Tag:

Lowell, MA

UMass Lowell Lockdown Lifted After Police Say Suspect Left Area UMass Lowell Lockdown Lifted After Police Say Suspect Left Area
UMass Lowell Lockdown Lifted After Police Say Suspect Left Area Police lifted the lockdown at the University of Massachusetts Lowell after officers said the man believed to have a gun near campus had left the area. Authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order around 5:30 p.m. — about three hours after police began searching for the man. “Based on a search and investigation, law enforcement partners believe the suspect is no longer in the vicinity,” police said in a text message to students. “A large police presence is being maintained on campus, and officers will be stationed at all residence halls overnight.” Massachusetts State Police said they were…
Mass Man Charged With 2 Brutal Cold Case Killings: 'Violent And Inhumane' Mass Man Charged With 2 Brutal Cold Case Killings: 'Violent And Inhumane'
Mass Man Charged With 2 Brutal Cold Case Killings: 'Violent And Inhumane' A former Lowell man is facing two murder charges after investigators say he was behind the violent deaths of two homeless men more than a decade ago, authorities announced.  Kevin Lino, 38, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of 54-year-old Gary A. Melanson in Lowell and 30-year-old Douglas Leon Clarke in Cambridge, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced on Wednesday, Aug. 27.  In 2010, police found Melanson’s body near the Rogers Street Bridge in Lowell. He had suffered multiple visible wounds, but the medical examiner at the time lis…
Mass Teacher Lied About Having Purple Heart, College Degrees: DA Mass Teacher Lied About Having Purple Heart, College Degrees: DA
Mass Teacher Lied About Having Purple Heart, College Degrees: DA A Massachusetts teacher was arrested after police said she lied about her college education and military past for years to get a job in public schools, authorities said.  Lissa Lagasse, 57, of Lowell, was arrested Friday, June 6, and faces 21 charges linked to her work in Haverhill schools, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said. She was being held on a $25,000 bond.  Prosecutors say Lagasse falsely claimed she had both undergraduate and graduate degrees. She also allegedly told employers that she was a decorated US military veteran and Purple Heart recipient — none of w…
Dunkin', McDonald's, Subway Franchisees Fined $226K+ For Child Labor Violations In MA Dunkin', McDonald's, Subway Franchisees Fined $226K+ For Child Labor Violations In MA
Dunkin', McDonald's, Subway Franchisees Fined $226K+ For Child Labor Violations In MA The owners of nearly 90 Dunkin', McDonald's, and Subway restaurants across Massachusetts have been fined for violating child labor laws, officials said. The three franchisees were cited for violating child labor laws at more than 88 locations, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in a news release on Tuesday, April 15. The companies punished were Cafua Management Company, The Brewster Company, and Knight Food Service. The trio faces a combined $226,385 in penalties under separate settlements with the fair labor division of the attorney general's office. "Our child labor laws exi…
CVS To Open Pharmacy-Only Locations Amid Store Closings, Corporate Layoffs CVS To Open Pharmacy-Only Locations Amid Store Closings, Corporate Layoffs
CVS To Open Pharmacy-Only Locations Amid Store Closings, Corporate Layoffs CVS is rolling out a new wave of smaller-format pharmacies in select communities nationwide as it tries to adapt to changes in the retail world. CVS plans to open at least a dozen of these compact pharmacies nationwide in 2025, a spokesperson confirmed to Daily Voice on Monday, Mar. 10. The pharmacy-only locations aim to improve access to medications, immunizations, and pharmacist-provided health care services. Each location will average less than 5,000 square feet, with a full-service pharmacy and a limited selection of over-the-counter products tailored to a community. "By taki…
Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says
Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says The US population is rapidly diversifying, with cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at the forefront, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 ranking of the nation's Most Diverse Cities on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Three Maryland communities topped the list of 501 locations, which were evaluated based on socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious diversity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2 percent of Americans identified as multiracial in 2020, a sharp increase from just 2.9 percent in 2010. "The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many …
How Much Snow Did You Get? Here's Rundown Of Totals From Hampden County How Much Snow Did You Get? Here's Rundown Of Totals From Hampden County
