Boston Criminal Lawyers Blog

Eldrick D. Broom, 27, of Roxbury, was arraigned today in Dorchester District Court on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the death of Rosanna Camilo on November 21.

Brook has been charged with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Rape.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Broom allegedly attacked Rosanna Camilo inside her Roxbury apartment. Prosecutors allege that he raped and strangled her to death. Camilo's body was found in her bedroom by her 16 year old daughter while her other 17 month old child was in his crib.

Broom reportedly had previously been arrested for allegedly assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, who reportedly lived in an apartment close to Rosanna Camilo's. In that incident, he had been charged with Aggravated Assault & Battery.

At this point, Broom has only been charged at the district court level, and prosecutors would not be very forthcoming with offering all the alleged evidence that may be known to them. Typically from this point forward, prosecutor would be presenting a presentation to the Grand Jury in an effort towards obtaining an indictment. If and when an indictment is returned, Broom will then be arraigned in Superior Court.

Continue reading "Boston Man Charged with Murder of Roxbury Woman" »

A man has been charged with Massachusetts Murder and Sexual Assault Charges in connection with the murder of Rosanna Camilo, whose naked was discovered in her Mattapan apartment two weeks ago.

Eldrick D. Broom, 27, of Boston, was arraigned this morning in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court with 1st Degree Murder and Sex Crimes Charges.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office alleges that Brook, who once lived across the hall from Rosanna Camilo, had access to her apartment through one of her former roommates and attacked her two weeks ago. Following the alleged attack and sexual assault, he then allegedly strangled her to death. Her body was reportedly discovered with a cord around her neck.

Rosanna Camilo's half-naked body was discovered by her 16 year old daughter when she came home - and her infant 17 month old son was still in his crib.

Broom was arrested this morning in Roxbury after Boston Police allegedly linked his DNA to the crime scene.

Continue reading "Man Arraigned for Sexual Assault and Murder of Boston Woman" »

A 29 year old Cambridge woman was formally charged with Murder in connection with the death of her father, Guy Verna, 62, also of Cambridge.

Gylene Verna was initially charges with Assault & Battery with the November 20th incident that involved her father, Guy Verna, who was later pronounced dead at Cambridge City Hospital.

This past week, Gylene Verna was arraigned in Cambridge District Court, charged with First Degree Murder.

The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office alleges that Gylene Verna and her father had an argument that became physical when he struck her. Cambridge Police say that Gylene Verna then allegedly squeezed his neck.

The Massachusetts Chief Medical Examiner's Officer reportedly determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation by manual strangulation.

If the evidence demonstrates that Gylene was first attacked, then she may very well have a Defense of Self-Defense.

Under Massachusetts law, a person may use reasonable force to defend himself from physical attack. At trial, once the defendant has raised the defense of self-defense, it is then the prosecution's burden to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant did not act in self-defense.

However, even where a person is entitled to use self-defense, the person may not use any more force than is reasonably necessary in all of the circumstances to defend himself. The question the jury will have to face in this case if self-defense is raise, is whether Gylene's actions in defending herself were reasonable.

Continue reading "Cambridge Woman Charged with Murdering Father" »

Donald Rudolph, arrested on Massachusetts Murder Charges, was arraigned in Quincy District Court this morning for allegedly killing his mother, Paula Rudolph, her boyfriend, Frederick Medina; and his sister, Caylin Rudolph.

Rudolph was arraigned on 3 counts of 1st Degree Murder and 3 counts of Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.

According to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, Donald Rudolph allegedly stabbed Frederick Medina to death, cut his throat and then stuffed a baby doll in his mouth. He also allegedly stabbed his sister, Caylin Rudolph, several times; and allegedly beat his mother to death.

Weymouth Police Officers were called to the family's home last Thursday night after neighbors called police. On arrival, police officers reportedly observed Donald Rudolph to be covered in blood and hiding in the basement. He also allegedly told police "I fucked up...you will see when you go inside the house."

Following his arraignment in Quincy District Court on Murder Charges, Donald Rudolph was held without bail and sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental competency evaluation.

