Overcast 48°
Tag:

Worcester County, MA

Police & Fire
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…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
ID Released For Driver Killed After Deliberate Crash Into Health Center In Mass ID Released For Driver Killed After Deliberate Crash Into Health Center In Mass
ID Released For Driver Killed After Deliberate Crash Into Health Center In Mass The identity of a Massachusetts man who allegedly deliberately crashed into the front of a psychiatric hospital has been released by officials. Related: Driver Dies After Deliberate Crash Into Devens Health Center The incident occurred in Worcester County around 5:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 10, at 85 Patton Road in Devens. On Thursday, April 12, Lindsay Corcoran of the Worcester County District Attorney's Office identified John M. Ahern Jr., age 62, of West Boylston, as the person who crashed into the front of the building at 85 Patton Road in Devens.  The truck was on fir…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
Driver Killed After Deliberate Crash Into Health Center In Massachusetts Driver Killed After Deliberate Crash Into Health Center In Massachusetts
Driver Killed After Deliberate Crash Into Health Center In Massachusetts Massachusetts State Police are investigating after a person was killed after allegedly deliberately crashing a truck into the front of a mental healthcare center. Click here for a new, updated story: ID Released For Driver Killed After Deliberate Crash Into Health Center In Mass The incident occurred in Worcester County around 5:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 10, at 85 Patton Road in Devens. According to Lindsay Corcoran of the Worcester County District Attorney's Office, a truck was found to have crashed into the front of the building at 85 Patton Road in Devens. The truck was on fire, …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Alleged Massachusetts Fugitive Discovered In Connecticut After Unrelated 911 Call: Police Alleged Massachusetts Fugitive Discovered In Connecticut After Unrelated 911 Call: Police
Alleged Massachusetts Fugitive Discovered In Connecticut After Unrelated 911 Call: Police A man accused of domestic violence and strangulation in Massachusetts was caught in Connecticut when the cops were called on him for a different reason. The Tolland County incident occurred in the town of Stafford on Friday, April 5, according to Connecticut State Police. On that day, a School Street resident called the authorities on 30-year-old Marcus Lopez to report that he was unwelcome at the home. While police were investigating Lopez, who hails from Stafford, they discovered he had a felony arrest warrant in his name in connection to an alleged domestic assault and strangulation…

SHARE

by Sophie Grieser
News
'He Will Be Found': Missing Marine's Central Mass Family Holding Out Hope 'He Will Be Found': Missing Marine's Central Mass Family Holding Out Hope
'He Will Be Found': Missing Marine's Central Mass Family Holding Out Hope Loved ones are vowing to stay as long as it takes to find the body of a Worcester County Marine who presumably drowned off the coast of Puerto Rico. Corporal Samuel Wanjiru, age 26, of Worcester, disappeared Wednesday afternoon, March 27, after coming into “distress” in the waters off Luquillo, according to the US Coast Guard. On Monday, April 1, the agency announced that it had suspended recovery efforts after multiple air and surface searches covering more than 260 square nautical miles. "We keep Cpl. Samuel Wanjiru and his family in our prayers, hoping they find strength and closur…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Central Mass Kid's Magician Gets 6 Years For Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds Central Mass Kid's Magician Gets 6 Years For Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds
Central Mass Kid's Magician Gets 6 Years For Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds A Worcester County, Massachusetts, magician who has performed in the area for 20 years was sentenced Thursday, March 28, to six years behind bars for having child sexual abuse material in his luggage after returning from an overseas flight, authorities said.  Scott Jameson, age 47, of Sutton, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of transportation of child pornography, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He had faced potentially decades in prison for the charges.  Action Pour Les Enfants, a Cambodian child-protection group, …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
Support Rises For 'Wonderful' Central Mass Teacher After Cancer Diagnosis Support Rises For 'Wonderful' Central Mass Teacher After Cancer Diagnosis
Support Rises For 'Wonderful' Central Mass Teacher After Cancer Diagnosis After it was discovered that a beloved Massachusetts teacher had been fighting cancer for years, her community came together to help raise support for her and her family. Worcester County resident Kara Sullivan Wroblewski has been loved by her community for quite some time. The Roosevelt Elementary School teacher was diagnosed with cancer four years ago, though, according to the GoFundMe set up by her family, the news may come as a shock to some. “Everyone knows Kara is a wonderful mother, wife, sister, friend, and teacher for the Worcester Public Schools,” Beth Flynn wrote in the fundr…

