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2004 Massachusetts Intimate Partner Homicide Narratives January 1, 2004 – December 31, 2004 The following list describes publicly reported intimate partner homicides in which criminal charges have been filed (except in the case of murder-suicide). The narrative includes homicide of children in connection with an intimate partner homicide. This list does not include homicides occurring in previous years for which charges were filed during this period. The definition of intimate partner violence that is used for this list are relationships that include spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, ex-girlfriend/boyfriend, partner, ex-partner, and a dating relationship. This year, for the first time, this list includes those who are bystanders or intervened in attempted homicide in the context of intimate partner violence and were themselves killed.* January 5: Ricardo Rosa, 23, of Lowell, was allegedly shot in the chest by Frank Mota. Mota had been in a confrontation with his girlfriend when Rosa, a friend of Mota’s girlfriend, asked Mota to step outside as there were children present. Once outside the apartment, Mota shot Rosa in the chest. January 11: Catherine Pizzi, 48, of Belmont, was shot by her husband, Domenic Pizzi, 53, who then turned the gun on himself. Two of their three children were home at the time. January 31: Leonardo Perez, 43, of Jamaica Plain was allegedly killed when, as he lunged at his stepdaughter’s ex-boyfriend, Gualberto Borrero Cruz, 38, who was holding a gun against the head of the stepdaughter, he was fatally shot by Cruz. February 2: Linda Rayburn, 44, and her son Michael Berry, 23, of Saugus were found dead in their beds. Linda’s husband, David Rayburn, 34, allegedly took a hammer and killed his wife and stepson as they slept. After leaving a brief suicide note in the kitchen, Rayburn then went to the basement and hanged himself. February 11: Carmen Rodriguez, 34, of Worcester was allegedly stabbed by her estranged husband, William Rodriguez, 39, who then turned the knife on himself in the service area of the four star hotel where they both worked. William survived his wounds and has been charged with murder. Police were aware that William had a history of domestic violence toward Carmen. February 16: Shirley Garuti, 49, of Halifax, died several days after what police say turned out to be a deadly encounter with her ex-husband, Joseph Garuti, 49. Joseph arrived at his ex-wife’s home and argued with her when she refused his request for an unplanned overnight visit with the children. Joseph Garuti allegedly ran Shirley Garuti down in the driveway with his SUV, and one of their children called 911. Joseph was arraigned later in the week and pled not-guilty to murder charges. 3/14/06 Joseph Garuti was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. February 24: Carol Paradis, 65, was found shot in the head in the Attleboro mobile home she shared with husband, Arthur Paradis, also 65. Neighbors phoned police after hearing gunshots and seeing a fire. When police arrived, Arthur Paradis was attempting to drive away with an arsenal of weapons after allegedly setting fire to the mobile home. Mr. Paradis plead not-guilty to murder charges. March 2: James Jeffreys, 35, of Dorchester was found stabbed to death. His partner, Derek Blocker, 26, has been charged with murder. 2/8/06 James Jeffreys plead guilty to manslaughter and was convicted then sentenced to 15 years in state prison. March 8: Celine Caraballo, 34, of Dorchester, was found by her 15 year old brother, having been stabbed to death in her bathroom. Police obtained a warrant for her boyfriend, Francisco Cruz-Castro, 30, and authorities confirmed he was the suspect. Cruz-Castro had apparently moved in with Celine and her three children less than a year ago, and friends of Celine described him as jealous and abusive. April 5: Linda DiLeo, 41, of Shrewsbury was found strangled in a bedroom closet of her parents' home. Her husband, Paul DiLeo, 44, was found dead inside his car with the motor running in the garage of his home. According to police, they were in the process of a divorce and not living together at the time of their deaths, and police are calling the case a murder-suicide. May 23: Kayla Ravenell, 21, of Dorchester, was found dead along the banks of Great Pond Reservoir in Braintree by an off-duty police officer. Her ex-boyfriend, Jims Beneche, 20, and his current girlfriend allegedly suffocated Kayla and dumped her body in Braintree. Beneche has been charged with murder. When police went to question Beneche about Kayla’s death, they saw a trash bag being tossed out the second-story window. The bag contained the body of Beneche’s