Tag:

Lowell, MA

'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' Massachusetts 23-Year-Old Dies In Tragic Crash, Community Rallies Around Family 'Lively' Massachusetts 23-Year-Old Dies In Tragic Crash, Community Rallies Around Family
'Lively' Massachusetts 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…
Woman, 64, Found Stabbed To Death Inside Northern Mass Home Woman, 64, Found Stabbed To Death Inside Northern Mass Home
Woman, 64, Found Stabbed To Death Inside Northern Mass Home 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…
IDs Released For Mother, 6-Year-Old Son Who Both Died After Being Swept Into Merrimack River IDs Released For Mother, 6-Year-Old Son Who Both Died After Being Swept Into Merrimack River
IDs Released For Mother, 6-Year-Old Son Who Both Died After Being Swept Into Merrimack River A four-day search for a 6-year-old boy who was swept into the Merrimack River has come to a close after a kayaker found a body authorities believe to be his. Massachusetts State Police announced that a body believed to be that of 6-year-old Mas DeChhat was located in the Pipers Quarry area of the river on the morning of Sunday, June 12. Mas' mother, identified as 29-year-old Boua DeChhat, of Lowell, also died while trying to save her son and 7-year-old daughter after they were swept away by the current in the area of Deer Island in Amesbury, officials said.  Authorities reported that …
School District In Hampden County Appoints New Superintendent School District In Hampden County Appoints New Superintendent
School District In Hampden County Appoints New Superintendent A veteran educator in New England has been named as the newest superintendent of a Western Massachusetts School District. The School Committee voted unanimously 5-0 to name Dr. Frank Tiano, the interim middle school principal at the Dover-Sherburn Public School in Norfolk County as the newest head of the Ludlow School District, officials announced. Tiano beat out a group of three other prominent educators who are currently in various positions throughout Massachusetts school districts, including administrators and other superintendents. The School Committee reviewed dozens of applications …
Nine Charged With Stealing $1.3M Worth of Vehicles In NY, NJ, CT, MA, PA Shipping Them Overseas Nine Charged With Stealing $1.3M Worth of Vehicles In NY, NJ, CT, MA, PA Shipping Them Overseas
Nine Charged With Stealing $1.3M Worth of Vehicles In NY, NJ, CT, MA, PA Shipping Them Overseas An international ring of identity thieves stole $1.3 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, using fraudulently obtained digital driver's licenses, authorities charged. Nine defendants used the stolen identities of US citizens in Puerto Rico -- along with fake Puerto Rico driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, debit cards, and birth certificates -- to obtain the licenses from motor vehicle agencies in Jersey City and North Bergen, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. They used tho…
Wanted Man Apprehended After Fleeing In Woods Off Mass Pike Wanted Man Apprehended After Fleeing In Woods Off Mass Pike
Wanted Man Apprehended After Fleeing In Woods Off Mass Pike The man wanted on a host of charges who fled from Massachusetts State Police into a wooded area was tracked down and arrested. Middlesex County resident Luis Morales, age 29, of Lowell, was apprehended by state police in an apartment on Pawtucket Boulevard in Lowell on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Earlier this month the state police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section began assisting Lawrence Police in locating Morales, who was wanted on six separate warrants, including two for armed robbery and related firearms charges, said the state police.  After Morales fled an attempt to arrest him this…
Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage
Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is calling in the cavalry to help the state with transporting students to class at the beginning of the new school year. Baker announced that he is activating as many as 250 Guard members to assist with school transportation as the country contends with a massive bus driver shortage that left some districts scrambling to get students to class. 