SHARE

by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Road Rage Hammer Attack Sends Man To Hospital In Central Mass; 2 Dracut Men Nabbed Road Rage Hammer Attack Sends Man To Hospital In Central Mass; 2 Dracut Men Nabbed
Road Rage Hammer Attack Sends Man To Hospital In Central Mass; 2 Dracut Men Nabbed Police have arrested two men after a road rage incident earlier this week ended when they beat a truck driver with a hammer on I-495 in Worcester County, authorities said.  Javier Gutierrez Vargas, 23, and Juan E. Marin, 28, are charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a single count of disorderly conduct, State Police said on Tuesday, March 26.  The alleged attack happened just before 2 p.m. on Monday. It's unclear what started the altercation, but the truck driver, whose name was not released, and the two men in a Volkswagon GTI pulled into the …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Cold Case: 2 Charged With 30-Year-Old Killing Of Teenager In Central Mass Cold Case: 2 Charged With 30-Year-Old Killing Of Teenager In Central Mass
Cold Case: 2 Charged With 30-Year-Old Killing Of Teenager In Central Mass Two men have been charged with the fatal shooting of a teenager in 1993 in Worcester County, authorities announced on Monday, March 25.  Robert D’Lucca, 49, and Lawrence Calafell, 51, of Gardner, were indicted on one count of murder in the death of 15-year-old Deondray Atwood, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said.  They were also indicted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition without an FID card. The duo are accused of shooting into a parked car on…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Central Mass Woman Missing More Than Week Found Dead Central Mass Woman Missing More Than Week Found Dead
Central Mass Woman Missing More Than Week Found Dead The remains of a 27-year-old Worcester County woman who went missing more than a week ago were found on Thursday, March 21.  Olivia Colby, of Westborough, vanished on Thursday, March 14, sparking a near-statewide search.  The Worcester County District Attorney's Office did not say how she died, where she was found, or how long she had been deceased in their announcement on Friday.  There was some hope in the case Monday when a man told police he believed he saw Colby at Kennebunk Cumberland Farms in Maine, but that alleged sighting led nowhere, according to an NBC station in…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
School Bus Driver Caught While Drunk With Children Aboard In Westborough: Police School Bus Driver Caught While Drunk With Children Aboard In Westborough: Police
School Bus Driver Caught While Drunk With Children Aboard In Westborough: Police A 51-year-old school bus driver faces charges after she was caught bringing children to school while under the influence of alcohol in Worcester County, police said.  Jane Welch, age 51, was arrested on Thursday, March 14, following an incident in Westborough, according to Westborough Police. On Thursday morning, police received reports regarding Welch's behavior while driving children to school. In response, officers made contact with Welch in the area of 135 East Main St. and conducted an investigation.  Soon after stopping her, police arrested Welch and charged her w…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
5-Alarm Fire Tears Through $2.5M Historic Central Mass Mansion 5-Alarm Fire Tears Through $2.5M Historic Central Mass Mansion
5-Alarm Fire Tears Through $2.5M Historic Central Mass Mansion An early morning fire on Friday, March 1, severely damaged a historic mansion in Worcester County.  Northridge firefighters were called to the Whitinsville Lasell Manor just after 1 a.m. to reports of a blaze, a Facebook post said. The flames grew fast, and the blaze quickly became a 5-alarm fire. The fire grew so hot that it collapsed part of the roof on the 25,0000 square-foot mansion, NBC Boston reported.  There were seven people inside the 120 Hill St. home when the fire began, but they were all able to escape without injury.  Seven people were i…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Rocket Launcher Found At Central Mass Motel; Federal Agents Alerted Rocket Launcher Found At Central Mass Motel; Federal Agents Alerted
Rocket Launcher Found At Central Mass Motel; Federal Agents Alerted Chalk this under you don't see this every day. Police in Worcester County found a man in possession of crack and a rocket launcher sitting in a parked car at a Sutton motel on Monday, Feb. 19, authorities said.  Police were watching a suspicious vehicle in the side parking lot of the Red Roof Inn at 200 Worcester-Providence Turnpike when one of the detectives walked over and began making conversation with the person inside, Sutton police said in a Facebook post.  As they spoke, the detective scanned the car's interior until his eyes landed on an M190 U.S. Army Rocket Lau…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
100-Year-Old Mass Home Featuring Original Finishes Up For Sale For $2M: See Inside 100-Year-Old Mass Home Featuring Original Finishes Up For Sale For $2M: See Inside
100-Year-Old Mass Home Featuring Original Finishes Up For Sale For $2M: See Inside A mansion that just hit the market features a beautiful, million-dollar renovation, yet still retains original finishes and millwork. The Worcester County home, located at 57 North Street in Grafton, was put up for sale at the beginning of February 2024 with a price tag of a cool $2 million. With seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms spread across four full floors, the 6,229-square-foot colonial revival home combines modern and classic tastes. Sitting on six acres and protected by stone walls, the 1920s house was given a $1.5 million update, though the listing says it retains “beautifully …