How Much Snow Did You Get? Here's Rundown Of Totals From Hampden County A quick-moving Nor'easter brought accumulating snowfall throughout the region Sunday night, Jan. 19 into Monday morning, Jan 20. Here's a rundown of totals from the National Weather Service. New York Nassau County 2 ENE Roosevelt 4.1 inches 1018 PM 01/19 Public Syosset 4.0 inches 1000 PM 01/19 Trained Spotter East Williston 3.9 inches 1015 PM 01/19 Public 1 W Plainview 3.9 inches 1250 AM 01/20 Public 1 ESE East Meadow 3.8 inches 1117 PM 01/19 Trained Spotter 1 ENE Glen Cove 3.8 inches 0817 AM 01/20 Public  Sea Cliff 3.6 inches 1042 PM 01/19 Public Plainview 3.2 inches 081…
Wanted Gang Leader Busted in Lowell After 3 Years On Run: Feds Wanted Gang Leader Busted in Lowell After 3 Years On Run: Feds
Wanted Gang Leader Busted in Lowell After 3 Years On Run: Feds A Massachusetts man accused of playing a leading role in a dangerous drug trafficking conspiracy was arrested inside a local residence after evading authorities for nearly four years, federal authorities said.  Darasy Chhim, 39, also known by the aliases "Mystickal" and "Rizzus," was taken into custody on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine base, fentanyl, MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine. According to federal prosecutors, Chhim has been wanted since June 2021, when he was indicted alongside 14 co-conspirators. Authorities allege …
DUI Mass Driver Had Babies In Car During I-84 CT Hit-Run Crash: State Police DUI Mass Driver Had Babies In Car During I-84 CT Hit-Run Crash: State Police
DUI Mass Driver Had Babies In Car During I-84 CT Hit-Run Crash: State Police A Massachusetts woman was intoxicated and had two babies and another adult in the vehicle when police say she caused a crash and then fled the scene on I-84 in Connecticut on Christmas. Pheak Si, 40, of Lowell, was behind the wheel of a purple Honda Accord when she struck a vehicle in the eastbound lanes of I-84 in Vernon then continued east near Exit 67 around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25, Connecticut State Police said. Troopers found the vehicle driving erratically near Exit 72, and failing to stay in its lane, police said. They conducted a motor vehicle stop and identified the driver as …
Toddler Struck by Truck in Lowell, Fighting for Her Life At Hospital Toddler Struck by Truck in Lowell, Fighting for Her Life At Hospital
Toddler Struck by Truck in Lowell, Fighting for Her Life At Hospital A 2-year-old Massachusetts girl is fighting for her life after being struck by a truck in a tragic accident Thursday afternoon. The crash occurred around 4 p.m. at the intersection of West Third and Coburn streets in Lowell, near a daycare. Witnesses said the child’s mother was trying to get her into a car when the toddler suddenly ran behind the vehicle and into the street, where a passing truck hit her, according to police. Responding officers found the girl lying in the street with severe injuries. She was rushed to a Boston-area hospital, where doctors are treating what authorities des…
Mass. Man Busted For Drunk Driving, Then Busted For It Again: Police Mass. Man Busted For Drunk Driving, Then Busted For It Again: Police
Mass. Man Busted For Drunk Driving, Then Busted For It Again: Police Hello, it's me again.  A 40-year-old man has kept Chelmsford police busy after he was stopped twice within 77 hours for allegedly driving drunk, authorities said.  Cesar De Sousa Coutinho, 40, of Lowell, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of liquor, possession of an open container, driving with a suspended license, and other traffic infractions, Chelmsford police said.  Police first arrested Coutinho on Wednesday, July 24, after pulling him over on Littleton Road around 9:15 p.m. An officer said he was driving his 2014 GMC Terria without turning on hi…
Maryland State Police ID MA, NJ Women Killed In Crash, Virginia Victim Airlifted To Hospital Maryland State Police ID MA, NJ Women Killed In Crash, Virginia Victim Airlifted To Hospital
Maryland State Police ID MA, NJ Women Killed In Crash, Virginia Victim Airlifted To Hospital Two people were killed and a third was airlifted to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon following a multi-vehicle crash in Charles County, state police confirmed. On Thursday, police said that Norma Matthews, 81, of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Virginia Licata, 86, of Blackwood, NJ, have been identified as the pair killed in a crash on July 24 that shut down Route 301 for hours. The other driver, King George, Virginia resident Caitlynn Connell, 28, was also flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to Capital Region Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. According to police, shor…
'Controlling' Man Guilty Of Burning Wife To Death In Lowell Bathroom: DA 'Controlling' Man Guilty Of Burning Wife To Death In Lowell Bathroom: DA