In Massachusetts, competency evaluations are conducted where there is a question of whether the defendant charged has the mental capacity to participate and assist his attorney in his legal proceedings. If, after evaluation, the court makes a determination that the defendant is not competent, i.e., unable to comprehend the legal proceedings against him and/or that he is unable to help in his defense, then he will be found incompetent.

Under Massachusetts case law, the standard is whether the defendant sufficiently "has the present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding - and whether he has a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him".

Notably, there is a legal difference between a defend who is found incompetent to stand trial and one who asserts an Insanity Defense. Whereas competency is relative to the defendant's state of mind at trial or during the criminal proceedings; insanity refers to his state of mind at the time of the alleged crime.

Continue reading "Weymouth Teen Arraigned in Quincy for Triple Murder" »

Two men have been charged in connection with the Boston Murders of Billie Kee and her boyfriend, Kevin Thomas, that occurred in Hyde Park in July.

Michael T. Corbin and Earl Fulgiam, are both expected to be arraigned on two First Degree Murder Charges as soon as today in the West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court.

According to the Boston Police Department, Billie Kee and Kevin Thomas were murdered inside their Hyde Park apartment this past July. Police had initially represented that witnesses had seen 4 people leave the apartment and that they had dropped guns as they ran away. They also additionally first said that they believed the murders were "drug involved", yet did not offer any specific details as to any potential motive.

At this time, it's unclear what exactly led police to focus their investigation on Michael T. Corbin and Earl Fulgiam. One might assume that fingerprints were recovered on the guns found at the scene, though it is actually very difficult to recover fingerprints off of firearms. In fact, in the majority of cases, the Boston Police Crime Lab Unit is unable to recover sufficient ridge detail so as to link any potential fingerprints to any one person.

Without identifiable fingerprints on the alleged murder weapon, then, it would arguably be difficult to establish the either one of these two men pulled the trigger, even if the government can establish that they were present in the apartment...particularly if witnesses reported seeing 4 men leaving...

Continue reading "Two Boston Men Face Murder Charges in Hyde Park Double Murder" »

Two men from Massachusetts, Jun Di Lin of Malden, and Sifa Lee, of Quincy, along with Cheng Sun, were arrested on Murder Charges in connection with the death of Tony Woo, of Quincy, found dead inside his Ipswich restaurant.

According to the Essex County District Attorney's Office, the three men allegedly broke into Woo's Ipswich restaurant in what is believed to be a robbery. Woo reportedly died from blunt force trauma according to a preliminary autopsy report.

Jun Di Lin was reportedly arrested trying to cross into Canada; while Sifa Lee was arrested in New Jersey; and Cheng Sun was arrested in New York.

It's unclear at this time how, exactly, police linked the three men to the murder of Woo.

At this time, all three men are expected to be brought back into Massachusetts within the next and arraigned in Salem on 1st Degree Murder Charges.

Continue reading "3 Men Charged in Massachusetts with Murder of Quincy Restauranteur" »

Adam J. Cassino, 25, of South Boston, was arrested on Murder Charges by Boston Police today and charged in connection with the beating death of his 65 year old neighbor, Barbara Tagen.

Cassino was arraigned today in South Boston District Court and charged with First Degree Murder.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Adam J. Cassino beat his neighbor in her apartment this past August, and that forensic evidence, including witnesses, allegedly link him to the murder.

Although the motive for the Murder is unclear, prosecutors allege that Tagen had accused Cassino of stealing from her in the past, and that this incident may have also been a robbery that preceded the beating death.

Boston Police also reported searched Cassino's home and allegedly seized an unidentified object that they believe contains forensic evidence, suggest it may have been the weapon used to beat Tagen.

Following his arraignment in South Boston District Court on First Degree Murder Charges, Cassino was held without bail.

Continue reading "Boston Man Arrested for Murder of Elderly Neighbor" »

Lawrence Police have arrested Jose Luis Tejada, 40, on Massachusetts Murder Charges following the discovery of a triple murder this morning.

According to Lawrence Police, Tejada allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, Milka Rivera, 39, and her two children, Sachary Montanez, 19, and Max Montanez, 16. The bodies were discovered this morning, all in one of the children's' bedrooms, after Jose Luis Tejada allegedly approached someone outside the home and stated that he had killed someone.

