'Barbaric Attack': 2 Men Who Burned Victim During Springfield Home Invasion Sentenced 'Barbaric Attack': 2 Men Who Burned Victim During Springfield Home Invasion Sentenced
'Barbaric Attack': 2 Men Who Burned Victim During Springfield Home Invasion Sentenced Two men found guilty of torturing and permanently disfiguring a Springfield man during a 2019 home invasion were sentenced to decades in prison on Thursday, June 27, authorities said.  Paul Gayle, 30, and Malik Erskine, 24, both of Springfield, were found guilty of multiple violent felonies in the "barbaric attack," Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. Markendall Johnson, now 21, who was charged as a youthful offender because of his age on the day of the robbery, was also convicted in the case. Gayle was sentenced to 35 to 40 years in state prison, and a judge gave …
Teen Killed By Stepfather In Murder-Suicide Following Kidnapping: DA Teen Killed By Stepfather In Murder-Suicide Following Kidnapping: DA
Teen Killed By Stepfather In Murder-Suicide Following Kidnapping: DA A 16-year-old girl was killed on Thursday, May 30, after she was kidnapped by her stepfather and executed in a murder-suicide outside of her home in Acton, authorities said.  Juliano Santana, 49, reportedly snatched the girl as she walked near her home on Great Road in Acton before driving her back to her house and killing her and then himself in his car, the Middlesex District Attorney said.  Santana was out on bail after he was accused of sexually assaulting the girl multiple times, authorities said. He was charged with six counts of aggravated rape of a child on Sept. 7, 2…
Manhunt Begins For Suspect Accused Of Rape, Robbery 34 Years Ago In Massachusetts Manhunt Begins For Suspect Accused Of Rape, Robbery 34 Years Ago In Massachusetts
Manhunt Begins For Suspect Accused Of Rape, Robbery 34 Years Ago In Massachusetts New DNA testing technology has helped police identify a suspect in the violent rape, robbery, and kidnapping of two women 34 years ago in Massachusetts, and authorities are now asking the public to help them capture him. Stephen Paul Gale, 71, is charged with four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery of two women at the Hit or Miss store in Framingham in 1989, the Middlesex District Attorney said.   Related: Man Charged With 24-Year-Old Rape In Massachusetts Using New DNA Testing  Gale is accused of breaking into the stor…
Alleged Kidnapper Shot Victim While Trying To Restrain Them In Western Mass Basement: DA Alleged Kidnapper Shot Victim While Trying To Restrain Them In Western Mass Basement: DA
Alleged Kidnapper Shot Victim While Trying To Restrain Them In Western Mass Basement: DA A Berkshire County man is accused of attempting to kill a man he had kidnapped on Thursday evening, May 9, authorities said.  Nicholas Lighten, 35, of Dalton, faces 10 major felonies from the alleged violent attack, the Berkshire County District Attorney said. He is being held without bond pending a dangerousness hearing. If he is given bail, it will be set at $500,000, the prosecutor said.  Police were sent to Lighten's home at 43 Housatonic Street in Dalton on Thursday after his alleged victim drove himself to Berkshire Medical Center and explained that he had been kidnappe…
Maine Man Busted In 24-Year-Old Rape, Kidnapping Case In Western Mass Thanks To DNA Testing: DA Maine Man Busted In 24-Year-Old Rape, Kidnapping Case In Western Mass Thanks To DNA Testing: DA
Maine Man Busted In 24-Year-Old Rape, Kidnapping Case In Western Mass Thanks To DNA Testing: DA A 48-year-old Maine man is behind bars on Wednesday, May 8, after DNA tests linked him to the violent rape of a woman in the woods of Hampden County in 2000, authorities said.  Jamie Dodge, of Brownville, Maine, is charged with aggravated rape and kidnapping in connection with an attack that happened in Holland, which is just outside of Springfield, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office said. He was being held on a $250,000 bail.  A woman told police on July 23, 2000, that a man had grabbed her, dragged her into a nearby wooded area, and raped her. She described the m…
Man Busted After Choking Mass Girlfriend, Kidnapping Baby, Driving To Rhode Island: Police Man Busted After Choking Mass Girlfriend, Kidnapping Baby, Driving To Rhode Island: Police
Man Busted After Choking Mass Girlfriend, Kidnapping Baby, Driving To Rhode Island: Police A Boston man accused of attacking his girlfriend, kidnapping their 6-month-old infant, and stealing her vehicle was arrested in Rhode Island after attacking a state trooper, police said.  Jamaine Johnson faces multiple charges following the alleged attack on Tuesday morning, April 30, the Rhode Island State Police said.  Johnson is accused of choking his girlfriend during an argument at her Peabody home before he took her car and their child around 2:30 a.m., officers said. He reportedly told her he would harm himself and the baby if she called the police.  Troopers found th…