SHARE

by Sophie Grieser
Obituaries
'Selfless, Loving Heart': Family Creates Memorial Fund For Central Mass Boy Who Died Suddenly 'Selfless, Loving Heart': Family Creates Memorial Fund For Central Mass Boy Who Died Suddenly
'Selfless, Loving Heart': Family Creates Memorial Fund For Central Mass Boy Who Died Suddenly The family of a Worcester County 5-year-old boy is refusing to let his dream die with him.  Anthony Joseph Putnam, of North Grafton, died unexpectedly on Friday, Jan. 12. His family did not disclose the cause of death.  They were focused on the life he wanted to live — his dreams and big ideas for his future. They've created a GoFundMe to start a memorial fund in his honor that they hope will help see those ideas through.  It is our dream to turn our tragedy into a means to give life to Anthony’s memory and his selfless and loving heart. We would love to create/develop somet…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
A Year After Central Mass Woman Disappeared, Police Have Not Given Up On Search A Year After Central Mass Woman Disappeared, Police Have Not Given Up On Search
A Year After Central Mass Woman Disappeared, Police Have Not Given Up On Search Investigators have renewed their call for help in the search for a missing Worcester County woman who disappeared a year ago on Wednesday, Jan. 10.  Brittany Tee, of Brookfield, was last seen leaving her home on Main Street around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2023. Her family reported her missing three days later, the Worcester County District Attorney said.  Related: Police Release New Photos Of Brittany Tee As Search Intensifies As the anniversary of her disappearance approaches, the prosecutor's office reiterated that investigators have not given up on the search for her.  …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Weather
Here Are Snowfall Totals For Major Winter Storm That Dumped 18 Inches In Parts Of Massachusetts Here Are Snowfall Totals For Major Winter Storm That Dumped 18 Inches In Parts Of Massachusetts
Here Are Snowfall Totals For Major Winter Storm That Dumped 18 Inches In Parts Of Massachusetts A massive winter storm slammed Massachusetts and other parts of the Northeast over the weekend on Saturday, Jan. 6, and Sunday, Jan. 7, with Tyngsboro in Middlesex County getting the most snow in the state followed by Ashburnham in Worcester -- with each getting around 18 inches of accumulation. Here are the totals from snow reports throughout the state, according to the National Weather Service: Barnstable County 2 SSW Mashpee 1.0 in 0521 PM 01/07 Amateur Radio 1 NNW Truro 1.0 in 0639 PM 01/07 Public 2 S Yarmouth 1.0 in 0636 P…

SHARE

by Khier Casino
News
Support Floods In For Son Of Single Mom Killed In Central Mass Attack Support Floods In For Son Of Single Mom Killed In Central Mass Attack
Support Floods In For Son Of Single Mom Killed In Central Mass Attack Multiple GoFundMes have been created to help provide for the 15-year-old boy who was at home the night his mother was stabbed to death at a Worcester County trailer park.  Maria Murray, 53, was stabbed multiple times in the back at Meadow Woods on Massachusetts Ave. on Tuesday, Dec. 26, the Worcester County District Attorney said. Paramedics rushed her to the hospital, where she died of her wounds.  Orlando Garcia Rosado, her boyfriend, was arrested and charged with the killing, reports said.  Since the killing, several people have stepped up to ask for help providing for Mu…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Flooding, Power Outages Plague Mass After Storms Pummel Northeast Flooding, Power Outages Plague Mass After Storms Pummel Northeast
Flooding, Power Outages Plague Mass After Storms Pummel Northeast Heavy downpours led to widespread flooding and power outages across eastern Massachusetts on Monday, Dec. 18, and it could be days before authorities can restore electricity to all homes.  More than 270,000 people were left without power as of Monday afternoon, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) said. Bad weather also led to more than 200 flight cancellations at Boston Logan Airport, according to FlightAware, with more than a third of flights coming to or leaving from the airport delayed. Cities in Plymouth and Bristol counties felt the brunt of the storm, with over 9…