“We asked a bunch of communities if they'd be interested in having Guard people drive vehicles for them, especially the smaller buses," Baker said in a briefing this week. "A bunch of communities said if y…
UMass System Gets $50M Gift, Largest In School History UMass System Gets $50M Gift, Largest In School History
UMass System Gets $50M Gift, Largest In School History The University of Massachusetts received a windfall from a pair of alumni that represents the largest cash gift in the school’s history. UMass announced that Robert J. and Donna Manning have provided a $50 million gift that is “aimed at increasing access and opportunity across the five-campus university system.” Moving forward, the first $15 million will be used to endow the UMass Boston nursing program, which will be renamed as the Robert and Donna Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences in honor of the pair. Donna Manning had a 35-year career as an oncology nurse at Boston Medical…
UMass Board of Trustees OKs In-State Tuition Freeze UMass Board of Trustees OKs In-State Tuition Freeze
UMass Board of Trustees OKs In-State Tuition Freeze All in-state and most out-of-state students at University of Massachusetts campuses will have their tuition frozen during the upcoming academic year. On Wednesday, April 14, the UMass Board of Trustees voted to approve President Marty Meehan’s proposal, which will mark the second-straight year that tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate and graduate students were frozen. “We recognize the very real challenges that our students and their families continue to face due to the pandemic and we are committed to doing everything within our control to lessen the burden while als…
Ex-House Ethics Committee Chairman Admits To Spending Campaign Money On Lavish Lifestyle Ex-House Ethics Committee Chairman Admits To Spending Campaign Money On Lavish Lifestyle
Ex-House Ethics Committee Chairman Admits To Spending Campaign Money On Lavish Lifestyle A heavily in-debt ex-Massachusetts state representative, who once served as chairman of the House Ethics Committee, has admitted to funding his lavish lifestyle with public money and fraudulent bank loans. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, former state representative David M. Nangle, 60, pleaded guilty in U.S. Senior District Court to 10 counts of wire fraud, 4 counts of bank fraud, 4 counts of making false statements to a bank, and 5 counts of filing false tax returns, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts said. Nangle, a Democrat, represented Massachusetts’ 17th Middlesex District, which include…
Women Accused Of Running $100 Million Health Care Scam Using Poor, Disabled People Women Accused Of Running $100 Million Health Care Scam Using Poor, Disabled People
Women Accused Of Running $100 Million Health Care Scam Using Poor, Disabled People Two Massachusetts women were arrested on Sunday, Jan. 31, in connection to a $100 million home health care fraud. The government is seeking to recoup funds as well as five properties allegedly bought with stolen funds. On Monday, Feb. 1, Faith Newton, 52, of Westford, and Winnie Waruru, 41, of Lowell, were each indicted on counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; health care fraud - aiding and abetting; and conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts. Newton was also charged with money laundering conspiracy and seven counts of mo…
Police Seek Suspect In 'Sai Sword' Attack, Victim 'Punctured' Police Seek Suspect In 'Sai Sword' Attack, Victim 'Punctured'
Police Seek Suspect In 'Sai Sword' Attack, Victim 'Punctured' Police are seeking a suspect wanted in connection to an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. On Thursday, Oct. 29, Spencer Police notified the public that they are searching for Brendon Jay Unrich, 31, of Bixby Road, in Spencer. Unrich is a suspect in a Wednesday, Oct. 28, stabbing incident, police said. After receiving a call, police reported to a residence around 1 p.m. where they found Nicholas Rudolph, 26, of Lowell, suffering from a puncture wound to the back, police said. He was transported to the hospital for treatment. Police said Rudolph was initially uncooperative, but ev…
COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities
Covid-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities Some businesses that opened just a few weeks ago will be closed as 13 Massachusetts cities and towns take a step back in reopening their local economies. COVID-19 rates that have spiked over the last several weeks are forcing 13 cities and towns to rollback their local economies to Step 1 of Phase 3. The closures and restrictions are temporary until the community can bring its COVID-19 positive test rate down. There are 26 other Massachusetts municipalities that were sent back to Step 1 of Phase 3 earlier. In total, that's 38 cities and towns with additional economic restrictions due to COV…
Drug Dealer With An AR-15 Faces Possible Lifetime Jail Sentence Drug Dealer With An AR-15 Faces Possible Lifetime Jail Sentence
Drug Dealer With An AR-15 Faces Possible Lifetime Jail Sentence A drug dealer who carried an AR-15 rifle pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Monday, Oct. 19. Ariel Pagan-Romero, 31, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and being a felon in possession of firearms, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, Connecticut said. Pagan-Romero’s drug dealing came to light following several months of investigation using an undercover officer, the Attorney's Office said. During a search of Pagan-Romero’s residence, agents found pistols, an AR-15 rifle, ammunition, fentanyl, an…