'Controlling' Man Guilty Of Burning Wife To Death In Lowell Bathroom: DA A 44-year-old Lowell man was found guilty of throwing gasoline on his wife and setting her ablaze, causing her death weeks later, authorities said.  Santos Lebron De Los Santos was convicted this week of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday, March 8, the Middlesex District Attorney said.  Los Santos was accused of setting his wife, Celeste Marte Lebron, age 49, ablaze on March 31, 2021, just after 10:30 p.m. at their Varnum Street home in Lowell, the prosecutor said. Neighbors saw flames shooting from t…
Video Of Mass Trans Basketball Player Injuring Female Opponent Goes Viral Video Of Mass Trans Basketball Player Injuring Female Opponent Goes Viral
Video Of Mass Trans Basketball Player Injuring Female Opponent Goes Viral A girls' basketball player in Lynn, Massachusetts, who was allegedly born male has sparked controversy after a video of them wrenching the ball from a female opponent causing an injury has gone viral.  The Thursday, Feb. 8 game between KIPP Academy in Lynn and Collegiate Charter in Lowell ended in a forfeit after Collegiate Charter's coach pulled his team from competition after multiple injuries had "depleted" his team's bench, the school said in a press release.  KIPP Academy has declined to answer questions about the unnamed player's gender, though multiple outlets have rep…
Lowell Man Accused Of Killing Whitman Woman Left In Car At Boston Airport Busted In Kenya: Cops Lowell Man Accused Of Killing Whitman Woman Left In Car At Boston Airport Busted In Kenya: Cops
Lowell Man Accused Of Killing Whitman Woman Left In Car At Boston Airport Busted In Kenya: Cops A 40-year-old Lowell man has been arrested in the killing of a Whitman woman whose body was found in a garage at Boston Logan Airport, officials said. Troopers found the deceased woman, later identified as Margaret Mbitu, 31, inside a car in the Central Parking garage at Logan Airport around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, authorities said. Kevin Kangethe, the suspect in the killing, boarded a flight to Kenya. Related: Body Of Missing Whitman Woman Found In Car At Boston Logan Airport: DA Mbitu was last seen leaving work in Halifax at 11 p.m. on Oct. 30, authorities said in a missing person's …
Community 'Heartbroken' After Mass Woman Killed By Shark In Bahamas Community 'Heartbroken' After Mass Woman Killed By Shark In Bahamas
Community 'Heartbroken' After Mass Woman Killed By Shark In Bahamas Coworkers and friends of the 44-year-old Massachusetts woman who was killed by a shark while on vacation in the Bahamas say they are heartbroken and shocked by her death.  Lauren Van Wart, of Lowell, located northwest of Boston, was attacked by a shark on Monday, Dec. 4, about a mile from Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort while she was paddleboarding with a relative, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.  Van Wart worked at Curriculum Associates, an educational material company in Billerica. Rob Waldron, CEO of the company, said she was a beloved member of the company.  …
Body Of Missing Whitman Woman Found In Car At Boston Logan Airport: DA Body Of Missing Whitman Woman Found In Car At Boston Logan Airport: DA
Body Of Missing Whitman Woman Found In Car At Boston Logan Airport: DA An arrest warrant has been issued for a Lowell man suspected of killing a Whitman woman whose body was found in a garage at Boston Logan Airport, officials said. Troopers found the deceased woman inside a car in the Central Parking garage at Logan Airport around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, authorities said. The woman has been identified as Margaret Mbitu (pronounced m-BEE-too), 31, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police. She was reported missing by her family on Monday, Oct. 30. Kevin Kangethe (pronounced ken-GET-ay), 40, the susp…
Family Of Mom Allegedly Killed In Front Of Her Kids By Ex In Salem Pleads For Community's Help Family Of Mom Allegedly Killed In Front Of Her Kids By Ex In Salem Pleads For Community's Help
Family Of Mom Allegedly Killed In Front Of Her Kids By Ex In Salem Pleads For Community's Help Jonathan Castillo says his days have fallen into a miserable routine since his sister Nayeli Nieves was brutally murdered in early August in Essex County. He wakes up to help search for the 20-year-old's body near her Essex County home or in other areas where he's heard whispers she could have been dumped. At night, he struggles to sleep.  "She had called me to come see her new place," Jonathan said. "She was so excited for me to see it, but I couldn't. I had to work. I can't stop thinking about that. I should have just stayed out (of work) that day. I should have seen her." Salem poli…
Trio of $1 Million Powerball Tickets Sold In Mass Trio of $1 Million Powerball Tickets Sold In Mass
Trio of $1 Million Powerball Tickets Sold In Mass They may not have snagged the $1 billion jackpot, but three Massachusetts tickets still hit it big.  Three Powerball tickets sold in Massachusetts scored $1 million in the Wednesday, July 19 drawing, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery.  Eight other Massachusetts tickets also brought home serious cash, with one winning a $100,000 prize and seven others winning $50,000 prizes.  The three $1 million winning tickets were purchased from the following locations:  In Norfolk County: Shaw’s Supermarket, located at 255 East Central Street in Franklin, in No…
'Lively' Lowell 23-Year-Old Dies In Tragic Crash, Community Rallies Around Family 'Lively' Lowell 23-Year-Old Dies In Tragic Crash, Community Rallies Around Family
'Lively' Lowell 23-Year-Old Dies In Tragic Crash, Community Rallies Around Family A knock on the door held tragic news for the parents of a 23-year-old Massachusetts man who died in a nearby town.  Tevin Em, a Lowell native, died unexpectedly early Saturday, June 24 in Dracut, according to his obituary. His parents were informed of the news later that morning and realized that their son was not coming home, said a GoFundMe for Em's funeral expenses.  Em was identified as the person involved in a fatal motorcycle crash in Dracut, according to the Lowell Sun.  An initial investigation of the scene determined that the motorcyclist left the roadway and s…
'Baby Doe Killing': Mass Woman Sentenced For 1985 Death Of Newborn Daughter 'Baby Doe Killing': Mass Woman Sentenced For 1985 Death Of Newborn Daughter
'Baby Doe Killing': Mass Woman Sentenced For 1985 Death Of Newborn Daughter A Massachusetts woman will be spending several years behind bars for leaving her newborn baby for dead in Maine nearly 38 years ago, according to published reports. Lee Ann Daigle, of Lowell, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in connection with the 1985 death of her newborn daughter on Tuesday, June 20, WMTW reports.  Daigle, formerly known as Lee Ann Guerette, was charged with her daughter's death after she was arrested at her Lowell home more than a year ago, as previously reported by Daily Voice.  After being born, "Baby Jane Doe" was found abandoned in below-zero temperatures in a g…
'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns 'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns
'Swatting' Hoax Threats Send Multiple Massachusetts School Into Lockdowns Multiple Massachusetts schools have been forced into lockdowns because of fake gun and bomb threats, otherwise known as "swatting" incidents, over the past four days.  "Swatting" is defined as "the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address," according to Oxford Language.  These incidents have seen an uptick across the Commonwealth in the wake of the deadly shooting at the Michigan State University on Monday, Feb. 13 in which three students perished. T…
Lowell Police Bust Up 'Cocaine Cowboys' Drug Gang, 21 Nabbed In Massive Operation: DA Lowell Police Bust Up 'Cocaine Cowboys' Drug Gang, 21 Nabbed In Massive Operation: DA
Lowell Police Bust Up 'Cocaine Cowboys' Drug Gang, 21 Nabbed In Massive Operation: DA Police agencies throughout Massachusetts and parts of New Hampshire took part in a three-year-long operation that ended with dozens of raids on Tuesday, Dec. 6, and more than 20 people arrested.  Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced the busts during a press conference where she announced that police had also seized 11 guns, hundreds of grams of cocaine, large amounts of methamphetamines, fentanyl, and Xanax, and more than $100,000 in cash in 32 raids.  Lowell police began surveilling a group that called themselves the "Cocaine Cowboys" in 2019, but the scope of the op…
VA Man Found Guilty Of Murdering MA Native, Police Officer Katie Thyne: Report VA Man Found Guilty Of Murdering MA Native, Police Officer Katie Thyne: Report
VA Man Found Guilty Of Murdering MA Native, Police Officer Katie Thyne: Report A 41-year-old Virginia man has been found guilty killing of a police officer originally from Massachusetts during a traffic stop almost three years, Daily Press reports.  Vernon Green II, of Newport News, was found guilty of the second-degree murder of Newport News Police Officer Katherine "Katie" Thyne on Thursday, Nov. 17, the outlet reports.  The 24-year-old got stuck between the driver's door and frame of Green's car while officers tried pulling him out during a marijuana investigation on January 23, 2020, the outlet reports. Thyne died when the car crashed into a tree about a block a…
Former MassHealth Employee Sentenced For Racking Up $112K In Fake Services: AG Former MassHealth Employee Sentenced For Racking Up $112K In Fake Services: AG
Former MassHealth Employee Sentenced For Racking Up $112K In Fake Services: AG A 28-year-old man from Lowell was sentenced to two years in jail for cheating MassHealth out of more than $100,000 as an employee, Attorney General Maura Healy announced on Thursday, Sept. 22.  Investigators determined that Abdinafa Maow, who worked as a Personal Care Attendant for MassHealth, got paid for services that he never performed between 2015 and 2020, Healy said. He along with his relative, Abdikadir Maow, were previously indicted on one count of false Medicaid claims and larceny over $1,200.  Overall, the duo received more than $112,000 for these fa…