son, Xavier Ravenell, 2. Investigators were aware of a history of custody disputes and allegations of domestic violence committed by Beneche against Ravenell. July 7: Rachel Thomas, 20, of Brockton died after her boyfriend Richardson Sauveur, 27, allegedly shot her in the head early in the morning in Salisbury Park in Brockton. Sauveur then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder suicide. Both were alive when found by police but died later in the hospital. July 27: Kimberly Gonyea, 38, of Clinton was allegedly shot in the head and chest by her husband, Earl Gonyea, 38, who later shot himself in the head. The couple was separated, planning to divorce, and not living together at the time. Their 19 year-old daughter was in the house at the time and called police after the shooting. July 28: Joseph Brodeur, 70, of West Springfield was found stabbed multiple times at his home. Police arrested and charged his wife, Joann Sliech Brodeur, 59, with murder following her release from a Springfield hospital where she had been taken for treatment after police were called to the home. August 1: Lisa Ann Brundage, 41, was found beaten to death. She and her partner, Thomas Winner, 47, were homeless and currently living in the state forest on the Mashpee / Falmouth border. Winner has been charged with her murder. 2/22/06 Thomas Winner plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was convicted then sentenced to 15-18 years in prison. August 7: Deshanta Bailey, 29, of Brockton, was shot to death inside a Dorchester rooming house, and police have charged her boyfriend, Norman Nord, 28, of Dorchester with her murder. August 9: Lucy Signorino, 26, and Anthony D’Orsi, 27, both of Revere, were found dead in their home. The couple was living together and was engaged to be married. Police believe D’Orsi murdered Signorino and then killed himself. August 17: Richard Rutkowski, 51, of Palmer was allegedly run over repeatedly by a car driven by his wife, Starleen Rutkowski, who has been charged with his murder. September 26: Betina Francois, 27, of Brockton was found dead in her apartment after Rhode Island state police called authorities to report that her boyfriend, Pierre Cadet, 30, was critically injured in a car crash. Francois had filed a restraining order against Cadet in January 2004. Cadet was convicted earlier this year of beating Francois and was charged in August with a restraining order violation. He has now been charged with her murder. October 14: Michele VanLeeuwen, 49, of Northampton was found dead in her apartment after her boyfriend, Timothy R. Dubuc, 42, called his sister in New York and told her he had slain his girlfriend. The sister’s husband contacted Northampton police. Dubuc had been arrested twice in the last two years for beating his girlfriend and is now charged with her murder. October 21: Eliska Voska, 48, and her daughter, Abigail Voska, 8, of Hingham were found dead in their home along with Eliska’s husband, Pavel Voska, 60, who was found with a gun in his hand. Police received a 911 call from the house and arrived to find the three bodies, all of which had stab wounds. October 24: Courtney Harding, 22, of Plymouth was killed when her boyfriend, Daniel Goscoyneas, 24, slammed his car into a tree, allegedly deliberately. Gascoyneas was intoxicated at three times the legal limit and driving over 80 mph. Police say that Gascoyneas had made threats against Harding and that her mother was aware of a history but that Harding had been afraid to seek a restraining order. Gascoyneas has been charged with manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and driving drunk. October 24: Jarsolab Stepancik, 51, of Lowell was allegedly fatally shot by Barry Strykowski, 41, the estranged husband of his companion, Diana Strykowski. Diana Strykowski was seriously wounded during the attack but survived. Barry Strykowski allegedly went to the Lowell home of his estranged wife, shot her once, and shot Stepancik before turning the gun on himself. Police are investigating a murder-suicide. October 26: Elizabeth Lochtefeld, 44, of Nantucket was allegedly stabbed to death by her former boyfriend, Thomas Toolan, 37, just days after ending their relationship. Lochtefeld had visited the police several days earlier inquiring about a restraining order. Toolan was apprehended in Rhode Island, hours after the crime, where he was initially arrested for drunken driving. He has now been charged with her murder. * As we learn more about the circumstances surrounding intimate partner homicide and those it involves outside the immediate intimate relationship, we feel it important to expand our definitions to include these people who are often family members and friends. # Female Victims 18 |