SHARE

by Khier Casino
Obituaries
Funeral Set For 'Beloved' Teacher, Worcester Native Killed In Central Mass Wrong-Way Wreck Funeral Set For 'Beloved' Teacher, Worcester Native Killed In Central Mass Wrong-Way Wreck
Funeral Set For 'Beloved' Teacher, Worcester Native Killed In Central Mass Wrong-Way Wreck The superintendent of the school district where a 35-year-old woman who worked has canceled classes on Friday, Dec. 8, so students and staff can attend her funeral.  Connecticut resident Kayla Morey, age 35, of Dayville in Windham County, died Saturday Dec. 2 in Massachusetts when she was involved in a head-on collision in Worcester County.  Related: 'Gifted, Talented' Teacher Killed In Wrong-Way Crash In Webster Police said Jordan Pimentel, age 31, got onto I-395 in Webster, driving north in the southbound lane, and crashed into Morey just after 10:15 p.m. They both di…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
'Gifted, Talented' Teacher Killed In Wrong-Way Crash In Mass Along With Second Driver 'Gifted, Talented' Teacher Killed In Wrong-Way Crash In Mass Along With Second Driver
'Gifted, Talented' Teacher Killed In Wrong-Way Crash In Mass Along With Second Driver Two people were killed in a violent head-on collision when a wrong-way driver crashed into oncoming traffic in Massachusetts on I-395, authorities said.  A GMC Sierra truck got onto the highway driving north in the southbound lane in Worcester County just after 10:15 p.m. in the town of Webster and slammed into a Honda CRV in the left lane, Massachusetts State Police said.  Related: Funeral Set For 'Beloved' Teacher, Worcester Native Killed In Webster Wrong-Way Wreck Jordan Pimentel, age 31, of Auburn, who was behind the wheel of the truck, died at the scene, police said.&…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Longtime Central Mass Magician Admits To Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds Longtime Central Mass Magician Admits To Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds
Longtime Central Mass Magician Admits To Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds A Massachusetts man who performed as a children's magician for two decades across New England admitted to having child sexual abuse material and traveling to another country to rape a child, federal authorities said.  Worcester County resident Scott Jameson, age 46, of Sutton, faces decades in prison after he pleaded guilty in federal court to illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of transportation of child pornography, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Action Pour Les Enfants, a Cambodian child-protection group, contacted US federal investigators in Febr…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Boston Woman Starts Fire Inside Westborough Police Station: Officials Boston Woman Starts Fire Inside Westborough Police Station: Officials
Boston Woman Starts Fire Inside Westborough Police Station: Officials A Boston woman was arrested after she allegedly set a clothing donation bin on fire inside the Westborough Police Station in Worcester County over the weekend, authorities announced.  Theresa Abichaker, of West Roxbury, was a passenger in a motor vehicle crash Sunday, Nov. 26, and was taken to the police headquarters at 45 W. Main Street in Westborough, where she was waiting in the lobby for a ride home, officers said.  Surveillance video showed Abichaker set alight a donation bin full of clothing and walk out, police said. The fire activated the building's sprinkler sys…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
(Update) Is Aaron Pennington Dead? Divers Searching Lake For Man Accused of Killing Wife (Update) Is Aaron Pennington Dead? Divers Searching Lake For Man Accused of Killing Wife
(Update) Is Aaron Pennington Dead? Divers Searching Lake For Man Accused of Killing Wife Update: Police have called off their search for Aaron Pennington on Friday, Oct. 27. They have not found the man.  Original: It's been five days since anyone has seen Aaron Pennington, the 33-year-old Worcester County man accused of killing his wife and mother of his four children on Sunday, Oct. 22, at their home in Gardner. Her family has created a GoFundMe to help provide for those kids.  Police have focused their attention on Camp Collier, where hunters found Pennington's abandoned BMW earlier this week. On Friday, state police announced they've brought dive teams to search&nb…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Husband Accused Of Shooting Wife, Mom of 4, In Central Mass Eludes Capture For 4th Day: DA Husband Accused Of Shooting Wife, Mom of 4, In Central Mass Eludes Capture For 4th Day: DA
Husband Accused Of Shooting Wife, Mom of 4, In Central Mass Eludes Capture For 4th Day: DA It's been four days since a Worcester County mother of four was found shot to death in her bedroom on Sunday, Oct. 25. It's also been four days since her husband was last seen, but police believe they are closing in on him.  Aaron Pennington, 33, is believed to be somewhere in the 400 acres of wood at Camp Collier in Gardner near the Ashburnham border, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said. The prosecutor filed murder charges against Pennington on Wednesday.  Breanne Pennington was shot in the face on Sunday in her home on Cherry Street in Gardner. Police learn…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Business
Rite Aid Will Close Stores In Mass, Connecticut After Filing For Bankruptcy Rite Aid Will Close Stores In Mass, Connecticut After Filing For Bankruptcy
Rite Aid Will Close Stores In Mass, Connecticut After Filing For Bankruptcy Rite Aid, the pharmacy giant that filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, Oct. 15, plans to close 154 underperforming stores nationwide, according to a new filing. Some of those closures will be in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  Related: Why Is Rite Aid Filing For Bankruptcy? Rite Aid announced earlier this week that declining sales and rising debt forced the company's hand in filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The chain has more than 2,100 stores nationwide, and reducing rent costs will play a large part in bringing its balance sheet back into the black.  The only store in Massachusetts…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Schools
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award When it comes to overall excellence, these Massachusetts schools are at the top of the class, and they have the hardware to prove it. Seven schools in the Bay State are among just 353 across the country to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing “achievement gaps” among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teaching a…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Video Shows Thief Crash Car In Daring Escape From Cops In Eastern Mass Video Shows Thief Crash Car In Daring Escape From Cops In Eastern Mass
Video Shows Thief Crash Car In Daring Escape From Cops In Eastern Mass At least seven vehicles have been stolen recently from Eastern Massachusetts and Worcester County by a ring of thieves, officials say.  Police believe an organized group of between eight and 10 people are breaking into and stealing cars from Leominster and Sudbury and bringing them to Maynard, according to the Maynard Police Department.  Police were tipped off that a group of people were stealing cars around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, from Christmas Motors near Acton Street in Maynard.  Officers arrived to find several cars blocking the road and m…