The witness in turn called the police and Tejada was arrested. Police also reportedly seized a weapon believed to be used the murders outside the home. At this time, Lawrence Police have not revealed any alleged motive for the killings, yet mentioned that they were not aware of any incidents involving the family in the past.

Jose Luis Tejada is scheduled to be arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Murder Charges tomorrow.

Continue reading "Mother and 2 Children Murdered in Lawrence" »

Randy Moore, 54, was arraigned this morning in Brighton District Court on Massachusetts Murder Charges following the shooting of his 76 year old neighbor and standoff with Boston Police. Moore was charged with First Degree Murder and Armed Assault with Intent to Murder.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Randy Moore allegedly shot his 76 year old neighbor at 10:30 yesterday morning at the John J. Carroll Housing Development in Brighton where the two men lived. When Boston Police responded to the scene, Moore had reportedly barricaded himself in the building. He eventually surrendered, but not before allegedly also firing shots at responding Boston Police Officers and EMT's who were on scene.

At this time, Boston Police have not revealed any apparent motive for the shooting, and are unclear if Randy Moore even knew the victim.

According to the Boston Housing Authority which oversees the John J. Carroll Housing Development, Randy Moore had reportedly been diagnosed as a schizophrenic and had lived in the housing under as a disabled resident for several years. Boston Police also reported that, notwithstanding any mental health issues Moore may have suffered from, that he was legally licensed to possess firearms.

Continue reading "Brighton Man Arrested for Murder After Standoff with Boston Police" »

Laquan Miller, of Boston's Roslindale section, was arraigned this morning in West Roxbury District Court on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the shooting death of Wilfredo Martinez, 23, on June 5.

Miller was arraigned on charges including First Degree Murder, Armed Assault with Intent to Murder, and Gun Charges including Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Carrying a Loaded Firearm.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and Boston Police, Laquan Miller allegedly shot Wilfredo Martinez to death on June 5 near the Archdale Housing Development. Another man who was with Martinez, was also shot, but he survived his injuries after surgery at a Boston hospital.

At this time, there have been no released reports by the Boston Police with any possible motive or circumstances surrounding this incident.

Continue reading "Roslindale Man Charged with Murder" »

Boston Police arrested Anthony Robertson of Dorchester last week for the Murder of Aaron Wornum. Robertson was arraigned yesterday in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court for First Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office alleges that Anthony Robertson shot and killed Aaron Wornum as he was talking on his cell phone on June 26. Wornum was reportedly shot several times in the area of Sumner and East Cottage Streets in Dorchester that evening and died as a result after being taken to Boston Medical Center.

Boston Police and prosecutors have suggested that phone records subpoenaed during the course of the investigation led them to focus the investigation on Anthony Robertson, alleging that the phone records at the time of the shooting link Wornum to the incident.

At this time, however, it's unclear whether the Boston Police Department has recovered the gun that was allegedly used in the murder and if so, where it was found and what evidence may exist to link that weapon to Anthony Robertson. It is also unclear whether the police or prosecutors know of any witnesses that put Anthony Robertson at the scene of the murder.

Following his arraignment in Dorchester District Court on Massachusetts Murder Charges, Anthony Robertson was held without bail.

Continue reading "Dorchester Man Arraigned for Boston Murder" »

Five men were indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury in Salem Superior Court on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the shooting death of Roberto Gonzalez in 2009.

Francis Wyatt, 29, and Cauris Gonzalez, 22, were both arraigned in Salem Superior Court this week for First Degree Murder. Two other men, Yoshio Stackerman and Thomas Castro, are scheduled to be arraigned at a later date. A sixth man, Joel Javier, reportedly surrendered to police in Provincetown yesterday after he was named in the murder indictment.

Maribel Villafane, 25, was also arraigned in Salem Superior Court on the charge of Accessory After the Fact to Murder.

According to Lawrence and Massachusetts State Police, Robert Gonzalez was allegedly targeted as he sat in his minivan in Lawrence when he was approached by two gunmen who began to open fire. Gonzalez reportedly dove into the passenger's seat, but was reportedly hit by several bullets.