Lowell Woman, 64, Found Stabbed To Death Inside Home; Police Investigating Lowell Woman, 64, Found Stabbed To Death Inside Home; Police Investigating
Lowell Woman, 64, Found Stabbed To Death Inside Home; Police Investigating Authorities in Lowell are investigating after a 64-year-old woman was found dead inside her home, the Middlesex District Attorney's office said. Lowell Police responded to Linda Gilbert's home on Loring Street around 11:19 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, the office reports. Upon arrival, officers found Gilbert unresponsive and with apparent trauma. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined Gilbert had died from multiple stabbed wounds. Her death was ruled a homicide, the office reports.  The investigation …
Massachusetts Employee Caught Trading Drugs With NH Man Near His Job Massachusetts Employee Caught Trading Drugs With NH Man Near His Job
Massachusetts Employee Caught Trading Drugs With NH Man Near His Job Two men are facing multiple charges after police caught them exchanging drugs outside one of their places of work, authorities said.  Police were conducting surveillance when they saw an apparent drug deal between Jason Ricciarelli, age 42, of Lowell, and Craig Pickering, age 59, of Manchester, NH, Tewksbury Police said.  This happened in the area of 1795 Andover Street around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21. Officers stopped the vehicle involved in the transaction and identified Pickering as the driver and Ricciarelli as the employee. A search of the car uncovered about fou…
Level 3 Massachusetts Sex Offender Admits To Extorting Child For Explicit Photos Level 3 Massachusetts Sex Offender Admits To Extorting Child For Explicit Photos
Level 3 Massachusetts Sex Offender Admits To Extorting Child For Explicit Photos A Level 3 Registered Sex Offender from Lowell pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography from a minor over Snapchat, the US Attorney's Office for Massachusetts reports.  Chayanne Nieves, age 24, forced an 11-year-old from Vermont to send him naked pictures of himself from around November 30, 2020 to December 3, 2020, the office reports.  Nieves has been in custody since he was arrested and charged with receiving child pornography in August 2021, the office reports. Based on his criminal history,  Nieves could face up to 40 years in prison and a lifetime of …
Missing 3-Year-Old From Northern Massachusetts Found Dead: UPDATE Missing 3-Year-Old From Northern Massachusetts Found Dead: UPDATE
Missing 3-Year-Old From Northern Massachusetts Found Dead: Update The body of a missing 3-year-old boy from Lowell has been found, authorities said. Harry Kkonde was dropped off by his parents at his babysitter's house on Freda Lane around 7.a.m on Tuesday, June 14, Lowell Police said.  Police then received a report that Harry was missing around 9:30 a.m. Harry was last seen by a neighbor in the backyard around 9:15, police said.  After a search of the surrounding area, Harry's body was found in a pond off Varnum Avenue, just a short distance away from the house, around 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, police said. The pond was …
COLD CASE: Massachusetts Woman Nabbed For Baby's Freezing Death 36 Years Ago COLD CASE: Massachusetts Woman Nabbed For Baby's Freezing Death 36 Years Ago
Cold CASE: Massachusetts Woman Nabbed For Baby's Freezing Death 36 Years Ago A Massachusetts woman was arrested in connection with a 36-year-old Maine homicide case, authorities said.  Lee Ann Daigle, formerly Lee Ann Guerette, of Lowell, is being charged with the death her baby who was found dead in Frenchville, ME on December 7, 1985, Maine State Police said.  Baby Jane Doe was born and then found abandoned in below-zero temperatures at a gravel pit by a dog about 700 feet from his owner's house, police said.  Years of investigation identified Daigle as the baby's mother and she was arrested without incident on Monday, June 13, police said.  …
UPDATE: Massachusetts State Police Issue Alert For Missing 3-Year-Old UPDATE: Massachusetts State Police Issue Alert For Missing 3-Year-Old
Update: Massachusetts State Police Issue Alert For Missing 3-Year-Old Multiple police departments and rescue crews are searching for a missing 3-year-old boy from Lowell, authorities said. Harry was dropped off at his babysitter's house around 7 a.m. and was reported missing from the house, located on Freda Lane in the Pawtucketville neighborhood, around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 14, Lowell Police said.  Harry was last seen by a neighbor in the backyard around 9:15, police said. He was last seen wearing gray pants with a white stripe and a long-sleeve maroon shirt, police added. UPDATE: Police are searching for a 2-year-old boy (pictures attached). Harr…