SHARE

by Morgan Gonzales
News
'That Was Beautiful': Watch Mass Woman Wow Judges Again On 'America's Got Talent' 'That Was Beautiful': Watch Mass Woman Wow Judges Again On 'America's Got Talent'
'That Was Beautiful': Watch Mass Woman Wow Judges Again On 'America's Got Talent' Lavender Darcangelo returned to the "America's Got Talent" stage Tuesday night, Aug. 22, for her qualifier performance, and she did not disappoint.  The 27-year-old blind woman from Fitchburg in Worcester County belted out a beautiful rendition of Foreigner's "I Wanna Know What Love Is" that ended in a standing ovation. Viewers should have expected no less from the woman who earned the coveted Golden Buzzer from judge Heidi Klum from her first performance in July.  Related: Blind Fitchburg Singer Has 'America's Got Talent' Judges Raving: 'Magical' Lavender Darcangelo returns to the s…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Anti-Semitic Notes Left In Bags Of Rice At Mass Homes: Police Anti-Semitic Notes Left In Bags Of Rice At Mass Homes: Police
Anti-Semitic Notes Left In Bags Of Rice At Mass Homes: Police Several Jewish residents in Worcester County have started receiving strange items on their front door steps: bags of rice with anti-semitic fliers hidden inside. Sadly, this is not uncommon, as bags like these have shown up across the country for years, according to news reports.  The West Brookfield Police Department posted about the incidents on Facebook and said they are investigating their origins, but they believe they have a suspect in the case. They did not disclose what the flyers in the bag said.  On August 8, 2023, we received reports from individuals within our community who rec…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
Newly Minted Millionaire Retires After Winning Lottery In Central Mass Newly Minted Millionaire Retires After Winning Lottery In Central Mass
Newly Minted Millionaire Retires After Winning Lottery In Central Mass It's a dream nearly everyone has had, but Paul Bashaw gets to live it. The Worcester County resident recently won a $1 million lottery jackpot, then promptly retired from his job of more than 20 years.  Bashaw, age 65, of West Boylston, won the seven-figure sum after playing the $5,000,000 100X Cashword scratch-off game on July 20, the Massachusetts State Lottery said. The truck driver was ecstatic, but he kept the windfall quiet.  Bashaw didn't tell anyone at work about his lucky win until he claimed his ticket on Friday.  “I told my wife there were three things in lif…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier