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Bailey (33) the mother of three (3) children. Robida and Bailey had lived together from February 2004 to February 2005, before moving back to Massachusetts. She was a lifelong resident of West Virginia a divorced homemaker and devoted mother. On February 4, 2006, Jennifer withdrew $500 from a bank account and dropped her children off with her mother and left with Robida. It remains unclear if Bailey went willingly with Robida, or if she had knowledge of what had occurred in Massachusetts.
Robida Stopped, Kills Arkansas Police Officer James Sell
On February 4, 2006, at 2:33 PM Gassville Arkansas Police Officer James Sell (63) conducts a motor vehicle stop with a Green Pontiac Grand AM with Kentucky license plates for a traffic violation. The video from Sell’s cruiser tells the rest: Officer Sell approaches the driver’s side window. The window rolls down and the driver hands Sell what appears to be a license. While Sell is looking at it, a gun peeks out and fires twice. Sell’s head snaps back, then he falls to the ground. The Grand-Am backs up, crashing into the patrol car, before driving out of the camera’s view. A few moments later, the Pontiac is back. Robida gets out and leans over the officer’s body. He picks something up off the ground, gets back in his car, and speeds away.
A local motel manager provided police with a detailed description of the suspect's vehicle.
Pursuit, Shots Fired, Bailey Killed, Robida Commits Suicide
At 2:43 PM Robida heads south toward Norfolk along Route 201 and a high-speed pursuit begins with Arkansas State Police and Baxter County Sherriff's Department. Officers deployed stop-sticks in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle struck the strips and Robida lost control of the vehicle crashing into a parked vehicle. Robida embraces Bailey then leans back and shoots her in the head, killing her instantly. Officers then fire upon the damaged vehicle, shooting Robida in the head. Robida is then transported by helicopter to Cox Health Systems Hospital in Springfield Missouri where three (3) days later is pronounced dead. Autopsy results Robida died from self-inflicted gun shots, not shot by law enforcement. Jason Robida is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in New Bedford.
Phillip Daggett Now Phillip Brunelle
In researching Phillip Brunelle (formally Daggett) and interesting pattern develops. In 2004 Brunelle hired an attorney, filed a complaint and sought compensation after saying he became sick from McDonald's on President Avenue, Fall River. Brunelle claimed McDonald’s made him sick by putting pickles on his burger, even though he’s allergic and had asked them not to include them. McDonald’s, according to Brunelle paid his medical bills.
In November 2004 Brunelle was driving on Route 24 in Freetown when he came upon a motor vehicle crash in which two little girls were killed. Brunelle claimed to have pulled an infant out of the damaged vehicle, however the girl's aunt, who was the driver, confirmed Brunelle was at the scene but never assisted anyone or pulled anyone out of the vehicle. More disturbing, months later Brunelle sent the girls' grieving mother a photo of the accident scene in which he alleged you could see the image of a ghost - suggesting it was the dead children. The photo was later determined to have been photoshopped.
In November 2006, Brunelle filed charges with Fall River Police claiming a Fall River Taco Bell restaurant might have put cocaine in his soft-shell taco. Taco Bell thought Brunelle’s story was sketchy and according to reports published at the time, the company threatened to sue him if it turned out his claims were unsubstantiated. Fall River Police began an investigation, Brunelle suddenly stopped cooperating with their investigation.
In January 2008 Brunelle emailed WBZ-4 Boston claiming he saved a Brockton baby who was choking on a light bulb at an intersection in that city. No record of this incident could be found. In September 2008 Brockton Police charged Brunelle with making a false report. At the time someone pretending to be an off-duty police officer dialed 911 to report that a male had been shot and killed near Reservoir Street. According to the report, the State Police traced the cellphone call to Brunelle's cellphone additionally Brunelle resided on Reservoir Street at the time.
In early 2009, Brunelle later opened a wedding photography business. Brunelle was quickly accused of taking money and not delivering photos of weddings.
In July 2009 Brunelle claimed to have won a thousand dollars – and then a million dollars — on two lottery scratch tickets in one day.
Brunelle told the media he cashed a winning $1,000 scratch ticket in the summer of 2009. But when asked about his subsequent million-dollar win, the story gets retracted. Brunelle blamed the media and claimed the journalists “should have done their homework” before reporting he had won the million-dollar jackpot, even though he himself gave interviews talking about his win and detailing how he planned to spend the windfall. Massachusetts state lottery officials reported all the winning tickets from the game Brunelle says he won have been claimed, none by Brunelle or anyone representing him.
In March 2012, Brunelle was arrested by Brockton Police for impersonating a police officer. According to the police report Brunelle was arrested for trying to pull people over in his personal vehicle – which happens to be a decommissioned State Police cruiser he purchased at auction.
In March 2014 Brunelle reappears in the public eye, this time as a paranormal investigator, who was given permission, and provided a tour of the Middleborough Town Hall by Middleborough Board of Selectman Allin Fawley after hours. Brunelle and his team had unsupervised access to the building while Fawley worked in an office. Fawley learned of Brunelles' colorful past after the fact. “He was never privy to any confidential records at all, he never had access to any of the areas where our records are kept. I think in the future we’ll be a little more stringent in letting just anybody come into town hall,”
In October 2015, Brunelle contacts the Brockton Enterprise reporting his niece was sexually assaulted on a school bus on the way to school by a group of five (5) boys. The version he told the newspaper differs from the actual version of events. The Downey School along with Brockton School Police investigated the incident and determined but no sexual assault or touching occurred.
Foxy Lady Murders 2006 Solved On December 12 2006 Scott Medeiros, (35) entered the club through the kitchen entrance, avoiding any contact with club security. Medeiros wasn't a stranger to the club, he had installed the security system and had knowledge of the floor plan.
He was dressed in black clothing, bullet proof vest, ski mask and was carrying an M-16 assault rifle as he walked across the club floor. Medeiros didn't speak or do anything before barraging Robert Carreiro (33) with bullets also injuring Glenn Goncalves (46) in both legs.
The club manager, Tory Marandos (30) came out of a room where he had briefly hiding. He headed for the club’s Route 6 door where he called police on a cell phone. Medeiros at first shot Maranados injuring him, then later executed him on the sidewalk seconds after the call to police.
Eventually, Medeiros entered a dressing room where four (4) club workers were hiding and, pulling up his mask, told them he was “the cops” and that they were free to go. Outside, they huddled near a dumpster, still fearing the location of the gunman. While they were by the dumpster, Medeiros sprayed the club with gunfire again.
New Bedford Police Response
New Bedford Police Department received several 911 calls from inside the club. As police officers began pulling into the parking lot, Mederios stepped outside of the building and began firing at responding police, spraying police cruisers with bullets. Two (2) New Bedford Police officers were struck. Despite being injured the officers were able the bullet-ridden cruiser to St. Luke's Hospital.
Medeiros retreated back inside the building and a standoff began. Medeiros called 911 and had a rambling conversation with a dispatcher, which concluded with a large, extremely loud bang. At approximately 4:30 AM a SWAT team made entry into the building where they discovered Medeiros already dead. Autopsy results determined Medeiros has killed himself. Police had waited to enter the club for fear Medeiros had set traps
In the days after the shooting, officials counted at least 17 rounds that entered the police cruiser that the wounded officers drove. In total nearly 100 rounds and three (3) police cruisers were bullet-ridden.
What Lead To The Murders ?
Medeiros, Robert Carreiro and a female bartender, Jamie Tavares were all tied together in a love triangle. Both men at different times had dated the Tavares. Correira and Tavares have a child in common.
On November 19 2006 Medeiros walked into the club while bartender Jamie Tavares was working. Carreiro and Mederios became engaged in an argument, Medeiros later claimed the club security guard struck him. Medeiros He later sought treatment at the hospital, and filed a police report.
Two (2) weeks prior to the shooting, Medeiros was turned away from entering the club because Tavares felt threatened by his presence due to their relationship ending badly. At this point Medeiros was barred from the club by the owner. Tavares was not present the night of the shooting.
Police Searched Medeiros Home
Freetown Police along with Massachusetts State Police searched Medeiros's home at 176 Middleboro Road. A note was discovered, telling his parents he’s sorry and asks his parents to care for his ex-girlfriend, Jaime Tavares.
Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott issued a weapons license in 2005 that permitted him to buy assault-style military rifles. He was first issued a license to carry in 1991 after indicating to police he needed a weapon for protection because he carried large sums of money as a salesman. A background check was conducted and determined Medeiros had no felony convictions, violent crimes or had any restraining orders taken against him.
Club Changes Ownership, Closes
In May 2009 the club transformed in Temptations, under new ownership. Co-owner Tom Tsoumas said he sold the club in part because it had become too painful to drive into the New Bedford.
In January 2018 Temptations closed after the building owner sold the property and the new owner no longer wanted adult entertainment.
He was dressed in black clothing, bullet proof vest, ski mask and was carrying an M-16 assault rifle as he walked across the club floor. Medeiros didn't speak or do anything before barraging Robert Carreiro (33) with bullets also injuring Glenn Goncalves (46) in both legs.
The club manager, Tory Marandos (30) came out of a room where he had briefly hiding. He headed for the club’s Route 6 door where he called police on a cell phone. Medeiros at first shot Maranados injuring him, then later executed him on the sidewalk seconds after the call to police.
Eventually, Medeiros entered a dressing room where four (4) club workers were hiding and, pulling up his mask, told them he was “the cops” and that they were free to go. Outside, they huddled near a dumpster, still fearing the location of the gunman. While they were by the dumpster, Medeiros sprayed the club with gunfire again.
New Bedford Police Response
New Bedford Police Department received several 911 calls from inside the club. As police officers began pulling into the parking lot, Mederios stepped outside of the building and began firing at responding police, spraying police cruisers with bullets. Two (2) New Bedford Police officers were struck. Despite being injured the officers were able the bullet-ridden cruiser to St. Luke's Hospital.
Medeiros retreated back inside the building and a standoff began. Medeiros called 911 and had a rambling conversation with a dispatcher, which concluded with a large, extremely loud bang. At approximately 4:30 AM a SWAT team made entry into the building where they discovered Medeiros already dead. Autopsy results determined Medeiros has killed himself. Police had waited to enter the club for fear Medeiros had set traps
In the days after the shooting, officials counted at least 17 rounds that entered the police cruiser that the wounded officers drove. In total nearly 100 rounds and three (3) police cruisers were bullet-ridden.
What Lead To The Murders ?
Medeiros, Robert Carreiro and a female bartender, Jamie Tavares were all tied together in a love triangle. Both men at different times had dated the Tavares. Correira and Tavares have a child in common.
On November 19 2006 Medeiros walked into the club while bartender Jamie Tavares was working. Carreiro and Mederios became engaged in an argument, Medeiros later claimed the club security guard struck him. Medeiros He later sought treatment at the hospital, and filed a police report.
Two (2) weeks prior to the shooting, Medeiros was turned away from entering the club because Tavares felt threatened by his presence due to their relationship ending badly. At this point Medeiros was barred from the club by the owner. Tavares was not present the night of the shooting.
Police Searched Medeiros Home
Freetown Police along with Massachusetts State Police searched Medeiros's home at 176 Middleboro Road. A note was discovered, telling his parents he’s sorry and asks his parents to care for his ex-girlfriend, Jaime Tavares.
Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott issued a weapons license in 2005 that permitted him to buy assault-style military rifles. He was first issued a license to carry in 1991 after indicating to police he needed a weapon for protection because he carried large sums of money as a salesman. A background check was conducted and determined Medeiros had no felony convictions, violent crimes or had any restraining orders taken against him.
Club Changes Ownership, Closes
In May 2009 the club transformed in Temptations, under new ownership. Co-owner Tom Tsoumas said he sold the club in part because it had become too painful to drive into the New Bedford.
In January 2018 Temptations closed after the building owner sold the property and the new owner no longer wanted adult entertainment.
Marlene Rose 2002 Solved 2013
Marlene Rose (42) was murdered on July 6, 2002. She was last seen sitting on a wall at the corner of Austin and Purchase streets around 11PM. Shortly after 11PM, a neighbor reported hearing a woman scream. Another neighbor’s dog began to bark in the direction of the railroad tracks.
On July 7 2002 at approximately 8:30AM the partially naked body of Marlene Rose was discovered 100 yards from the railroad bridge which crosses Route 18 to Wamsutta Mills. There were signs of trauma to the face, neck, hand and legs.
At the scene of the members of the State Police Crime Scene Services Unit chemist ran swabs along parts of the body, collecting DNA. Rose’s hands were covered with bags before her body was moved from the scene, a measure to preserve any evidence that could be on her fingers or wedged under her fingernails.
Investigators collected samples from the body and found DNA belonging to an unknown man. That DNA sample was entered into the Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS). The medical examiner ruled the manner of her death was a homicide and the cause was asphyxia by manual strangulation. The case grows cold.
Sexual Assault August 10 1997
A woman flags down a New Bedford police officer, telling him she had just been raped at knife point. She identified her attacker as John Loflin. The victim reported to police that Loflin had picked her up and brought her to an area by the Wamsutta Mills.She claimed he then pulled out a knife and held it to her throat, threatened and sexually assaulted her. She provided a vehicle description, and shortly thereafter a vehicle matching her description was located. A motor vehicle stop was conducted, the operator was identified as John Loflin. A knife was visible inside the car
The victim was transported to the hospital, and a sexual assault kit was collected. That kit was transported to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab but was never tested. Loflin was charged with aggravated rape and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The case went into the court system but was later dismissed. Court documents indicate the charges were dismissed after the victim in the 1997 case moved out of the country resulting in no further evidence to proceed with. Later, it will be learned that information was incorrect. Loflin then leaves New Bedford.
DNA Match November 10 2010
On November 10 2010 The District Attorney's Office was notified of a DNA match. John Loflin had provided a DNA sample, as a condition of probation to officials in Tennessee after serving a jail sentence connected to a 2008 drug case.
