PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Adams man was given a life sentence on Tuesday for murdering his wife three years ago.

Julie Burdick Shade died July 30, 2008, at Berkshire Medical Center from injuries she received at the hands of her husband, Eugene A. Shade II, eight days earlier at their Edgewood Avenue home in North Adams. Julie Shade was 22 years old and left behind two small children.

Eugene Shade, now 37, pleaded guilty in Berkshire Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon to single counts of murder in the second degree and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (knife).

Judge John J. Agostini ordered him to serve a life sentence at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the murder charge. He was given a concurrent two to three-year state prison sentence on the assault charge.

The couple had argued about separating, according to police reports, on July 22, 2008. Shade had attacked his wife with a pillow and with his hands, strangling her, and held a knife to her throat. He called 911 himself. Julie Shade died after eight days on life support.

The investigation was conducted by members of the North Adams Police Department and state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office.  

The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is life, with eligibility for parole in 15 years.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three suspects pleaded not guilty on Monday morning to murder charges stemming from the discovery of the bodies of three Pittsfield men, first reported missing Aug. 28.

The arraignment followed an announcement on Sunday that the remains of David Glasser, Robert Chadwell and Edward Frampton, were found in what was described as a "burial pit" at an undisclosed location on Saturday.

Media from around the region joined a Central Berkshire District Court room packed full of friends and family of both defendants and victims. Defendants David Chalue and Roy Gutfinski aka (Caivus Velvois) were arraigned first, around 11 a.m. Chalue is represented by attorney Leonard Cohen, while Gavin Reardon was appointed defense for Gutfinski. Adam Lee Hall, represented by William Rota, was arraigned last around 11:30.

All three defendants were ordered held without bail and without prejudice at the request of District Attorney David F. Capeless and the agreement of lawyers for the defense. Trial dates for all three were set for Oct. 12.

Defendants were transported into the District Court building amidst a crowd of nearly a dozen security personnel in plainclothes in addition to the usual court security and police presence.

After the arraignment, Capeless spoke to reporters briefly about what his office was doing to allay the public's concerns about safety in the aftermath of these events.

"We're asking anyone to please come forward with any information about the case ... We are making every effort to investigate and prosecute this case, that's what we're doing."

When asked what his office had been able to learn about the Hells Angels club, of which Adam Lee Hall is known to be a member, with respect to this case, Capeless said, "I'm not going to comment on that at all," cutting off all questions abruptly.

Defense attorney William Rota maintained that he knew almost nothing about the case yet, but did say he saw no reason for citizens to become alarmed about their own safety. 

"No community is without its potential for violence. This is not a 'stranger' crime," he said, acknowledging that the victims and his client knew each other. "It doesn't make the area any more or less safe."

Some relatives of victim Robert T. Chadwell expressed frustration after the arraignment with what some of them perceived as a failure on the part of authorities to protect Glasser as a witness against Hall, despite stated fears of retaliation.

One family member, who identified herself as Yvette, said she felt that fears of retaliation by Hall or associates of his were not taken seriously by police. "Pittsfield is just not equipped for this. Pittsfield failed these men."

Capeless, at Sunday's press conference, said precautions were made to keep Glasser safe that were in line with witness's wishes. 

Ongoing search of several locations, including the Cloverdale Road home of Gutfinski and that of Chalue on Madison Avenue, took place throughout the day on Monday as neighbors and members of the media looked on.

Trial will begin for each of the three suspects at Berkshire Superior Court on Oct. 12.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Another suspect was arraigned this morning in Central Berkshire District Court as part of the ongoing investigation into the triple homicide conspiracy that has rocked the region.

David Casey, 62, of Canaan, N.Y., entered a plea of not guilty before Judge Rita Koenigs to multiple charges of accessory after the fact in the murders of David Glasser, Robert Chadwell and Edward Frampton. Casey is accused of supplying the excavation equipment used to bury the bodies of the three men.

Casey is facing three counts each of accessory after the fact for murder, for kidnapping and for intimidation of a witness.

The Berkshire District attorney's office confirmed rumors circulating for the past week that the bodies had been discovered on private property in Becket, covered over by boulders. According to court records filed last week, digging equipment was found near the scene of the burial site.

Thomas C. Doyle was appointed as Casey's defense. Bail was set by agreement at $1 million and Casey will appear for a bind over hearing on Oct. 19.

Adam Lee Hall, 34, of Pittsfield, David Chalue, 44, of Springfield and 31-year-old Caivus Veiovis (aka Roy Gutfinski) were arraigned on murder, kidnapping and witness intimidation charges on Sept. 12 in connection to slayings.

ADAMS, Mass. — The report of a child falling into the Hoosic River on Sunday afternoon turned out to be false, but not before some 60 emergency responders, including a dive team, spent more than an hour scouring a section of the river.

Fire Chief Paul Goyette said another youngster had made the report, claiming a child had fallen in near the Grove Street area, at about 3:10 p.m. Further interviews with the child by Police Chief Donald Poirot and police officers determined the incident had never occurred.

Still, Goyette said, "we had to take it as a credible report until proven differently." He had watch teams set up every quarter mile downstream along the river, which has been higher and running swifter than normal because of the recent heavy rains.

"We had teams with ropes and personal flotation devices, life vests, as well as water suits," said the chief. "Because of the potential scope we called in the Berkshire County Dive Team."

In addition to the dive team, Adams Police and Adams Ambulance Service, Hinsdale, Cheshire and North Adams fire departments were involved, as were North Adams Police and Ambulance Service.

Adams firefighters donned wetsuits and went into the water at Commercial Street; North Adams set up on the bridge at Hodges Cross Road and sent searchers up river.

Berkshire County Rope Rescue was called to standby for a possible swift water rescue.

The incident was cleared at 4:30. While no rescue was necessary, it did work as a drill.

"The coordination of various agencies went well; the cooperation of various agencies went well," said Goyette. "We had our bases covered."

However, there was some concern over bystanders who tried to join in the search. While their efforts were appreciated, Goyette said it was better to leave such situations to those best trained in emergency response. Well meaning civilians could put not only themselves in danger but emergency responders.

Safety for all is paramount, he said, especially considering it was Sept. 11. "We're all going home; everyone is accounted for."

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The bodies of the three men who have been missing since Aug. 28 were found on Saturday and police have arrested and charged three others with their murder.

District Attorney David Capeless said Adam Lee Hall, 34, of Pittsfield, David Chalue, 44, of Springfield and 31-year-old Caivus Veiovis, also known as Roy Gutfinski, of Pittsfield each have been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of kidnapping and three counts of intimidation of a witness.

They will be arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Monday.

That case started with a dispute between Hall and Glasser. Hall accused Glasser of stealing an automobile part from him in 2009 and then allegedly beat Glasser with a baseball bat. Later, Hall was accused of trying to frame Glasser for a robbery to prevent him from testifying against him. The case against Hall was postponed after Glasser went missing.

"We intend to prosecute it and I expect that we will join these cases involving the murder, kidnapping and intimidation along with all the other charges at are pending," Capeless said.

Shortly after the Glasser went missing, Hall was arrested and charged with extortion and child pornography charges and held on $1 million bail.

Veiovis and Chalue are not believed to be members of the Hells Angels, Capeless said.