Shortly after the shooting, Robert Gonzalez' wife was interview, who stated she believed that Gonzalez was targeted in retaliation over an argument he had a few days before over some money he was owed.

Continue reading "Five Men Indicted in Salem Superior Court for Murder of Lawrence Man" »

Jeremiah Sullivan, of Gloucester, has been indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the overdose of Michael Rogers. He has been indicted on the Murder Charge of Involuntary Manslaughter; Distribution of a Class A Substance, Heroin; Operating Under the Influence of Drugs; Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle; and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

According to the Essex County District Attorney's Office, Jeremiah Sullivan allegedly distributed heroin to Michael Rogers, who consumed the drugs which resulted in his death by overdose.

The Essex County District Attorney's Office is proceeding its prosecution against Jeremiah Sullivan under a theory that his providing drugs that resulted in a death by overdose is manslaughter.

In Massachusetts, Involuntary Manslaughter is the unintentionally killing of another caused by wanton or reckless conduct that creates a high degree of likelihood that substantial harm will result to another. In order to prove the crime of Involuntary Manslaughter, prosecutors would need to prove that:

1. The defendant committed an unintentional killing, i.e., that the defendant intended the conduct that caused the death of another;


2. That the killing was caused by wanton or reckless conduct; and


3. The wanton or reckless conduct caused the death of that person.

Continue reading "Gloucester Man Charged with Manslaughter for Drug Overdose of Another" »

Gerald Sullivan, 37 of Charlestown, had Massachusetts Murder Charges returned against him by a Middlesex County Grand Jury yesterday in connection with the robbery of a Medford home that left one person dead and another seriously injures.

Sullivan was indicted on criminal charges including First Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Assault to Murder, Armed Assault to Rob, Aggravated Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition. Gerald Sullivan was also indicted as an Armed Career Criminal.

According to the Medford Police Department and the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, Gerald Sullivan and another person, both wearing masks, allegedly knocked on the door at a Jerome Street apartment in Medford. Once the occupant opened the door, Sullivan allegedly pushed his way in began robbing the occupant of his money and jewelry.

During the Home Invasion, Gerald Sullivan allegedly shot the occupants, Johnny Hatch, 37, and his father, John Viera. Another occupant of the apartment called 911. Johnny Hatch was pronounced dead at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Although John Viera survived the shot to his head, he was seriously injured and not all bullet fragments were able to be removed from his brain.

Johnny Hatch was a musician who had co-founded the group Mikst Nutz, a hip-hop group from Boston that was popular in the mid-1990's.

Gerald Sullivan was not immediately arrested following this incident. It has been reported that the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office was able to link him to this crime through CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) - essentially an FBI database that includes, among others, DNA samples from persons previously convicted of major felony crimes.

The United States Constitution and the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights presumes that all persons charged with a crime, no matter how serious the allegations, are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Continue reading "Charlestown Man Indicted for Medford Murder" »

Michael Coker, 48, was arraigned this afternoon on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the death of Janet A. Phinney, whose body was found in a wooded section of West Roxbury 23 years ago.

Coker was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury and brought before the Suffolk Superior Court this afternoon for his arraignment on the charge of First Degree Murder.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and Boston Police Department, Janet A. Phinney was reported missing on March 18, 1988, after last being seen by her sister in her family's West Roxbury home. Her body was discovered three days later, partially clothed, by a neighbor.

At the time, the Massachusetts Medical Examiner's Office concluded that Phinney had been strangled to death, but Boston Police did not have enough evidence to charge anyone.

The Boston Police Department reviewing the case used advances in DNA technology to allegedly link biological evidence to Michael Coker. Coker was reportedly Phinney's ex-boyfriend.

It's unclear, however, what 'biological evidence' was relied upon to believe that Michael Coker was responsible for this murder. Even if such biological evidence was found on Phinney's body linking her to Coker, that still does not necessarily demonstrate that he was responsible for her death. It could very well be that she may have had contact with him a short time prior to her disappearance, as some members of her family also did.

Consequently, the DNA link to Coker may be nothing more than circumstance, falling well short of the 'proof beyond a reasonable doubt' for a conviction of First Degree Murder.

Continue reading "Man Charged with 23 Year Old Murder of West Roxbury Woman" »