The DNA sample Loflin provided, once entered in CODIS, matched the DNA evidence that was gathered from the body of Marlene Rose in 2002. The case, which has been unsolved since 2002 now becomes active again. Finally with a suspect, officials looked into Loflin’s criminal history, which led authorities to the August 10, 1997, sexual assault case.
Investigators made efforts to locate the 1997 rape victim. Court documents indicated the victim in the 1997 case moved out of the country. However, during the re-investigation of Marlene Rose's murder it was determined that the victim did not move out of the country, but rather was deported back to Portugal. Attempts were then made to locate the victim in Portugal, it was then learned that she had died a couple of years earlier.
With the new suspicion that Loflin killed Rose, the sexual assault kit from the 1997 case was finally tested in 2011. The results indicated a DNA match as well.
John Loflin Plead Guilty
John Loflin plead guilty to second degree murder in November 2013 and was sentenced to a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 15 years
Marlene Rose (42) was murdered on July 6, 2002. She was last seen sitting on a wall at the corner of Austin and Purchase streets around 11PM. Shortly after 11PM, a neighbor reported hearing a woman scream. Another neighbor’s dog began to bark in the direction of the railroad tracks.
On July 7 2002 at approximately 8:30AM the partially naked body of Marlene Rose was discovered 100 yards from the railroad bridge which crosses Route 18 to Wamsutta Mills. There were signs of trauma to the face, neck, hand and legs.
At the scene of the members of the State Police Crime Scene Services Unit chemist ran swabs along parts of the body, collecting DNA. Rose’s hands were covered with bags before her body was moved from the scene, a measure to preserve any evidence that could be on her fingers or wedged under her fingernails.
Investigators collected samples from the body and found DNA belonging to an unknown man. That DNA sample was entered into the Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS). The medical examiner ruled the manner of her death was a homicide and the cause was asphyxia by manual strangulation. The case grows cold.
Sexual Assault August 10 1997
A woman flags down a New Bedford police officer, telling him she had just been raped at knife point. She identified her attacker as John Loflin. The victim reported to police that Loflin had picked her up and brought her to an area by the Wamsutta Mills.She claimed he then pulled out a knife and held it to her throat, threatened and sexually assaulted her. She provided a vehicle description, and shortly thereafter a vehicle matching her description was located. A motor vehicle stop was conducted, the operator was identified as John Loflin. A knife was visible inside the car
The victim was transported to the hospital, and a sexual assault kit was collected. That kit was transported to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab but was never tested. Loflin was charged with aggravated rape and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The case went into the court system but was later dismissed. Court documents indicate the charges were dismissed after the victim in the 1997 case moved out of the country resulting in no further evidence to proceed with. Later, it will be learned that information was incorrect. Loflin then leaves New Bedford.
DNA Match November 10 2010
On November 10 2010 The District Attorney's Office was notified of a DNA match. John Loflin had provided a DNA sample, as a condition of probation to officials in Tennessee after serving a jail sentence connected to a 2008 drug case.
The DNA sample Loflin provided, once entered in CODIS, matched the DNA evidence that was gathered from the body of Marlene Rose in 2002. The case, which has been unsolved since 2002 now becomes active again. Finally with a suspect, officials looked into Loflin’s criminal history, which led authorities to the August 10, 1997, sexual assault case.
Investigators made efforts to locate the 1997 rape victim. Court documents indicated the victim in the 1997 case moved out of the country. However, during the re-investigation of Marlene Rose's murder it was determined that the victim did not move out of the country, but rather was deported back to Portugal. Attempts were then made to locate the victim in Portugal, it was then learned that she had died a couple of years earlier.
With the new suspicion that Loflin killed Rose, the sexual assault kit from the 1997 case was finally tested in 2011. The results indicated a DNA match as well.
John Loflin Plead Guilty
John Loflin plead guilty to second degree murder in November 2013 and was sentenced to a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 15 years
Rose Marie Moniz 2001 Solved 2021
On March 23, 2001, the body of Rose Marie Moniz (41) was discovered by her father, Alfred Cunha (1927-2016) in the first-floor bathroom of her home at 3448 Acushnet Avenue. Cunha found numerous kitchen items strewn all over the floor and the contents of his daughter’s purse on the living room floor.
Her son, Robert (19) at the time, was asleep upstairs when Cunha arrived at the house. Robert had been out with friends and used the rear entrance of the home to access his bedroom. Robert was woken by Cunha, who at the time feared Robert was dead too.
It was determined that Moniz had been bludgeoned to death with a fireplace poker, a conch shell and a cast iron kettle. The autopsy report described significant trauma to her head including skull fractures, lacerations and other significant injuries
Police noted that there was no sign of forced entry into the home. During the investigation, Frances Cunha (1938-2017), the victim's mother, reported that a male who was known to her daughter had left a message on the answering machine. ‘It may take a week, it may take a month, it may take a year, but mark my words, I will kill you.” This male was never identified. After investigators excluded two potential suspects, including her son Robert, early on in the investigation, the case went cold.
The 2016 obituary for Alfred Cunha was the tip that ignited the reexamination of Rose's murder. David Reed, half-brother of Rose was never interviewed at the time of her murder, he was a pallbearer at Rose's funeral and abruptly left Massachusetts.
DNA Testing 2019
Using new DNA testing techniques, the inside of the conch shell was tested for DNA. The theory the perpetrator would have to put his fingers inside the opening of the conch to hold it as firmly as to strike the victim with extreme force. This testing revealed a full DNA profile. This DNA profile was then entered into CODIS and a DNA match was uncovered. Testing of samples from underneath the victim's fingernails also matched the same DNA. This DNA matched David Reed, the victim’s half-brother.
Maribel Martinez-Alegria 2003 Assault
In June 2003 Reed was a suspect in a violent assault and robbery of Maribel Martinez-Alegria of New Bedford. Reed allegedly beat the woman with a tire iron and left her for dead after she sold him fake drugs.
On July 31, 2003, Reed drove by Martinez-Alegria's home several times, was recognized by her as the man who assaulted her and was pursued by her family while attempting to contact New Bedford Police. Family members were able to flag down an officer, who then attempted to stop Reed's vehicle as it approached Rockdale Avenue and Hillman Street. Reed failed to stop, and intentionally drove head-on into oncoming police cruiser, causing significant damage and injuring the officer. Even after the crash, the suspect attempted to use his truck in an attempt to push the cruiser out of the way to attempt escape. He was taken into custody.
Reed was charged with robbery and assault of Martinez-Alegria, and other charges relating to the ramming of the police cruiser.
He was released on bail with a trial date of June 10, 2004. On that date, Reed failed to appear in court. He had fled Massachusetts and lived in Florida and Hawaii before moving to Alabama where he remained for almost 10 years. On May 7, 2015, Reed was in custody and back in Massachusetts to face trial. Sadly, Martinez-Alegria has died six (6) months prior of a drug overdose, and the charges against Reed for assault and robbery were dismissed without prejudice on March 25, 2016, due to insufficient evidence to prosecute.
However, Reed was still being held on bail violation and still had charges pending from ramming the police cruiser. In 2016, Reed was sentenced to serve 3 ½ to 4 years in state prison on those charges. As a result of these convictions, Reed was also required to submit a sample of his DNA to the state DNA database.
David Reed Interviewed 2020, Fled, Recaptured 2021
In late August 2020 Massachusetts State Police and New Bedford Police attempted to interview the defendant at a residence in Dartmouth, where he was living with his cousin. After the brief interview, Reed immediately began making plans to flee the state again. Reed fled to Alabama and began working at a lumber yard but fled again once law enforcement came to his workplace to speak with him.
During the next year, Reed travelled to California, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island in an apparent attempt to elude authorities.
In September 2021 now armed with a DNA match, which wasn't available in 2003, Reed was now indicted for the 2003 assault and robbery of Maribel Matinez-Alegria. He was taken into custody at the Providence Rescue Mission Shelter on September 10, 2021.
In October 2021 he was arraigned on the charges from the 2003 case. In November 2021 Superior Court Judge Gregg Pasquale found Reed dangerous after a Superior Court Dangerousness Hearing and Reed remained incarcerated.
In December 2021 David Reed (53) was indicted on murder and armed robbery charges in connection to the murder of Rose Marie Moniz.
UPDATE: February 1 2023
David Reed (54) pleaded guilty to robbing and bludgeoning Maribel Martinez-Alegria with a tire iron in New Bedford in June 2003.
He had been charged with armed assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and was sentenced to eight (8) to twelve (12) years in state prison.
Reed's trial for the murder of Rose Marie is pending.
On March 23, 2001, the body of Rose Marie Moniz (41) was discovered by her father, Alfred Cunha (1927-2016) in the first-floor bathroom of her home at 3448 Acushnet Avenue. Cunha found numerous kitchen items strewn all over the floor and the contents of his daughter’s purse on the living room floor.
Her son, Robert (19) at the time, was asleep upstairs when Cunha arrived at the house. Robert had been out with friends and used the rear entrance of the home to access his bedroom. Robert was woken by Cunha, who at the time feared Robert was dead too.
It was determined that Moniz had been bludgeoned to death with a fireplace poker, a conch shell and a cast iron kettle. The autopsy report described significant trauma to her head including skull fractures, lacerations and other significant injuries
Police noted that there was no sign of forced entry into the home. During the investigation, Frances Cunha (1938-2017), the victim's mother, reported that a male who was known to her daughter had left a message on the answering machine. ‘It may take a week, it may take a month, it may take a year, but mark my words, I will kill you.” This male was never identified. After investigators excluded two potential suspects, including her son Robert, early on in the investigation, the case went cold.
The 2016 obituary for Alfred Cunha was the tip that ignited the reexamination of Rose's murder. David Reed, half-brother of Rose was never interviewed at the time of her murder, he was a pallbearer at Rose's funeral and abruptly left Massachusetts.
DNA Testing 2019
Using new DNA testing techniques, the inside of the conch shell was tested for DNA. The theory the perpetrator would have to put his fingers inside the opening of the conch to hold it as firmly as to strike the victim with extreme force. This testing revealed a full DNA profile. This DNA profile was then entered into CODIS and a DNA match was uncovered. Testing of samples from underneath the victim's fingernails also matched the same DNA. This DNA matched David Reed, the victim’s half-brother.
Maribel Martinez-Alegria 2003 Assault
In June 2003 Reed was a suspect in a violent assault and robbery of Maribel Martinez-Alegria of New Bedford. Reed allegedly beat the woman with a tire iron and left her for dead after she sold him fake drugs.
On July 31, 2003, Reed drove by Martinez-Alegria's home several times, was recognized by her as the man who assaulted her and was pursued by her family while attempting to contact New Bedford Police. Family members were able to flag down an officer, who then attempted to stop Reed's vehicle as it approached Rockdale Avenue and Hillman Street. Reed failed to stop, and intentionally drove head-on into oncoming police cruiser, causing significant damage and injuring the officer. Even after the crash, the suspect attempted to use his truck in an attempt to push the cruiser out of the way to attempt escape. He was taken into custody.
Reed was charged with robbery and assault of Martinez-Alegria, and other charges relating to the ramming of the police cruiser.
He was released on bail with a trial date of June 10, 2004. On that date, Reed failed to appear in court. He had fled Massachusetts and lived in Florida and Hawaii before moving to Alabama where he remained for almost 10 years. On May 7, 2015, Reed was in custody and back in Massachusetts to face trial. Sadly, Martinez-Alegria has died six (6) months prior of a drug overdose, and the charges against Reed for assault and robbery were dismissed without prejudice on March 25, 2016, due to insufficient evidence to prosecute.
However, Reed was still being held on bail violation and still had charges pending from ramming the police cruiser. In 2016, Reed was sentenced to serve 3 ½ to 4 years in state prison on those charges. As a result of these convictions, Reed was also required to submit a sample of his DNA to the state DNA database.
David Reed Interviewed 2020, Fled, Recaptured 2021
In late August 2020 Massachusetts State Police and New Bedford Police attempted to interview the defendant at a residence in Dartmouth, where he was living with his cousin. After the brief interview, Reed immediately began making plans to flee the state again. Reed fled to Alabama and began working at a lumber yard but fled again once law enforcement came to his workplace to speak with him.
During the next year, Reed travelled to California, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island in an apparent attempt to elude authorities.
In September 2021 now armed with a DNA match, which wasn't available in 2003, Reed was now indicted for the 2003 assault and robbery of Maribel Matinez-Alegria. He was taken into custody at the Providence Rescue Mission Shelter on September 10, 2021.
In October 2021 he was arraigned on the charges from the 2003 case. In November 2021 Superior Court Judge Gregg Pasquale found Reed dangerous after a Superior Court Dangerousness Hearing and Reed remained incarcerated.
In December 2021 David Reed (53) was indicted on murder and armed robbery charges in connection to the murder of Rose Marie Moniz.
UPDATE: February 1 2023
David Reed (54) pleaded guilty to robbing and bludgeoning Maribel Martinez-Alegria with a tire iron in New Bedford in June 2003.
He had been charged with armed assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and was sentenced to eight (8) to twelve (12) years in state prison.
Reed's trial for the murder of Rose Marie is pending.
Demarco Trayman 1998 Solved 2013 On April 26 1998 Kevin Jockman (30) and Demarco Trayman (22) walked into the McDonald's on Hathaway Road and forced 15 employees and customers, at gunpoint, into a small break room located in the rear of the restaurant.
Jockman and Trayman directed an employee to bind other employees hands with duct tape. They ordered the assistant manager and another employee to empty the contents of the safe and the cash registers into a bag. A customer, while in the drive thru area witnessed what was happening and called the police.
Two (2) New Bedford police officers arrived and entered the restaurant and were confronted by the two (2) armed men who began a shoot-out with police. The police officers retreated outside and called for assistance, and secured the perimeter of the building.
During the shoot-out with police, Jockman accidentally shot and killed Trayman. Jockman, now panicked seized two (2) employees, Melissa Depina (20) who was 6-months pregnant and Karla Guadalupe (23) and exited the rear door of the restaurant, using the employees as human shields, entered a motor vehicle and fled the scene. Jockman stopped in the Bronx New York and left the two (2) woman at a hotel unharmed and continued his journey to North Carolina.
On June 26 1998 Jockman was located in a friends townhouse in Raleigh North Carolina, and taken into custody without incident. His girlfriend Patricia Hodge (27) was also taken into custody for aiding in Jockman's escape. Inside the townhouse police recovered a 9mm handgun. Jockman was wanted for (1) count murder (2) counts kidnapping, (15) counts assault with dangerous weapon, (2) counts assault with intent to murder (1) count armed robbery and (2) counts unlawful possession of firearm. Jockman is a native from Missouri, however had connections in Newport R.I. and has lived in New Bedford and Fall River previously.
At trial, Jockman admitted he planned and committed the botched robbery at the restaurant. He also claimed at first that Trayman had killed himself, but later admitted that he pointed his weapon at him but didn't mean to shoot him. Ballistics testing confirmed that Trayman was killed by the same gun that was recovered in North Carolina.
Jockman was convicted and was sentenced to three (3) life sentences - (1) for the murder, (1) - for taking 15 hostages and (1) for armed robbery.
Jockman and Trayman directed an employee to bind other employees hands with duct tape. They ordered the assistant manager and another employee to empty the contents of the safe and the cash registers into a bag. A customer, while in the drive thru area witnessed what was happening and called the police.
Two (2) New Bedford police officers arrived and entered the restaurant and were confronted by the two (2) armed men who began a shoot-out with police. The police officers retreated outside and called for assistance, and secured the perimeter of the building.
During the shoot-out with police, Jockman accidentally shot and killed Trayman. Jockman, now panicked seized two (2) employees, Melissa Depina (20) who was 6-months pregnant and Karla Guadalupe (23) and exited the rear door of the restaurant, using the employees as human shields, entered a motor vehicle and fled the scene. Jockman stopped in the Bronx New York and left the two (2) woman at a hotel unharmed and continued his journey to North Carolina.
On June 26 1998 Jockman was located in a friends townhouse in Raleigh North Carolina, and taken into custody without incident. His girlfriend Patricia Hodge (27) was also taken into custody for aiding in Jockman's escape. Inside the townhouse police recovered a 9mm handgun. Jockman was wanted for (1) count murder (2) counts kidnapping, (15) counts assault with dangerous weapon, (2) counts assault with intent to murder (1) count armed robbery and (2) counts unlawful possession of firearm. Jockman is a native from Missouri, however had connections in Newport R.I. and has lived in New Bedford and Fall River previously.
At trial, Jockman admitted he planned and committed the botched robbery at the restaurant. He also claimed at first that Trayman had killed himself, but later admitted that he pointed his weapon at him but didn't mean to shoot him. Ballistics testing confirmed that Trayman was killed by the same gun that was recovered in North Carolina.
Jockman was convicted and was sentenced to three (3) life sentences - (1) for the murder, (1) - for taking 15 hostages and (1) for armed robbery.
Albert Lopes Jr. 2002 Solved 2010
On December 1 2002 Albert A. Lopes Jr. (34) was shot in front of 94 Griffin Court. Lopes was driving a friend home after an evening of video games in his girlfriend's North End apartment. Investigators determined Lopes wasn't the target of the shooting, but a fight erupted at the corner of Acushnet Ave and Griffin Court where he was killed. The fight abruptly ended when one male brandished a handgun and fired multiple shots. Lopes was transported to St Luke's Hospital, but later died the next morning from his wounds.
The murder of Albert Lopes Jr. went unsolved.
Suspect Identified 2010
In April 2010 the Bristol County District Attorney announced a suspect in the 2002 unsolved case. Louis Bizzaro (24) was charged with murder in connection to the Lopes homicide. Bizzaro was already incarcerated serving a 12–14-year state prison sentence for a 2005 incident.,
Bizzaro was convicted of possessing a .38-caliber revolver, a .357 magnum revolver and body armor when police arrested him. The firearms were discovered during a traffic stop by the State Police Gang Unit shortly after midnight on Dec. 23 2005 on Grinnell Street.
Bizzarro pleaded not guilty to charges that include murder and carrying a firearm without a license. Family members of Lopes had long suspected Bizzaro was involved in the slaying.
Bizzaro's Connection to Gang Violence
In 2001 Bizzaro was arrested on drug possession charges with Attim Almeida an alleged Monte Park gang member who is now serving time for a manslaughter conviction. Police twice encountered him with another reputed Monte Park gang member Jonathan Butler who was later murdered.
On two (2) occasions police found Bizzaro with a loaded gun in his pocket and had to wrestle him to the ground. During another arrest he was in possession of body armor.
On December 1 2002 Albert A. Lopes Jr. (34) was shot in front of 94 Griffin Court. Lopes was driving a friend home after an evening of video games in his girlfriend's North End apartment. Investigators determined Lopes wasn't the target of the shooting, but a fight erupted at the corner of Acushnet Ave and Griffin Court where he was killed. The fight abruptly ended when one male brandished a handgun and fired multiple shots. Lopes was transported to St Luke's Hospital, but later died the next morning from his wounds.
The murder of Albert Lopes Jr. went unsolved.
Suspect Identified 2010
In April 2010 the Bristol County District Attorney announced a suspect in the 2002 unsolved case. Louis Bizzaro (24) was charged with murder in connection to the Lopes homicide. Bizzaro was already incarcerated serving a 12–14-year state prison sentence for a 2005 incident.,
Bizzaro was convicted of possessing a .38-caliber revolver, a .357 magnum revolver and body armor when police arrested him. The firearms were discovered during a traffic stop by the State Police Gang Unit shortly after midnight on Dec. 23 2005 on Grinnell Street.
Bizzarro pleaded not guilty to charges that include murder and carrying a firearm without a license. Family members of Lopes had long suspected Bizzaro was involved in the slaying.
Bizzaro's Connection to Gang Violence
In 2001 Bizzaro was arrested on drug possession charges with Attim Almeida an alleged Monte Park gang member who is now serving time for a manslaughter conviction. Police twice encountered him with another reputed Monte Park gang member Jonathan Butler who was later murdered.
On two (2) occasions police found Bizzaro with a loaded gun in his pocket and had to wrestle him to the ground. During another arrest he was in possession of body armor.
Michael Barros 1997 Solved
On April 19 1997 Michael Barros (16) was fatally shot at the Rivet Street home of Filipe Barros (18). The two individuals weren't related, Michael was living with Filipe's family at the time. The two were playing with loaded firearms when it discharged, shooting Michael in the chest.
The New Bedford Police investigated the shooting as "accidental" when in fact it wasn't. Filipe cooperated with investigators but also maintained it was "accidental". Police searched the home of Filipe as part of the investigation and recovered two (2) additional firearms and packets of heroin.
Filipe was arrested and charged with manslaughter, assault & battery with a dangerous weapon , possession of ammunition, and possession of heroin. Filipe was released on bail.
Filipe Barros 1997 Solved
Four (4) months after the shooting death of Michael, before Filipe's trial even began, Filipe was shot and killed on Aug 9 1997 on Blackmer Street. Nelson Rodriguez (33) claimed he was severely assaulted by Filipe several months prior and returned to the neighborhood to purchase drugs and to seek revenge. Rodriguez drove onto Blackmer Street and exited his vehicle with a black revolver and approached Filipe and two other men.
He drew the weapon and shot Filipe in the head, When Filipe fell to the ground, Rodriguez shot him in the chest. The other two men were unharmed. "Do you remember the time you jumped me?" Rodriguez stated as he walked back towards his vehicle. Before reaching his vehicle Rodriguez walked back to Filipe and shot him two (2) additional times, then left the scene. Police recovered the weapon from a storm drain, and tests proved it was the weapon used to kill Filipe.
On Nov 18 1998 Nelson Rodriguez was convicted of 1st degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In 2010 Rodriguez appealed claiming a violation of his civil rights regarding the jury selection process. He was granted a new trial on Feb 11 2014, where he plead guilty to 2nd degree murder which resulted in a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving 15 years. Since he had already served 16 years, he was eligible for a parole hearing.
In 2014 and 2018 Rodriguez was denied parole. On September 27 2021 Nelson was granted parole, after serving 23 years in prison.
On April 19 1997 Michael Barros (16) was fatally shot at the Rivet Street home of Filipe Barros (18). The two individuals weren't related, Michael was living with Filipe's family at the time. The two were playing with loaded firearms when it discharged, shooting Michael in the chest.
The New Bedford Police investigated the shooting as "accidental" when in fact it wasn't. Filipe cooperated with investigators but also maintained it was "accidental". Police searched the home of Filipe as part of the investigation and recovered two (2) additional firearms and packets of heroin.
Filipe was arrested and charged with manslaughter, assault & battery with a dangerous weapon , possession of ammunition, and possession of heroin. Filipe was released on bail.
Filipe Barros 1997 Solved
Four (4) months after the shooting death of Michael, before Filipe's trial even began, Filipe was shot and killed on Aug 9 1997 on Blackmer Street. Nelson Rodriguez (33) claimed he was severely assaulted by Filipe several months prior and returned to the neighborhood to purchase drugs and to seek revenge. Rodriguez drove onto Blackmer Street and exited his vehicle with a black revolver and approached Filipe and two other men.
He drew the weapon and shot Filipe in the head, When Filipe fell to the ground, Rodriguez shot him in the chest. The other two men were unharmed. "Do you remember the time you jumped me?" Rodriguez stated as he walked back towards his vehicle. Before reaching his vehicle Rodriguez walked back to Filipe and shot him two (2) additional times, then left the scene. Police recovered the weapon from a storm drain, and tests proved it was the weapon used to kill Filipe.
On Nov 18 1998 Nelson Rodriguez was convicted of 1st degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In 2010 Rodriguez appealed claiming a violation of his civil rights regarding the jury selection process. He was granted a new trial on Feb 11 2014, where he plead guilty to 2nd degree murder which resulted in a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving 15 years. Since he had already served 16 years, he was eligible for a parole hearing.
In 2014 and 2018 Rodriguez was denied parole. On September 27 2021 Nelson was granted parole, after serving 23 years in prison.
Daniel "D.J." Correia 1994 Solved
On April 15 1994 around 3 p.m. Timothy Reaves, and three (3) of his companions (Scott Rose, Richard Hazard and Michael Coull) came to Magnet Park located inside the United Front Housing Complex to purchase heroin. They approached Joseph Correia, the brother of Daniel Correia and ask if he had heroin. Correia stated he did, however when Reaves pulled out money to proceed with the transaction, Correia snatched the money and told Reaves there wasn't any drugs here and kept the money.
During the exchange three (3) companions of Correia's approached and ultimately the money was returned to Reaves.
The gesture did not sit well with Reaves, who then pulled out more money then began arguing with another of Correia's companions. The argument ended abruptly when Reaves was punched in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Scott Rose then picked up Reaves, carried him to his vehicle, and placed him in the back seat, still unconscious. Rose threatened, "We'll be back to spray it up." As they left, the men in the car, repeated the threat, "We'll be back."
Around 5 p.m. the four (4) men appear at the Taunton home of Patricia Chaney and William Watson. Chaney and Watson knew Rose well. Rose told Watson one of his friends got beat up pretty badly and he wanted to take care of the people who beat up his friend. Watson opened his gun cabinet and drew out a Winchester twelve-gauge pneumatic pump shotgun that held six green shells. The men put the gun and a broom in a trash bag and drove away.
Shots Fired, Joseph Correia hit, his brother Daniel Correia killed.
Around 7 P.M. that evening, the four (4) men returned to Magnet Park in Rose's vehicle , with Rose operating. Hazard was in the front passenger seat with the s shotgun. Coull was sitting behind the driver, and Reaves was sitting behind Hazard. The two in the front had bandanas pulled over their faces. The men in the back seat wore sunglasses and caps.
Many people were still outside in front of the housing development adjacent to the park, including Joseph Correia and the companions who had been with him during the confrontation earlier that afternoon. As Rose drove up the street toward Joseph Correia's group, gunshots rang out from the car. Two weapons were firing, one out the front driver's side window and another out the rear driver's side window. As Joseph Correia ducked behind the parked car, he was shot in the leg. Another shot hit Daniel Correia (14), who fell to the ground. Other shots were fired in the general direction of the housing development striking a car, a door, and windows as high as the third floor. Joseph and Daniel Correia were the only two people hit. Daniel died shortly thereafter of a single bullet wound through the heart.
Police Pursuit
The vehicle fled the scene but was followed by a man on a motorcycle. Specific information about the car, including its whereabouts and direction, were soon relayed to the police. As police cars came into view of Rose's vehicle, the driver in the car behind Rose saw a black object thrown out one of the passenger side windows. The witness later brought police back to the spot, where they retrieved a nine-millimeter handgun. ballistics testing confirmed that the bullet taken from Daniel Correia's body had been fired from that same handgun. Rose led police on a chase with speeds in excess of 100MPH, breaking through a police roadblock in Taunton. The chase ended when Rose's vehicle crashed into another car. Hazard got out of the front passenger side and attempted to flee on foot. Rose was slumped over the steering wheel. Coull had been ejected part way out the rear driver's side window. Reaves was in the rear passenger seat, having suffered a spinal fracture. As police came upon the accident scene immediately following the crash, an officer saw a shotgun thrown out a passenger side window. The shotgun was later identified as the one Rose had borrowed from William Watson earlier that evening.
The accident rendered Reaves quadriplegic, with no use of his legs and limited use of his arms.
Scott Rose and Richard Hazard Trials 1995
On September 11 1995 both men were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on the murder conviction, to a concurrent from three to five-year term for unlawful possession of a firearm, and to a from three to five-year term, from and after the murder sentence, for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
In April 2009 Scott Rose was eligible for parole, which was denied by the Parole Board. On March 12 2012 at 8:17p.m. Rose was found hanging from a bed sheet in his prison cell at MCI-Shirley.
In 2017 Richard Hazard was eligible for parole.
Michael Coull Trial 1996
Coull plead guilty to manslaughter. He plead guilty to the lesser charge -- rather than risk a conviction of first-degree murder and a mandatory sentence of life without parole -- after his attorney and prosecutors reached a partial plea agreement. Coull was sentenced Mr. Coull to 18 to 20 years for manslaughter, followed by a four- to six-year term for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He will be eligible for parole after serving 14 years and eight months, the same amount of time two others convicted of second-degree murder in the case must serve before being eligible for release.
In August 2009 Taunton Police Detective Vice Unit conducted a drug raid at a Davis Street Taunton address. Michael Coull and his son, Michael Coull Jr. who allegedly have been operating a drug distribution enterprise
Timothy Reaves Trial 1996
The man who fired the fatal shot, killing Daniel Correia, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence without parole.
Timothy Reaves Sues Massachusetts 2015
As mentioned prior, Reaves is a quadriplegic, with no use of his legs and limited use of his arms. Reaves claimed the State of Massachusetts failed to accommodate for his disabilities. He also maintains that he is subjected to abuse by other inmates.
Reaves claimed prison officials at Bridgewater State Hospital for several assaults he suffered there, including having urine thrown in his face, being punched in the abdomen and having his feet licked repeatedly by a mentally ill patient. Attorneys for the Department of Correction argued some of Reaves’ complaints were exaggerated and showed the jury paperwork of them approving numerous accommodation requests over the years.
In 2018 Timothy Reaves was awarded nothing in federal court after a jury rejected his contention that the state violated his rights in prison.
On April 15 1994 around 3 p.m. Timothy Reaves, and three (3) of his companions (Scott Rose, Richard Hazard and Michael Coull) came to Magnet Park located inside the United Front Housing Complex to purchase heroin. They approached Joseph Correia, the brother of Daniel Correia and ask if he had heroin. Correia stated he did, however when Reaves pulled out money to proceed with the transaction, Correia snatched the money and told Reaves there wasn't any drugs here and kept the money.
During the exchange three (3) companions of Correia's approached and ultimately the money was returned to Reaves.
The gesture did not sit well with Reaves, who then pulled out more money then began arguing with another of Correia's companions. The argument ended abruptly when Reaves was punched in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Scott Rose then picked up Reaves, carried him to his vehicle, and placed him in the back seat, still unconscious. Rose threatened, "We'll be back to spray it up." As they left, the men in the car, repeated the threat, "We'll be back."
Around 5 p.m. the four (4) men appear at the Taunton home of Patricia Chaney and William Watson. Chaney and Watson knew Rose well. Rose told Watson one of his friends got beat up pretty badly and he wanted to take care of the people who beat up his friend. Watson opened his gun cabinet and drew out a Winchester twelve-gauge pneumatic pump shotgun that held six green shells. The men put the gun and a broom in a trash bag and drove away.
Shots Fired, Joseph Correia hit, his brother Daniel Correia killed.
Around 7 P.M. that evening, the four (4) men returned to Magnet Park in Rose's vehicle , with Rose operating. Hazard was in the front passenger seat with the s shotgun. Coull was sitting behind the driver, and Reaves was sitting behind Hazard. The two in the front had bandanas pulled over their faces. The men in the back seat wore sunglasses and caps.
Many people were still outside in front of the housing development adjacent to the park, including Joseph Correia and the companions who had been with him during the confrontation earlier that afternoon. As Rose drove up the street toward Joseph Correia's group, gunshots rang out from the car. Two weapons were firing, one out the front driver's side window and another out the rear driver's side window. As Joseph Correia ducked behind the parked car, he was shot in the leg. Another shot hit Daniel Correia (14), who fell to the ground. Other shots were fired in the general direction of the housing development striking a car, a door, and windows as high as the third floor. Joseph and Daniel Correia were the only two people hit. Daniel died shortly thereafter of a single bullet wound through the heart.
Police Pursuit
The vehicle fled the scene but was followed by a man on a motorcycle. Specific information about the car, including its whereabouts and direction, were soon relayed to the police. As police cars came into view of Rose's vehicle, the driver in the car behind Rose saw a black object thrown out one of the passenger side windows. The witness later brought police back to the spot, where they retrieved a nine-millimeter handgun. ballistics testing confirmed that the bullet taken from Daniel Correia's body had been fired from that same handgun. Rose led police on a chase with speeds in excess of 100MPH, breaking through a police roadblock in Taunton. The chase ended when Rose's vehicle crashed into another car. Hazard got out of the front passenger side and attempted to flee on foot. Rose was slumped over the steering wheel. Coull had been ejected part way out the rear driver's side window. Reaves was in the rear passenger seat, having suffered a spinal fracture. As police came upon the accident scene immediately following the crash, an officer saw a shotgun thrown out a passenger side window. The shotgun was later identified as the one Rose had borrowed from William Watson earlier that evening.
The accident rendered Reaves quadriplegic, with no use of his legs and limited use of his arms.
Scott Rose and Richard Hazard Trials 1995
On September 11 1995 both men were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on the murder conviction, to a concurrent from three to five-year term for unlawful possession of a firearm, and to a from three to five-year term, from and after the murder sentence, for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
In April 2009 Scott Rose was eligible for parole, which was denied by the Parole Board. On March 12 2012 at 8:17p.m. Rose was found hanging from a bed sheet in his prison cell at MCI-Shirley.
In 2017 Richard Hazard was eligible for parole.
Michael Coull Trial 1996
Coull plead guilty to manslaughter. He plead guilty to the lesser charge -- rather than risk a conviction of first-degree murder and a mandatory sentence of life without parole -- after his attorney and prosecutors reached a partial plea agreement. Coull was sentenced Mr. Coull to 18 to 20 years for manslaughter, followed by a four- to six-year term for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He will be eligible for parole after serving 14 years and eight months, the same amount of time two others convicted of second-degree murder in the case must serve before being eligible for release.
In August 2009 Taunton Police Detective Vice Unit conducted a drug raid at a Davis Street Taunton address. Michael Coull and his son, Michael Coull Jr. who allegedly have been operating a drug distribution enterprise
Timothy Reaves Trial 1996
The man who fired the fatal shot, killing Daniel Correia, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence without parole.
Timothy Reaves Sues Massachusetts 2015
As mentioned prior, Reaves is a quadriplegic, with no use of his legs and limited use of his arms. Reaves claimed the State of Massachusetts failed to accommodate for his disabilities. He also maintains that he is subjected to abuse by other inmates.
Reaves claimed prison officials at Bridgewater State Hospital for several assaults he suffered there, including having urine thrown in his face, being punched in the abdomen and having his feet licked repeatedly by a mentally ill patient. Attorneys for the Department of Correction argued some of Reaves’ complaints were exaggerated and showed the jury paperwork of them approving numerous accommodation requests over the years.
In 2018 Timothy Reaves was awarded nothing in federal court after a jury rejected his contention that the state violated his rights in prison.
Brent Davis 1991 Solved 2024
Brent Davis (20), a resident of Newport R.I. was shot and killed on October 25, 1991 on Yale Street.
At the time of the murder, witnesses identified the suspect as an individual named "Bobby." A witness told investigators that "Bobby" went to his girlfriend's apartment after the homicide, stating that Davis was dead and that he needed to get out of town. "Bobby" was originally from the Dominican Republic and fled the city immediately after the killing of Davis. Brent Davis had only been staying in New Bedford for a few days before his murder. Brent was laid to rest in the Middletown Cemetery.
Investigators created a sketch and located two relatives of the suspect who were living in New Bedford. Those relatives claimed "Bobby" was also known as "Reynaldo Suriel" and that he was from New York City.
The suspect was never located, and no arrests were made.
Investigation Summary
In 2020 investigators from Massachusetts and New York City learned from a relative that "Reynaldo Suriel" was an alias for Claudio Jorge, and that Brent's murder was a result of a drug distribution dispute.
Claudio Jorge had a lengthy criminal record with narcotics and weapons offenses. Jorge was incarcerated in New York in 1983 for an armed robbery and a shooting and in 1988 for narcotics and weapons offenses. He was arrested in 1992, then deported to the Dominican Republic in 1998.
In 2006 Claudio Jorge, now age 40, was killed while being robbed in the Dominican Republican.
Brent Davis (20), a resident of Newport R.I. was shot and killed on October 25, 1991 on Yale Street.
At the time of the murder, witnesses identified the suspect as an individual named "Bobby." A witness told investigators that "Bobby" went to his girlfriend's apartment after the homicide, stating that Davis was dead and that he needed to get out of town. "Bobby" was originally from the Dominican Republic and fled the city immediately after the killing of Davis. Brent Davis had only been staying in New Bedford for a few days before his murder. Brent was laid to rest in the Middletown Cemetery.
Investigators created a sketch and located two relatives of the suspect who were living in New Bedford. Those relatives claimed "Bobby" was also known as "Reynaldo Suriel" and that he was from New York City.
The suspect was never located, and no arrests were made.
Investigation Summary
In 2020 investigators from Massachusetts and New York City learned from a relative that "Reynaldo Suriel" was an alias for Claudio Jorge, and that Brent's murder was a result of a drug distribution dispute.
Claudio Jorge had a lengthy criminal record with narcotics and weapons offenses. Jorge was incarcerated in New York in 1983 for an armed robbery and a shooting and in 1988 for narcotics and weapons offenses. He was arrested in 1992, then deported to the Dominican Republic in 1998.
In 2006 Claudio Jorge, now age 40, was killed while being robbed in the Dominican Republican.
Alice Arruda Vieira 1988 Solved 1994
Our policy is not to profile deaths connected to domestic violence; however, this case is very unusual.
The suspect fled to Canada, and was profiled on Unsolved Mysteries.
On June 29, 1974, on the Portuguese island of St. Michael, twin sisters Alice and Georgina Arruda married their sweethearts. Alice was (17), and her new husband, David Vieira (16). David and Alice were first cousins, but such unions are common among traditional Portuguese families. Fourteen (14) years later and 5,000 miles away in New Bedford, she would be murdered by her husband.
By 1981, David and Alice had three children. The marriage began to crumble, but Alice stayed with David because he was the father of their children and she was brought up to stay married. As time went on David became physically and mentally abusive towards Alice and the children. Several occasions telling Alice "If you ever leave me, I'm going to kill you".
In early 1988, Alice found the courage to defy her parents and decided to get David out of the house. Alice began to build a new life for herself. She enrolled in nursing school, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She also began seeing another man.
On July 25, 1988, her boyfriend came to visit her. Alice looked outside and noticed that David was sitting in his car nearby. He apparently had driven up and down the street and noticed Alice's boyfriend's car at her house. He apparently began enraged by this.
A few moments later, David broke open the front door and attacked Alice. Her boyfriend witnessed the attack and ran a mile to the nearest New Bedford Police station to get help. She had been bludgeoned with a tire jack and stabbed twenty-four (24) times with a butcher knife. A knife found at the scene matched ones found at a home David was residing at. By the time police arrived at the scene, she was dead; David, was nowhere to be found.
David's vehicle was later found abandoned on Route 24 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Detectives discovered that he had taken a bus from Fall River to Boston, and then from Boston to Canada. Someone matching his description got off of a bus in Canada near Hamilton, Ontario. From that point on, police were unable to find out where he went.
In 1990 a grand jury indicted him in absentia on a charge of first-degree murder.
"Unsolved Mysteries" TV Broadcast
The case was first profiled on April 13, 1994 and brief updated aired on April 20, 1994.
David Vieira Captured in Canada
Police received thirty (30) phone call tips which lead investigators to Canada. At 3:30pm on April 15, 1994, within forty-eight hours of the broadcast, he was arrested at his home in central Montreal, Quebec, after six (6) years on the run. He had lived in the Plateau Mont Royal district for at least two years under the name "Antonio Pacheco" and was well known in the Portuguese community. He belonged to a neighborhood soccer team and was employed at a local fish market.
In October 1994, David was extradited back to Massachusetts. In May 1996, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fifteen (15) years. He served his sentence and has been released.
David was the 108th fugitive captured as a result of being profiled on the TV program.
Our policy is not to profile deaths connected to domestic violence; however, this case is very unusual.
The suspect fled to Canada, and was profiled on Unsolved Mysteries.
On June 29, 1974, on the Portuguese island of St. Michael, twin sisters Alice and Georgina Arruda married their sweethearts. Alice was (17), and her new husband, David Vieira (16). David and Alice were first cousins, but such unions are common among traditional Portuguese families. Fourteen (14) years later and 5,000 miles away in New Bedford, she would be murdered by her husband.
By 1981, David and Alice had three children. The marriage began to crumble, but Alice stayed with David because he was the father of their children and she was brought up to stay married. As time went on David became physically and mentally abusive towards Alice and the children. Several occasions telling Alice "If you ever leave me, I'm going to kill you".
In early 1988, Alice found the courage to defy her parents and decided to get David out of the house. Alice began to build a new life for herself. She enrolled in nursing school, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She also began seeing another man.
On July 25, 1988, her boyfriend came to visit her. Alice looked outside and noticed that David was sitting in his car nearby. He apparently had driven up and down the street and noticed Alice's boyfriend's car at her house. He apparently began enraged by this.
A few moments later, David broke open the front door and attacked Alice. Her boyfriend witnessed the attack and ran a mile to the nearest New Bedford Police station to get help. She had been bludgeoned with a tire jack and stabbed twenty-four (24) times with a butcher knife. A knife found at the scene matched ones found at a home David was residing at. By the time police arrived at the scene, she was dead; David, was nowhere to be found.
David's vehicle was later found abandoned on Route 24 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Detectives discovered that he had taken a bus from Fall River to Boston, and then from Boston to Canada. Someone matching his description got off of a bus in Canada near Hamilton, Ontario. From that point on, police were unable to find out where he went.
In 1990 a grand jury indicted him in absentia on a charge of first-degree murder.
"Unsolved Mysteries" TV Broadcast
The case was first profiled on April 13, 1994 and brief updated aired on April 20, 1994.
David Vieira Captured in Canada
Police received thirty (30) phone call tips which lead investigators to Canada. At 3:30pm on April 15, 1994, within forty-eight hours of the broadcast, he was arrested at his home in central Montreal, Quebec, after six (6) years on the run. He had lived in the Plateau Mont Royal district for at least two years under the name "Antonio Pacheco" and was well known in the Portuguese community. He belonged to a neighborhood soccer team and was employed at a local fish market.
In October 1994, David was extradited back to Massachusetts. In May 1996, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fifteen (15) years. He served his sentence and has been released.
David was the 108th fugitive captured as a result of being profiled on the TV program.
William Marquetty 1988 Solved
William Marquetty stepped off a boat in Key West, Florida on June 13, 1980, with only the clothes on his back. He was released from a Cuban prison before arriving in Florida. He was one of 2,600 Cuban prison inmates who arrived in Florida during the 1980 Mariel boatlifts. Briefly, the Mariel boatlifts was a mass emigration of Cubans who traveled from Cuban's Mariel Harbor to the United States between April and October 1980. It was later discovered that a large number of the refugees had been released from Cuban jail and mental health facilities. Out of the around 125,000 refugees that entered the United States around 16,000 to 20,000 were estimated to be criminals according to a 1985 Sun Sentinel magazine article.
After arriving in Key West, Marguetty was sent to a refugee detention camp in Wisconsin for four (4) days before he was transferred to the McNeill Federal Penitentiary near Seattle Washington. He was detained in that facility for ten (10) months. It was during his stay at McNeill that Marguetty applied for political asylum, claiming he was treated as a political prisoner while held in the Cuban jail. The request for asylum was denied Oct. 29, 1980, due to lack of evidence that his freedom or freedom of religion was restricted more than any other prisoner. A subsequent appeal was also denied.
In May of 1981, Marguetty was transferred to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta Georgia. He remained there for ten (10) months before he was released March 18, 1982. A Cuban refugee group sponsored Marguetty and three others, bringing them to Boston Massachusetts to start a new life. Marguetty tried to assimilate to a new culture, getting work as a dishwasher. He worked at the Olympic Restaurant in Quincy, and shared a New Bedford apartment at 193 Weld Street with his common-law wife.
March 6 1986 Marquetty Arrested
The MBTA Police (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police) arrested and charged Marquetty with open and gross lewdness after he was observed repeatedly "intentionally bumping into the rears of women passengers" on a trolley. At the time of his arrest, Marguetty had exposed himself. Marguetty was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on March 10, 1986. The case was then continued to April 9, 1986, when Marguetty admitted to facts sufficient for a guilty finding. Judge William J. Tierney continued the case without a finding for six months, but as part of the sentence, Tierney ordered that Marguetty be evaluated by a court clinic. It's unclear whether Marguetty ever received psychiatric care or was monitored by those responsible for his probation.
Milton & Quincy Stabbings Dec 1986-Jan 1987
Four (4) women were attacked and stabbed as they walked or jogged alone in Quincy and Milton between Dec 30 1986 and Jan 19 1987.
In January 1987, MBTA Police investigators turned over a photograph of Marguetty to a special task force formed to investigate the stabbings. Marguetty was among eight to 10 men who fit the physical description of the stabbing suspect. Later, Quincy police took Marguetty into custody on a traffic warrant and questioned him about the stabbings. However, he was released and not charged because he was driving a green car at the time, and witnesses had identified the suspect as driving an orange car.
New Bedford Stabbing Jan 6 1987
On January 6 1987 a 13-year old female was critically wounded as a result of stab wounds while waiting for her school bus. Marguetty was the "the prime suspect" in the stabbing. Investigators initially were unsure if the schoolgirl stabbing was related to the Quincy and Milton attacks because the assailant who stabbed the women had said nothing to his victims, while the man who stabbed the girl had spoken.
New Bedford Stabbing Feb 9 1987 - Murdered Margaret Nunes (1957-1987)
Margaret Nunes (29) rented an apartment in the building where Marguetty once lived. Nunes was found dead Feb. 9 in a snowbank a short distance from her home. Marguetty was indicted for the murder of Margaret Nunes based on forensic evidence, including hair and fiber analysis performed at the FBI laboratories in Washington, linking Marguetty to the killing. Marquetty was indicted on Oct 22 1987 for the murder. Margaret wa slaid to rest in St John's Cemetery Grave #1196 in St John Section.
Roslindale Stabbing Mar 19 1987 - Murdered Ann M. Gillietti
Ann M Gillietti was stabbed more than 50 times, while her 2-year-old daughter was left unharmed nearby.
Search Warrant Issued for New Bedford Apartment March 24 1987
In the affidavit, which was filed to support the application for four (4) search warrants, reveals some important details relating to the Gillietti murder. The affidavit indicates Gillietti was the girlfriend of Norberto Morales, who is the brother of Marguetty's common-law-wife, Nelida Morales and who lives with his sister and Marguetty in New Bedford. Three (3) hours prior to the discovery of Gillietti's body, Marguetty informed Norberto Morales that Gillietti "had been stabbed many times" and was dead. Marguetty had a vehicle registered to the same address where Gillietti was killed, Nelida Morales' mother lived there and Marguetty's wife had one-time resided there as well.
On March 24 1987 Marguetty stood with police outside his New Bedford home, as police searched his green Pontiac Ventura for the traces of blood, hair, and fibers. Police found under the front seat, just where Marguetty said it would be found, an eight-inch hunting knife that police believe was used to kill Gillietti. They also recovered, from the roofliner of the vehicle, a second knife, which was sent for testing to determine if it was used in the other stabbings. Sneakers were also recovered that matched footprints recovered from the scene.
In a dramatic turn of events, Marguetty confessed to killing Gillieti. In the confession, Marguetty said he killed Gillietti because he objected to her lifestyle. He was then placed under arrest and transported back to Boston Police. During a tape-recorded confession, which will become the focus of legal battles, Marguetty gave a chilling, and specific account of what occurred at Gillietti's apartment on March 19 1987.
Investigators had found a witness who claimed to have seen Marguetty changing a license plate from the orange car, a Chevy Nova to another car around the time of the stabbings. The plate swapping occurred near the Quincy restaurant where Marguetty worked as a dishwasher. The license plate, except for one digit, was identical to the license plate number provided by the victims in the Milton and Quincy attacks. Also located was a Boston man who claimed to have purchased the orange car from Marguetty.
In a jailhouse interview with the Globe in April 1987 Marguetty acknowledged he stabbed Gillietti but denied involvement in the murders and attacks in New Bedford, Milton and Quincy. Marguetty's lawyer has said he believes his client has "serious psychological problems."
February 26 1988 Marguetty Sentenced
William Marguetty received the maximum sentence of 18 to 20 years for each of the four stabbings, for a total of 72 to 80 years in prison. July 1990 he was convicted of 1st degree murder in connection the the Nunes case.
William Marquetty stepped off a boat in Key West, Florida on June 13, 1980, with only the clothes on his back. He was released from a Cuban prison before arriving in Florida. He was one of 2,600 Cuban prison inmates who arrived in Florida during the 1980 Mariel boatlifts. Briefly, the Mariel boatlifts was a mass emigration of Cubans who traveled from Cuban's Mariel Harbor to the United States between April and October 1980. It was later discovered that a large number of the refugees had been released from Cuban jail and mental health facilities. Out of the around 125,000 refugees that entered the United States around 16,000 to 20,000 were estimated to be criminals according to a 1985 Sun Sentinel magazine article.
After arriving in Key West, Marguetty was sent to a refugee detention camp in Wisconsin for four (4) days before he was transferred to the McNeill Federal Penitentiary near Seattle Washington. He was detained in that facility for ten (10) months. It was during his stay at McNeill that Marguetty applied for political asylum, claiming he was treated as a political prisoner while held in the Cuban jail. The request for asylum was denied Oct. 29, 1980, due to lack of evidence that his freedom or freedom of religion was restricted more than any other prisoner. A subsequent appeal was also denied.
In May of 1981, Marguetty was transferred to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta Georgia. He remained there for ten (10) months before he was released March 18, 1982. A Cuban refugee group sponsored Marguetty and three others, bringing them to Boston Massachusetts to start a new life. Marguetty tried to assimilate to a new culture, getting work as a dishwasher. He worked at the Olympic Restaurant in Quincy, and shared a New Bedford apartment at 193 Weld Street with his common-law wife.
March 6 1986 Marquetty Arrested
The MBTA Police (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police) arrested and charged Marquetty with open and gross lewdness after he was observed repeatedly "intentionally bumping into the rears of women passengers" on a trolley. At the time of his arrest, Marguetty had exposed himself. Marguetty was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on March 10, 1986. The case was then continued to April 9, 1986, when Marguetty admitted to facts sufficient for a guilty finding. Judge William J. Tierney continued the case without a finding for six months, but as part of the sentence, Tierney ordered that Marguetty be evaluated by a court clinic. It's unclear whether Marguetty ever received psychiatric care or was monitored by those responsible for his probation.
Milton & Quincy Stabbings Dec 1986-Jan 1987
Four (4) women were attacked and stabbed as they walked or jogged alone in Quincy and Milton between Dec 30 1986 and Jan 19 1987.
In January 1987, MBTA Police investigators turned over a photograph of Marguetty to a special task force formed to investigate the stabbings. Marguetty was among eight to 10 men who fit the physical description of the stabbing suspect. Later, Quincy police took Marguetty into custody on a traffic warrant and questioned him about the stabbings. However, he was released and not charged because he was driving a green car at the time, and witnesses had identified the suspect as driving an orange car.
New Bedford Stabbing Jan 6 1987
On January 6 1987 a 13-year old female was critically wounded as a result of stab wounds while waiting for her school bus. Marguetty was the "the prime suspect" in the stabbing. Investigators initially were unsure if the schoolgirl stabbing was related to the Quincy and Milton attacks because the assailant who stabbed the women had said nothing to his victims, while the man who stabbed the girl had spoken.
New Bedford Stabbing Feb 9 1987 - Murdered Margaret Nunes (1957-1987)
Margaret Nunes (29) rented an apartment in the building where Marguetty once lived. Nunes was found dead Feb. 9 in a snowbank a short distance from her home. Marguetty was indicted for the murder of Margaret Nunes based on forensic evidence, including hair and fiber analysis performed at the FBI laboratories in Washington, linking Marguetty to the killing. Marquetty was indicted on Oct 22 1987 for the murder. Margaret wa slaid to rest in St John's Cemetery Grave #1196 in St John Section.
Roslindale Stabbing Mar 19 1987 - Murdered Ann M. Gillietti
Ann M Gillietti was stabbed more than 50 times, while her 2-year-old daughter was left unharmed nearby.
Search Warrant Issued for New Bedford Apartment March 24 1987
In the affidavit, which was filed to support the application for four (4) search warrants, reveals some important details relating to the Gillietti murder. The affidavit indicates Gillietti was the girlfriend of Norberto Morales, who is the brother of Marguetty's common-law-wife, Nelida Morales and who lives with his sister and Marguetty in New Bedford. Three (3) hours prior to the discovery of Gillietti's body, Marguetty informed Norberto Morales that Gillietti "had been stabbed many times" and was dead. Marguetty had a vehicle registered to the same address where Gillietti was killed, Nelida Morales' mother lived there and Marguetty's wife had one-time resided there as well.
On March 24 1987 Marguetty stood with police outside his New Bedford home, as police searched his green Pontiac Ventura for the traces of blood, hair, and fibers. Police found under the front seat, just where Marguetty said it would be found, an eight-inch hunting knife that police believe was used to kill Gillietti. They also recovered, from the roofliner of the vehicle, a second knife, which was sent for testing to determine if it was used in the other stabbings. Sneakers were also recovered that matched footprints recovered from the scene.
In a dramatic turn of events, Marguetty confessed to killing Gillieti. In the confession, Marguetty said he killed Gillietti because he objected to her lifestyle. He was then placed under arrest and transported back to Boston Police. During a tape-recorded confession, which will become the focus of legal battles, Marguetty gave a chilling, and specific account of what occurred at Gillietti's apartment on March 19 1987.
Investigators had found a witness who claimed to have seen Marguetty changing a license plate from the orange car, a Chevy Nova to another car around the time of the stabbings. The plate swapping occurred near the Quincy restaurant where Marguetty worked as a dishwasher. The license plate, except for one digit, was identical to the license plate number provided by the victims in the Milton and Quincy attacks. Also located was a Boston man who claimed to have purchased the orange car from Marguetty.
In a jailhouse interview with the Globe in April 1987 Marguetty acknowledged he stabbed Gillietti but denied involvement in the murders and attacks in New Bedford, Milton and Quincy. Marguetty's lawyer has said he believes his client has "serious psychological problems."
February 26 1988 Marguetty Sentenced
William Marguetty received the maximum sentence of 18 to 20 years for each of the four stabbings, for a total of 72 to 80 years in prison. July 1990 he was convicted of 1st degree murder in connection the the Nunes case.
New Bedford Riot 1970 Solved
A challenging time for the City of New Bedford
Economic Status - March 1970
The City of New Bedford had been rated an area of "persistent and substantial" unemployment. The city had the second highest unemployment rate in the nation. African-American unemployment in the city was 30%. Adding to the unemployment were complaints of inadequate educational facilities, poor housing, and a shortage of recreation space. Since the decline of the whaling trade extensive government programs in the past several years has failed to make a dent in these statistics. A highway construction project had caused demolitions of 1200 units of low-income housing, which were never replaced. Mayor George Rogers complained that his budget that year was cut which eliminated funds for much‐needed recreational facilities in the West End section of the city, and cutting in half the budget for the Human Relations Commission. Black community leaders point to these issues that caused the black community to become more and more restless.
Black Men Arrested, Triggers Race Riots - July 9 1970
Three (3) black men (Warren Houtman, Charlie Perry, James Magnett) were arrested. Warren Houtman was arrested for driving with a defective car light, or perhaps for demonstrating the sound and speed of his souped-up car. Eyewitness, police, and press reports conflict, as do memories. Next was Charlie Perry, known for his street-fighting. That night, he was arrested for assisting a black female escape the police in the aftermath of Houtman’s arrest. And, finally, there was James Magnett, arrested, apparently, just for being present. Magnett was well known as a fiery voice at local meetings and in the letters-to-the-editor column of the the Standard Times.
During the night of July 9, the violence escalated and spread to the South End of the city, which meant significant involvement of Puerto Rican community and the Cape Verdeans. The Cape Verdeans came from an island off Senegal that had been colonized by the Portuguese as an outpost of the Atlantic slave trade. Due to the extensive intermixing, the islanders ranged in color from dark-skinned to fair-skinned, some with blue eyes and straight hair. The Cape Verdeans, then, were neither white nor black, Portuguese nor African.
The city experienced extensive arson, intensive looting, dozens of sniper incidents, and sizeable street crowds confronting local, and state police. Although the use of National Guard forces was urged repeatedly by the city government, and a unit at the nearby Fall River armory was placed on alert several days into the events, those forces were never used.
Murder on Kempton Street - July 11 1970
Three (3) white men (Ralph Brown, George Rose, Gary Deslauriers) drove through a barrier blocking Kempton Street and stopped at the front of the "Club". Brown exited the vehicle and placed a shotgun on the roof of the vehicle and discharged the weapon into a crowd of people, killing Lester Lima (17) and wounding Kim Holland (15), Randy Robinson (14), and Gordon Rebeiro (20).
In the violence that night, 16 people received minor injuries, ten (10) were policemen. Black youths roamed the West End area causing damage. Cars were hit with stones, and buildings were reported hit with fire bombs. New Bedford officials were cautiously hopeful that the three consecutive nights of racial conflict had drained the frustration and anger. The shooting came shortly after the police had set up nightly patrols centering around Kempton Street. Several tenement buildings in that neighborhood were burned in acts of arson. Many clashes between youths, local and state police and even firefighters resulted in quite a few injuries. Peiraccini's Variety Store on Kempton Street began the central location, the owner John Pieraccini died in 2016.
At 12:05 A.M. on July 12 the chief of police, at the request of black leaders convened in emergency meetings with the Mayor and city council and ordered all police officers to vacate the area of Kempton Street and close all streets to traffic. The black community leaders walked out of the emergency meeting with the Mayor and city councilors unable to find some common ground and end the violence. Mayor Rogers then imposed a 9 P.M. to 5 A.M. curfew until further notice. The riots continued, and Senator Edward Brooke a Black Senator set up a committee to negotiate with the mayor and police.
On May 18 1970 A Superior Court jury acquitted, after deliberating for 50-minutes, Ralph Brown, George Rose (died 1997) and Gary Deslauriers of the murder charges from the shooting death of Lester Lima. The prosecution also dropped assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges. This seemed to many city residents to be a shocking result for a clear case of murder. It was widely thought throughout the city that a deal must have been made. Essentially everybody got off, and things quieted down.
Black Panthers Involvement
At the time, there was no organized Black Panther Party in New Bedford, but Frank (Parky) Grace an ex-Vietnam Vet had been organizing and introducing the Black Panthers to the locals. The Black Panthers came to the city and set up a headquarters in the partially burned and looted Pieraccini's Variety store on Kempton Street. An outside classroom taught teachings and handed out Black Panther literature. Pieraccini's quickly turned into an armed fort with sandbags, caches of weapons, and gun slots. Although the civil disorder itself was not the doing of the Panthers, it was clearly influenced by them. The city governments especially the mayor, saw the entire affair as a product of outside agitators.
Police Raid Pieraccini's Variety Store
Rumors claimed the city had reached its limit and intended to raid Pieraccini’s to search for illegal weapons. At a press conference on July 30, the Panthers offered to open their doors, as long as their lawyers could be present. The offer came too late. At about 6:00 a. m. on the morning of July 31, a local resident named Stephen Botelho drove to police headquarters to report that he had been shot. While driving home from work on Kempton Street just after passing Pieraccini’s, he claimed, a sniper had shot at his car, wounding him in the right ankle. Botelhos report would provide the catalyst for a massive raid by local police, with state police standing by and hovering overhead in helicopters.
Twenty-one (21) people were arrested emerging from or standing outside Pieraccini’s that morning, to what would be known as the New Bedford 21. From the beginning and throughout, the group was associated with the Panthers, for Pieraccini’s was essentially a Panther building, occupied by several people known to be members of the Boston Black Panther chapter. Those arrested were charged with several crimes including conspiracy to commit murder and anarchy, and to incite riot. The original total bail was set at well over $1 million. The prisoners were questioned by the FBI, which immediately opened a case file.
The trial dates for those arrested stretched into March of 1970, before trial the serious charges against those defendants were dropped.
"Say, Brother!"
On July 10 1970 A TV crew from WGBH-Boston was in the city filming interviews for the July 16 airing of. Say, Brother!, the first TV show in the country produced for and by black people. On tape, black men in the West End, called the events “the awakening of a sleeping giant”; the mayor called the events a “revolt”; a young black called it a “revolution!” In the footage, community residents from the west and south end neighborhoods of New Bedford discuss discrimination in education and the lack of opportunities open to Black Americans. Overall the program is a special 90-minute program,
The "New Bedford" portion of the program, Host Ray Richardson provided a history of the events on July 8-9-10 1970 according to the press and compares the media's interpretation of the riot with the statements and opinions of community residents. Say Brother visited the west and south end neighborhoods of New Bedford to discuss discrimination, the direction the community is moving, finding non-factory jobs, the problems unemployment presents to mothers, the difficulties of the welfare system, police harassment, and housing. Due to the graphic language of those interviewed for the program, and due to the fact the program was aired in its entirety against the wishes of WGBH management, Say Brother Producer Ray Richardson was fired after the broadcast.
Frank (Parky) Grace
In August 1972 Marvin Morgan was shot to death near the West End Social Club in New Bedford. Although Frank "Parky" Grace insisted that he was with friends at another club at the time of the murder, he was arrested along with his brother, Ross, and two associates. At their trial in January 1974, the prosecution called two friends of Morgan's who were present at the murder, Eric Baker and Jasper Lassister, to testify they had seen the Grace brothers with guns and both claimed to have seen Parky Grace firing twice. Based on this testimony, Ross Grace was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison and Parky was convicted of murder and "armed anarchy" and sentenced to life without parole.Throughout his imprisonment, Grace remained steadfast that he had been framed by the police due to his political activity and high profile in the community. His conviction began to fall apart in 1982 when his brother, who ultimately served fifteen years, came forward and admitted to his parole board that he had killed Morgan and confirming that Parky was not at the scene. Two years later, Lassiter recanted his testimony, leading a judge to call for a new trial and mandate Grace's release. Although a new trial never took place, all charges were dropped by the Bristol County District Attorney in 1987. Frank "Parky" Grace died in 2001.
A challenging time for the City of New Bedford
Economic Status - March 1970
The City of New Bedford had been rated an area of "persistent and substantial" unemployment. The city had the second highest unemployment rate in the nation. African-American unemployment in the city was 30%. Adding to the unemployment were complaints of inadequate educational facilities, poor housing, and a shortage of recreation space. Since the decline of the whaling trade extensive government programs in the past several years has failed to make a dent in these statistics. A highway construction project had caused demolitions of 1200 units of low-income housing, which were never replaced. Mayor George Rogers complained that his budget that year was cut which eliminated funds for much‐needed recreational facilities in the West End section of the city, and cutting in half the budget for the Human Relations Commission. Black community leaders point to these issues that caused the black community to become more and more restless.
Black Men Arrested, Triggers Race Riots - July 9 1970
Three (3) black men (Warren Houtman, Charlie Perry, James Magnett) were arrested. Warren Houtman was arrested for driving with a defective car light, or perhaps for demonstrating the sound and speed of his souped-up car. Eyewitness, police, and press reports conflict, as do memories. Next was Charlie Perry, known for his street-fighting. That night, he was arrested for assisting a black female escape the police in the aftermath of Houtman’s arrest. And, finally, there was James Magnett, arrested, apparently, just for being present. Magnett was well known as a fiery voice at local meetings and in the letters-to-the-editor column of the the Standard Times.
During the night of July 9, the violence escalated and spread to the South End of the city, which meant significant involvement of Puerto Rican community and the Cape Verdeans. The Cape Verdeans came from an island off Senegal that had been colonized by the Portuguese as an outpost of the Atlantic slave trade. Due to the extensive intermixing, the islanders ranged in color from dark-skinned to fair-skinned, some with blue eyes and straight hair. The Cape Verdeans, then, were neither white nor black, Portuguese nor African.
The city experienced extensive arson, intensive looting, dozens of sniper incidents, and sizeable street crowds confronting local, and state police. Although the use of National Guard forces was urged repeatedly by the city government, and a unit at the nearby Fall River armory was placed on alert several days into the events, those forces were never used.
Murder on Kempton Street - July 11 1970
Three (3) white men (Ralph Brown, George Rose, Gary Deslauriers) drove through a barrier blocking Kempton Street and stopped at the front of the "Club". Brown exited the vehicle and placed a shotgun on the roof of the vehicle and discharged the weapon into a crowd of people, killing Lester Lima (17) and wounding Kim Holland (15), Randy Robinson (14), and Gordon Rebeiro (20).
In the violence that night, 16 people received minor injuries, ten (10) were policemen. Black youths roamed the West End area causing damage. Cars were hit with stones, and buildings were reported hit with fire bombs. New Bedford officials were cautiously hopeful that the three consecutive nights of racial conflict had drained the frustration and anger. The shooting came shortly after the police had set up nightly patrols centering around Kempton Street. Several tenement buildings in that neighborhood were burned in acts of arson. Many clashes between youths, local and state police and even firefighters resulted in quite a few injuries. Peiraccini's Variety Store on Kempton Street began the central location, the owner John Pieraccini died in 2016.
At 12:05 A.M. on July 12 the chief of police, at the request of black leaders convened in emergency meetings with the Mayor and city council and ordered all police officers to vacate the area of Kempton Street and close all streets to traffic. The black community leaders walked out of the emergency meeting with the Mayor and city councilors unable to find some common ground and end the violence. Mayor Rogers then imposed a 9 P.M. to 5 A.M. curfew until further notice. The riots continued, and Senator Edward Brooke a Black Senator set up a committee to negotiate with the mayor and police.
On May 18 1970 A Superior Court jury acquitted, after deliberating for 50-minutes, Ralph Brown, George Rose (died 1997) and Gary Deslauriers of the murder charges from the shooting death of Lester Lima. The prosecution also dropped assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges. This seemed to many city residents to be a shocking result for a clear case of murder. It was widely thought throughout the city that a deal must have been made. Essentially everybody got off, and things quieted down.
Black Panthers Involvement
At the time, there was no organized Black Panther Party in New Bedford, but Frank (Parky) Grace an ex-Vietnam Vet had been organizing and introducing the Black Panthers to the locals. The Black Panthers came to the city and set up a headquarters in the partially burned and looted Pieraccini's Variety store on Kempton Street. An outside classroom taught teachings and handed out Black Panther literature. Pieraccini's quickly turned into an armed fort with sandbags, caches of weapons, and gun slots. Although the civil disorder itself was not the doing of the Panthers, it was clearly influenced by them. The city governments especially the mayor, saw the entire affair as a product of outside agitators.
Police Raid Pieraccini's Variety Store
Rumors claimed the city had reached its limit and intended to raid Pieraccini’s to search for illegal weapons. At a press conference on July 30, the Panthers offered to open their doors, as long as their lawyers could be present. The offer came too late. At about 6:00 a. m. on the morning of July 31, a local resident named Stephen Botelho drove to police headquarters to report that he had been shot. While driving home from work on Kempton Street just after passing Pieraccini’s, he claimed, a sniper had shot at his car, wounding him in the right ankle. Botelhos report would provide the catalyst for a massive raid by local police, with state police standing by and hovering overhead in helicopters.
Twenty-one (21) people were arrested emerging from or standing outside Pieraccini’s that morning, to what would be known as the New Bedford 21. From the beginning and throughout, the group was associated with the Panthers, for Pieraccini’s was essentially a Panther building, occupied by several people known to be members of the Boston Black Panther chapter. Those arrested were charged with several crimes including conspiracy to commit murder and anarchy, and to incite riot. The original total bail was set at well over $1 million. The prisoners were questioned by the FBI, which immediately opened a case file.
The trial dates for those arrested stretched into March of 1970, before trial the serious charges against those defendants were dropped.
"Say, Brother!"
On July 10 1970 A TV crew from WGBH-Boston was in the city filming interviews for the July 16 airing of. Say, Brother!, the first TV show in the country produced for and by black people. On tape, black men in the West End, called the events “the awakening of a sleeping giant”; the mayor called the events a “revolt”; a young black called it a “revolution!” In the footage, community residents from the west and south end neighborhoods of New Bedford discuss discrimination in education and the lack of opportunities open to Black Americans. Overall the program is a special 90-minute program,
The "New Bedford" portion of the program, Host Ray Richardson provided a history of the events on July 8-9-10 1970 according to the press and compares the media's interpretation of the riot with the statements and opinions of community residents. Say Brother visited the west and south end neighborhoods of New Bedford to discuss discrimination, the direction the community is moving, finding non-factory jobs, the problems unemployment presents to mothers, the difficulties of the welfare system, police harassment, and housing. Due to the graphic language of those interviewed for the program, and due to the fact the program was aired in its entirety against the wishes of WGBH management, Say Brother Producer Ray Richardson was fired after the broadcast.
Frank (Parky) Grace
In August 1972 Marvin Morgan was shot to death near the West End Social Club in New Bedford. Although Frank "Parky" Grace insisted that he was with friends at another club at the time of the murder, he was arrested along with his brother, Ross, and two associates. At their trial in January 1974, the prosecution called two friends of Morgan's who were present at the murder, Eric Baker and Jasper Lassister, to testify they had seen the Grace brothers with guns and both claimed to have seen Parky Grace firing twice. Based on this testimony, Ross Grace was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison and Parky was convicted of murder and "armed anarchy" and sentenced to life without parole.Throughout his imprisonment, Grace remained steadfast that he had been framed by the police due to his political activity and high profile in the community. His conviction began to fall apart in 1982 when his brother, who ultimately served fifteen years, came forward and admitted to his parole board that he had killed Morgan and confirming that Parky was not at the scene. Two years later, Lassiter recanted his testimony, leading a judge to call for a new trial and mandate Grace's release. Although a new trial never took place, all charges were dropped by the Bristol County District Attorney in 1987. Frank "Parky" Grace died in 2001.
Celestino Medeiros 1924 Executed 1927
Born in San Miquel of the Azores Islands, his parents immigrated to New Bedford around 1904. He attended school in the city until about the age of 15. He did not do well in school due to a problem with his eyesight, which may have been connected to his having epilepsy. At a young age Medeiros had a criminal record consisting of a dozen arrests and convictions, as a result he dropped out of school at age 15 and began a life as a career criminal.
At age 17 be was associated with a group of individuals who worked the streets of Fox Point, the Portuguese section of Providence, Fall River, Taunton and New Bedford soliciting donations from the unsuspecting for their criminal cause. On May 1 1920 he was arrested for fraud and impersonation.
On May 24 1920, while out on bail, Medeiros was arrested for breaking into a shop during the night. He remained in custody until June 14 when he was sentenced to the New Bedford House of Correction where he remained until Dec 1920.
In Jan1921, Medeiros mysteriously came into possession of a large sum of cash which according to different accounts amounted to about $2,800.00. This amount has been pointed out by some historians to approximately 1/6 of the payroll money stolen from a South Braintree heist. According to Medeiros’ own signed confession there were six bandits in all at South Braintree.
Bank Heist and Murder
On the morning of Nov 1 1924 Celestino Medeiros along with three other accomplices, Jimmy Weeks, Alfred Bedard and Harry Goldenberg, held up the First National Bank at Wrentham, MA. Medeiros, shot the cashier who was attempting to set off the alarm. The other bandits along with Medeiros fled the scene and went into hiding. The cashier later died from the gunshot wounds.
A few days later, Medeiros was captured in Providence R.I. Weeks and Bedard were captured a short time later, Goldenberg was never captured. Weeks and Bedard agreed to testify against Medeiros in exchange for a life sentence and as a result Medeiros was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to death.
An appeal was filed for a new trial based on the judges error of not instructing the jury that Medeiros was innocent until proven guilty.
While awaiting for word on the appeal in the Dedham Jail, Medeiros passed his now famous slip of paper to Nicola Sacco. Medeiros did win a new trial but with the same result he was again convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
Sacco & Vanzetti
In 1924 Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti were tried, convicted and then sentenced to death for the murder and robbery of a paymaster and his guard while delivering a payroll of $16,000 to a shoe factory in South Braintree MA. The case gained world-wide attention because of the common belief that they were railroaded by a corrupt judicial system because they were Italian
Their lawyers made a motion for new trial based on Medeiros’ confession and the supporting evidence they found that pointed toward the Morelli Gang as the real culprits in the South Braintree crime. Judge Webster Thayer, the same judge who officiated at Sacco and Vanzetti’s trial ruled the Medeiros motion and stated that “Medeiros is, without a doubt, a crook, a thief, a robber, a liar, a rum-runner, a bouncer in a house of ill-fame, a smuggler, and a man who has been convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of the cashier of the Wrentham Bank.”
Execution
Sacco, Vanzetti and Medeiros were scheduled to be executed by electric chair at the Charlestown State Prison. On Aug 23 1927 Medeiros was executed first, followed by Sacco and Vanzetti
Medeiros’ body was claimed by his relatives and transported to Rogers and Sylvia Funeral Parlor at 216 County Street in New Bedford. Feeling badly and thinking the Medeiros family was destitute, the Mayor Edward R. Hathaway said that the city would pay for the funeral and the burial. It was later determined that Medeiros’ mother owned a tenement building at 735 Belleville Avenue in New Bedford. The city revoked the offer of a free burial since the family wasn’t destitute. As a result, little money was available and Medeiros was buried in the pauper’s section of Pine Grove Cemetery.
Born in San Miquel of the Azores Islands, his parents immigrated to New Bedford around 1904. He attended school in the city until about the age of 15. He did not do well in school due to a problem with his eyesight, which may have been connected to his having epilepsy. At a young age Medeiros had a criminal record consisting of a dozen arrests and convictions, as a result he dropped out of school at age 15 and began a life as a career criminal.
At age 17 be was associated with a group of individuals who worked the streets of Fox Point, the Portuguese section of Providence, Fall River, Taunton and New Bedford soliciting donations from the unsuspecting for their criminal cause. On May 1 1920 he was arrested for fraud and impersonation.
On May 24 1920, while out on bail, Medeiros was arrested for breaking into a shop during the night. He remained in custody until June 14 when he was sentenced to the New Bedford House of Correction where he remained until Dec 1920.
In Jan1921, Medeiros mysteriously came into possession of a large sum of cash which according to different accounts amounted to about $2,800.00. This amount has been pointed out by some historians to approximately 1/6 of the payroll money stolen from a South Braintree heist. According to Medeiros’ own signed confession there were six bandits in all at South Braintree.
Bank Heist and Murder
On the morning of Nov 1 1924 Celestino Medeiros along with three other accomplices, Jimmy Weeks, Alfred Bedard and Harry Goldenberg, held up the First National Bank at Wrentham, MA. Medeiros, shot the cashier who was attempting to set off the alarm. The other bandits along with Medeiros fled the scene and went into hiding. The cashier later died from the gunshot wounds.
A few days later, Medeiros was captured in Providence R.I. Weeks and Bedard were captured a short time later, Goldenberg was never captured. Weeks and Bedard agreed to testify against Medeiros in exchange for a life sentence and as a result Medeiros was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to death.
An appeal was filed for a new trial based on the judges error of not instructing the jury that Medeiros was innocent until proven guilty.
While awaiting for word on the appeal in the Dedham Jail, Medeiros passed his now famous slip of paper to Nicola Sacco. Medeiros did win a new trial but with the same result he was again convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
Sacco & Vanzetti
In 1924 Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti were tried, convicted and then sentenced to death for the murder and robbery of a paymaster and his guard while delivering a payroll of $16,000 to a shoe factory in South Braintree MA. The case gained world-wide attention because of the common belief that they were railroaded by a corrupt judicial system because they were Italian
Their lawyers made a motion for new trial based on Medeiros’ confession and the supporting evidence they found that pointed toward the Morelli Gang as the real culprits in the South Braintree crime. Judge Webster Thayer, the same judge who officiated at Sacco and Vanzetti’s trial ruled the Medeiros motion and stated that “Medeiros is, without a doubt, a crook, a thief, a robber, a liar, a rum-runner, a bouncer in a house of ill-fame, a smuggler, and a man who has been convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of the cashier of the Wrentham Bank.”
Execution
Sacco, Vanzetti and Medeiros were scheduled to be executed by electric chair at the Charlestown State Prison. On Aug 23 1927 Medeiros was executed first, followed by Sacco and Vanzetti
Medeiros’ body was claimed by his relatives and transported to Rogers and Sylvia Funeral Parlor at 216 County Street in New Bedford. Feeling badly and thinking the Medeiros family was destitute, the Mayor Edward R. Hathaway said that the city would pay for the funeral and the burial. It was later determined that Medeiros’ mother owned a tenement building at 735 Belleville Avenue in New Bedford. The city revoked the offer of a free burial since the family wasn’t destitute. As a result, little money was available and Medeiros was buried in the pauper’s section of Pine Grove Cemetery.
Annie Walsh 1914 Solved
"A chance acquaintance in the back room of a saloon, a few moments of laughter and revelry over the cups, and Annie Walsh of 16 Elm Street walked out with her newfound friend last night to her death, for within an hour of the time when she and Captain Matroni of the barge, Snipe, moored at the City Coal Company's wharf; had left the place where they met, she lay in a bunk in the cabin, her body, terribly mutilated, the victim of one of the most vicious and brutal murders that New Bedford has ever known." The story began on the from page of the Evening Standard on Jan 10 1914.
Had it not been for another man, Louis Therrien of Maxfield St, Captain Matroni, who was originally from Bristol RI, would've gotten away with murder. Therrien, who had been drinking with the couple earlier in the evening at Joe Burke's Saloon on the corner of Elm St and Acushnet Ave. Therrien discovered the scene aboard the barge when he went to look for the couple after declining and earlier invitation to join them. He ran from the barge and notified police.
The article painted a horrifying picture, "There on the bunk, practically nude, was the body of the woman; an axe lay against the wall covered with clotting blood." The woman's legs were nearly severed from her body and her head was described as an unrecognizable mass it was so covered in blood. A knife had been used to ply open her abdomen from the breast down. The floor was red with blood.
On board the Snipe, police located Matroni, drunk and crying, his clothing covered in blood and a noose around his neck, but the noose was not drawn tight nor was it attached to anything. When he was shown the body, he claimed he didn't commit the murder but then told Police Inspector Walter Almond, "I suppose I must have done it, for when I have been drinking pretty hard, I don't remember what I do." He was taken into custody. Police believed that the body of Annie Walsh would've been dumped at sea and the crime would've gone undiscovered with the victim simply disappearing. "Adding one more to the long string of those who occasionally mysteriously drop away." alluding the to dark and murky underworld of the waterfront.
Annie Walsh, who sometimes used the alias Annie Welsh, was a well known figure to the police as a frequenter of the back rooms in local barrooms up and down Acushnet Ave. She was commonly known as "Indian Annie" because of her dark complexion. Both of her parents are deceased, and she claimed to be the widow of a Frank Walsh.
On Feb 5 1914, Captain Charles Matroni was indicted murder, there was no degree of murder stipulated. On Feb 13 1914 Matroni plead guilty to murder in the 2nd degree in Taunton Superior Court. Matroni made no statements in court and was sentenced him to life in prison at hard labor by Judge Ratigan.
On Mar 26 1937 an article in the Standard-Times reported Captain Matoni, a convicted murderer, was pardoned by then Governor Charles Hurley. He was released from the Charlestown Prison after serving 23 years of a life sentence. Matroni left Massachusetts and went to New York. On Mar 27 1941 Matroni was found dead on a New York city pier. His death was from natural causes.
"Indian Annie" Walsh was interred on Jan 15 1914 in an unmarked grave (section 10 Lot 106) in Pine Grove Cemetery. It appears she was forgotten after all.
"A chance acquaintance in the back room of a saloon, a few moments of laughter and revelry over the cups, and Annie Walsh of 16 Elm Street walked out with her newfound friend last night to her death, for within an hour of the time when she and Captain Matroni of the barge, Snipe, moored at the City Coal Company's wharf; had left the place where they met, she lay in a bunk in the cabin, her body, terribly mutilated, the victim of one of the most vicious and brutal murders that New Bedford has ever known." The story began on the from page of the Evening Standard on Jan 10 1914.
Had it not been for another man, Louis Therrien of Maxfield St, Captain Matroni, who was originally from Bristol RI, would've gotten away with murder. Therrien, who had been drinking with the couple earlier in the evening at Joe Burke's Saloon on the corner of Elm St and Acushnet Ave. Therrien discovered the scene aboard the barge when he went to look for the couple after declining and earlier invitation to join them. He ran from the barge and notified police.
The article painted a horrifying picture, "There on the bunk, practically nude, was the body of the woman; an axe lay against the wall covered with clotting blood." The woman's legs were nearly severed from her body and her head was described as an unrecognizable mass it was so covered in blood. A knife had been used to ply open her abdomen from the breast down. The floor was red with blood.
On board the Snipe, police located Matroni, drunk and crying, his clothing covered in blood and a noose around his neck, but the noose was not drawn tight nor was it attached to anything. When he was shown the body, he claimed he didn't commit the murder but then told Police Inspector Walter Almond, "I suppose I must have done it, for when I have been drinking pretty hard, I don't remember what I do." He was taken into custody. Police believed that the body of Annie Walsh would've been dumped at sea and the crime would've gone undiscovered with the victim simply disappearing. "Adding one more to the long string of those who occasionally mysteriously drop away." alluding the to dark and murky underworld of the waterfront.
Annie Walsh, who sometimes used the alias Annie Welsh, was a well known figure to the police as a frequenter of the back rooms in local barrooms up and down Acushnet Ave. She was commonly known as "Indian Annie" because of her dark complexion. Both of her parents are deceased, and she claimed to be the widow of a Frank Walsh.
On Feb 5 1914, Captain Charles Matroni was indicted murder, there was no degree of murder stipulated. On Feb 13 1914 Matroni plead guilty to murder in the 2nd degree in Taunton Superior Court. Matroni made no statements in court and was sentenced him to life in prison at hard labor by Judge Ratigan.
On Mar 26 1937 an article in the Standard-Times reported Captain Matoni, a convicted murderer, was pardoned by then Governor Charles Hurley. He was released from the Charlestown Prison after serving 23 years of a life sentence. Matroni left Massachusetts and went to New York. On Mar 27 1941 Matroni was found dead on a New York city pier. His death was from natural causes.
"Indian Annie" Walsh was interred on Jan 15 1914 in an unmarked grave (section 10 Lot 106) in Pine Grove Cemetery. It appears she was forgotten after all.
Edward Dewhurst 1905 Ida Howard 1908 Solved
Edward Dewhurst - Murdered 1905
Edward Dewhurst was shot and killed inside Hazelwood Park in New Bedford in 1905. At the time of the killing, there were no suspects. The case remained unsolved. In 1908, as a result of a domestic dispute, the suspect and a witness were exposed - which lead to another murder two (2) months later.
William C Howard (1883-1937)- Suspect
U.S. Coast Guard Private William C. Howard (24) was stationed at Fort Taber in New Bedford. His enlistment tour ended on October 3 1907 and he returned to his home state of Tennessee and married Ida Williams (18) on October 26 1907. William reenlisted and returned to New Bedford, again assigned to Fort Taber. Soon after his return to New Bedford his new wife, Ida, joined him. She resided in a private home, that William paid for, while he resided in the barracks at the fort.
For several months while the couple was in New Bedford, by agreement between them, Ida passed as his sister "Rhoda". William claimed the reason for this arrangement was to avoid having to explain an event that occurred during his last enlistment while in New Bedford. This event, as William later explained was that he was with a girl, Grace Sturtevant, when he shot and killed Edward Dewhurst. William explained that Grace was the only one who knew that he had committed this crime, because she was present during the murder. William was worried the Grace, if informed of his marriage to Ida, would become angry and notify the New Bedford Police about the details of the shooting, and could testify against him.
During a heated argument between Ida and William, William revealed the truth about the Dewhurst murder. Ida went to the authorities and William was arrested in connection to the Dewhurst murder. During the trial in July 1908, it was revealed in court that William and Ida were married. Grace testified that she witnessed the shooting in Hazelwood Park, and confirmed that William was the shooter, but he acted in self-defense. The charges against William were dropped.
Ida Howard (1890-1908) - Murdered
On September 19 1908, just two (2) months after the trial of her husband for the Dewhurst shooting, Ida is found dead at approximately 12 P.M. floating in the water near the Padanaram Bridge in Dartmouth. Autopsy report showed a slight scratch near one eye, no other marks were indicated on the body. At time of her death, she was from three (3) to four (4) months pregnant. Cause of death was ruled strangulation (by choking), then tossed into the water to give the appearance of a drowning. Ida's death was ruled a homicide.
Investigation Summary
On September 19, 1908, early in the evening, Ida went upstairs to her room in her boarding house for the night. Just a few minutes later she got dressed and quietly left the house and after making a checking on Miss Isherwood then took a street car for Padanaram, just a few miles away, arriving there a little after 10 P.M. Miss Isherwood reported Ida had checked on her previously and on many occasions had seemed depressed ; but that on this visit she seemed in a happier frame of mind. Isherwood stated during the conversation Ida stated "she was then on her way to Padanaram to meet her husband to look at a cottage which they could have for the winter."
After Ida arrived at Padanaram she met William and at some point William murdered her. William was arrested in New Bedford and charged with murder. It was argued that William's motive to murder Ida was his desire to be rid of his wife; that he had a feeling of hostility towards her, based among other things the fact that she had caused his arrest and imprisonment for failure to support her, and upon his desire to be free to marry Grace Sturtevant.
Grace also testified during this trial. She told the court she first became friendly with William in June, 1905. She admitted she was with him at Hazelwood Park when he killed Dewhurst. Grace testified that they both had discussed marriage. After she knew of William's marriage she continued to be friendly with him. William spoke about seeking a divorce from his wife; that he told her on Friday, September 18, 1908, that his wife was getting ready to go back to Tennessee.
Evidence was presented explaining just how William killed Ida. A handbook recovered in Williams on base housing was opened to a page describing in great detail the effect of compression of the carotid artery, and the diagrams in that book illustrating means of compression. The Medical Examiner testified based on the condition of the body when recovered and examined, the cause of death was determined to be suffocation or strangulation, not drowning.
William attempted to have others provide a false alibi, which failed. When arrested William told the police he was on the Fort Taber Reservation all night. He wrote a note to his friend "Friley" to bear false witness. "Friend Friley, I will ask you to help me to establish an alibi. I want you to say that you were with me from 9:30 to 11 Saturday night. Destroy the letter and don't let any one see it."
William attempted to have another witness, Lena Watson, create an alibi as well. She claimed she and her mother arrived in New Bedford at 6:30 P.M., September 19, took a street car from the waiting room 7:30 P.M., arrived at Fort Rodman about 8 P.M., met the defendant on the westerly side of the reservation and stayed there with him until after 11 P.M. The street railway workers were called to testify, They reported the 7:30 P.M. street car never arrived at the Fort due to a broken wire. There was no street cars running between 7:10 P.M. and 8:20 P.M. that night. Lastly, William claimed he didn't murder Ida, but it was suicide. His argument lack supporting evidence.
William was indicted for murder of Ida on November 6 1908, He was later convicted of 2nd degree murder and was sentenced to serve life in prison at the Charlestown State Prison. In a twist, he worked as a nurse while serving his time at the Charlestown State Prison. He was paroled in November 1935. William died in November 17 1937 in Tennessee.
Edward Dewhurst - Murdered 1905
Edward Dewhurst was shot and killed inside Hazelwood Park in New Bedford in 1905. At the time of the killing, there were no suspects. The case remained unsolved. In 1908, as a result of a domestic dispute, the suspect and a witness were exposed - which lead to another murder two (2) months later.
William C Howard (1883-1937)- Suspect
U.S. Coast Guard Private William C. Howard (24) was stationed at Fort Taber in New Bedford. His enlistment tour ended on October 3 1907 and he returned to his home state of Tennessee and married Ida Williams (18) on October 26 1907. William reenlisted and returned to New Bedford, again assigned to Fort Taber. Soon after his return to New Bedford his new wife, Ida, joined him. She resided in a private home, that William paid for, while he resided in the barracks at the fort.
For several months while the couple was in New Bedford, by agreement between them, Ida passed as his sister "Rhoda". William claimed the reason for this arrangement was to avoid having to explain an event that occurred during his last enlistment while in New Bedford. This event, as William later explained was that he was with a girl, Grace Sturtevant, when he shot and killed Edward Dewhurst. William explained that Grace was the only one who knew that he had committed this crime, because she was present during the murder. William was worried the Grace, if informed of his marriage to Ida, would become angry and notify the New Bedford Police about the details of the shooting, and could testify against him.
During a heated argument between Ida and William, William revealed the truth about the Dewhurst murder. Ida went to the authorities and William was arrested in connection to the Dewhurst murder. During the trial in July 1908, it was revealed in court that William and Ida were married. Grace testified that she witnessed the shooting in Hazelwood Park, and confirmed that William was the shooter, but he acted in self-defense. The charges against William were dropped.
Ida Howard (1890-1908) - Murdered
On September 19 1908, just two (2) months after the trial of her husband for the Dewhurst shooting, Ida is found dead at approximately 12 P.M. floating in the water near the Padanaram Bridge in Dartmouth. Autopsy report showed a slight scratch near one eye, no other marks were indicated on the body. At time of her death, she was from three (3) to four (4) months pregnant. Cause of death was ruled strangulation (by choking), then tossed into the water to give the appearance of a drowning. Ida's death was ruled a homicide.
Investigation Summary
On September 19, 1908, early in the evening, Ida went upstairs to her room in her boarding house for the night. Just a few minutes later she got dressed and quietly left the house and after making a checking on Miss Isherwood then took a street car for Padanaram, just a few miles away, arriving there a little after 10 P.M. Miss Isherwood reported Ida had checked on her previously and on many occasions had seemed depressed ; but that on this visit she seemed in a happier frame of mind. Isherwood stated during the conversation Ida stated "she was then on her way to Padanaram to meet her husband to look at a cottage which they could have for the winter."
After Ida arrived at Padanaram she met William and at some point William murdered her. William was arrested in New Bedford and charged with murder. It was argued that William's motive to murder Ida was his desire to be rid of his wife; that he had a feeling of hostility towards her, based among other things the fact that she had caused his arrest and imprisonment for failure to support her, and upon his desire to be free to marry Grace Sturtevant.
Grace also testified during this trial. She told the court she first became friendly with William in June, 1905. She admitted she was with him at Hazelwood Park when he killed Dewhurst. Grace testified that they both had discussed marriage. After she knew of William's marriage she continued to be friendly with him. William spoke about seeking a divorce from his wife; that he told her on Friday, September 18, 1908, that his wife was getting ready to go back to Tennessee.
Evidence was presented explaining just how William killed Ida. A handbook recovered in Williams on base housing was opened to a page describing in great detail the effect of compression of the carotid artery, and the diagrams in that book illustrating means of compression. The Medical Examiner testified based on the condition of the body when recovered and examined, the cause of death was determined to be suffocation or strangulation, not drowning.
William attempted to have others provide a false alibi, which failed. When arrested William told the police he was on the Fort Taber Reservation all night. He wrote a note to his friend "Friley" to bear false witness. "Friend Friley, I will ask you to help me to establish an alibi. I want you to say that you were with me from 9:30 to 11 Saturday night. Destroy the letter and don't let any one see it."
William attempted to have another witness, Lena Watson, create an alibi as well. She claimed she and her mother arrived in New Bedford at 6:30 P.M., September 19, took a street car from the waiting room 7:30 P.M., arrived at Fort Rodman about 8 P.M., met the defendant on the westerly side of the reservation and stayed there with him until after 11 P.M. The street railway workers were called to testify, They reported the 7:30 P.M. street car never arrived at the Fort due to a broken wire. There was no street cars running between 7:10 P.M. and 8:20 P.M. that night. Lastly, William claimed he didn't murder Ida, but it was suicide. His argument lack supporting evidence.
William was indicted for murder of Ida on November 6 1908, He was later convicted of 2nd degree murder and was sentenced to serve life in prison at the Charlestown State Prison. In a twist, he worked as a nurse while serving his time at the Charlestown State Prison. He was paroled in November 1935. William died in November 17 1937 in Tennessee.
Mary Robertson 1893 Executed 1893
On Sept 9 1893 Daniel M. Robertson murdered his wife Mary (McKenzie) Robertson in front of his 16-year old daughter Helen. Daniel Robertson would later become famous, as the first and only person executed in the Ash Street Jail and the last person in Massachusetts to be executed by hanging.
Daniel was a carpenter, but commenced drinking alcohol to excess after his marriage to Mary. The alcohol problem forced Mary to assume the role of supporting the family. Mary opened a boarding house on Acushnet Ave (between School and Spring Streets). In the meantime Daniel committed petty crimes to feed his alcoholism, which resulted in frequent incarceration.
Daniel was released from the Ash Street Jail about 9AM on Sept 9 1893 after being sentenced for being in default of a fine payment of $10 which was imposed on Aug 12 1893. Daniel had $5 on him and sent his wife to gather the remaining amount and return to the jail to secure his freedom. Mary refused to assist him, and the angry Daniel had to remain in jail, but vowed to kill his wife upon his release. During Daniel's brief imprisonment Mary filed for divorce which made Daniel even more angry. The court refused to grant the divorce while Daniel was incarcerated.
Daniel returned to his home just after 1PM, and killed his wife. After the murder, Daniel fled the scene, but was captured by police shortly after 8PM in a saloon on Purchase St. near Austin St.
On September 12 1893, the funeral for Mary was held. She was interred at Rural Cemetery. Plot: Lot 22 Section L-2 grave 1
Daniel's trial began in March 1894 and lasted four days, he was found guilty after the jury deliberated for 2 1/2 hours. He was sentenced to be hanged. On December 14 at 10:10AM Daniel Robertson, with rope around his neck, the platform door opened - the rope broke and he fell to the floor. Now unconscious he was assisted back to the platform where an new rope was tied around his neck. At 10:33AM the platform opened again and Daniel Robertson was hanged.
On Sept 9 1893 Daniel M. Robertson murdered his wife Mary (McKenzie) Robertson in front of his 16-year old daughter Helen. Daniel Robertson would later become famous, as the first and only person executed in the Ash Street Jail and the last person in Massachusetts to be executed by hanging.
Daniel was a carpenter, but commenced drinking alcohol to excess after his marriage to Mary. The alcohol problem forced Mary to assume the role of supporting the family. Mary opened a boarding house on Acushnet Ave (between School and Spring Streets). In the meantime Daniel committed petty crimes to feed his alcoholism, which resulted in frequent incarceration.
Daniel was released from the Ash Street Jail about 9AM on Sept 9 1893 after being sentenced for being in default of a fine payment of $10 which was imposed on Aug 12 1893. Daniel had $5 on him and sent his wife to gather the remaining amount and return to the jail to secure his freedom. Mary refused to assist him, and the angry Daniel had to remain in jail, but vowed to kill his wife upon his release. During Daniel's brief imprisonment Mary filed for divorce which made Daniel even more angry. The court refused to grant the divorce while Daniel was incarcerated.
Daniel returned to his home just after 1PM, and killed his wife. After the murder, Daniel fled the scene, but was captured by police shortly after 8PM in a saloon on Purchase St. near Austin St.
On September 12 1893, the funeral for Mary was held. She was interred at Rural Cemetery. Plot: Lot 22 Section L-2 grave 1
Daniel's trial began in March 1894 and lasted four days, he was found guilty after the jury deliberated for 2 1/2 hours. He was sentenced to be hanged. On December 14 at 10:10AM Daniel Robertson, with rope around his neck, the platform door opened - the rope broke and he fell to the floor. Now unconscious he was assisted back to the platform where an new rope was tied around his neck. At 10:33AM the platform opened again and Daniel Robertson was hanged.