'True Monsters Exist': Philip Chism Admits To Vicious Attack On Social Worker 'True Monsters Exist': Philip Chism Admits To Vicious Attack On Social Worker
'True Monsters Exist': Philip Chism Admits To Vicious Attack On Social Worker A social worker who was attacked by a convicted rapist and murderer said she has lived in fear for nearly a decade since that beating. However, she refuses to let it define her life.  Philip Chism, 25, of Danvers, admitted on Friday, April 26, to attempted murder, assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon (cinder block), and kidnapping, the Suffolk County District Attorney announced.  The attack happened in 2015 when Chism was on trial for the rape and murder of this Danvers High School algebra teacher Colleen Ritzer a year earlier, the prosecutor said. C…
Man Sexually Assaulted Child In Central Mass After Luring Her Into His Car At Beach: Police Man Sexually Assaulted Child In Central Mass After Luring Her Into His Car At Beach: Police
Man Sexually Assaulted Child In Central Mass After Luring Her Into His Car At Beach: Police A 68-year-old Worcester County man is accused of using a dog to lure a child into his car, where he kidnapped and sexually assaulted her, authorities said.  Walter Fanion, of Southbridge, is charged with kidnapping, enticing a child under 16, and four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, Webster police said. The alleged incident happened on Monday, April 15.  The girl told police that she got into the man's car after he approached her at Memorial Beach with a dog. He walked her to his vehicle and then sped away once she was inside, officers said.  He d…
Police ID Man Who Stole Car With Baby Inside In Western Mass Police ID Man Who Stole Car With Baby Inside In Western Mass
Police ID Man Who Stole Car With Baby Inside In Western Mass Police have identified the man who sparked a statewide Amber Alert when he stole a vehicle in Western Massachusetts, on Friday morning, March 29, that had a 3-year-old baby inside.  Vadim Vorobyov, age 52, of Springfield, is charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and fugitive from justice in Connecticut and is also expected to be charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and motor vehicle larceny in Massachusetts, State Police said.  Vorobyov stole the running car when he came across it outside of a home on Exchange Street in Chicopee around 8:40 a.m., police said. T…
Man Kidnaps Woman At Knifepoint In Western Mass, Forces Her Into Hotel Room: Police Man Kidnaps Woman At Knifepoint In Western Mass, Forces Her Into Hotel Room: Police
Man Kidnaps Woman At Knifepoint In Western Mass, Forces Her Into Hotel Room: Police A Hampden County man is accused of robbing a couple in West Springfield before forcing the woman at knifepoint to go with him to a hotel, where he planned to rape her, authorities said.  Michael Hunter, of Leeds, is charged with armed robbery, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, assault to commit rape, and assault and battery, West Springfield police said. Officers were called to the area of 1130 Riverdale St. in West Springfield around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, to reports of a man assaulting a man and woman at knifepoint. Witnesses said the man forced the …
Cambridge A-Listers Team Up Again To Direct, Star In New Netflix Thriller Cambridge A-Listers Team Up Again To Direct, Star In New Netflix Thriller
Cambridge A-Listers Team Up Again To Direct, Star In New Netflix Thriller Two of Cambridge’s own are back together for a new project on Netflix. Hot off the heels of their movie “Air,” Ben Affleck is set to direct, and Matt Damon will lead the cast of an upcoming thriller for the streaming service titled “Animals.” The plot is “under wraps,” according to the film’s IMDb page. Related: Cambridge's Ben Affleck Runs — Stumbles — On Dunkin' But Variety reports that the story of “Animals” will be about kidnapping. This isn’t the first time the two have collaborated together. Damon and Affleck co-starred in and co-wrote “Good Will Hunting” in 1997, which went …
Lawrence Man Charged In Fatal Worcester State University Shooting: DA Lawrence Man Charged In Fatal Worcester State University Shooting: DA
Lawrence Man Charged In Fatal Worcester State University Shooting: DA A Lawrence man has been charged with the killing of a 19-year-old man at Worcester State University in October, authorities announced Thursday, Dec. 21.  Kevin Rodriguez, 18, was indicted on Wednesday and charged with murder, possession of a loaded firearm not at home or work, and possession of a firearm not at home or work, the Worcester County District Attorney said.  US Marshals and Mass State Police tracked Rodriguez down to New York City, where he was arrested last month.  Kevin Rodriquez Worcester County District Attorney's Office Worcester State Uni…